(Updated Nov. 27, 2024) As the national park’s gateway communities in Western North Carolina work to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, we want to highlight our many Friends that are open for business and ready to welcome you. Whether you’re shopping, dining, playing, or staying, your visit can make a real difference to help people get back on their feet.
Below you’ll find many of the Western North Carolina businesses that have generously supported Friends of the Smokies through the years. We’ve listed them by county. We encourage you to support our Friends during this critical time.
JUMP TO: Buncombe County – Haywood County – Swain County – Other N.C. Gateway Counties
Local businesses don’t just reap the benefits of being near the most-visited national park in the country. They give back and improve Great Smoky Mountains National Park via Friends of the Smokies. Their sponsorships and donations to Friends support needed programs and projects in the park that would otherwise go unfunded.
As always, check the NPS current conditions page for the latest closures and road conditions inside the park as you plan your visit to the Smokies.
Thank you for being a friend to our Friends!
Note: Please show sensitivity to residents who are grieving and working to recover by not visiting and photographing destruction zones. We want your visit to support their livelihoods without making their personal trauma a tourist attraction. Thank you, Friends!
Buncombe County
NOT OPEN YET, BUT WORKING HARD TO REOPEN SOON:
- New Belgium Brewing, Asheville: Working to repair flood damage.
- Second Gear, Asheville: Lost their entire building and goods to the floods, they have found a new location in the Westgate Shopping Center next to EarthFare, they hope to open in early December. They have a gofundme to help them rebuild, https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-second-gears-recovery-and-staff .
- Root Down, Asheville: Lost their building, food trucks, and kitchen to the floods. You can venmo @RootDownAVL to support them and help them rebuild.
- Sarah Wells Rolland Pottery, Asheville: Studio was destroyed, but still providing clay at a new location.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK THAT HAVE REOPENED AFTER SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE:
- 12 Bones Smokehouse, Arden: Their south location in Arden is open, but the riverside location in Asheville was lost to the floods.
- The Biltmore Estate, Asheville: Reopened after significant flood damage.
- Hi-Wire Brewing, Asheville: Downtown Asheville and Biltmore locations are open, but they lost their riverside location to the floods.
- French Broad Chocolate Factory, Asheville: Downtown Asheville location is open, but their riverside location was flooded and is not open yet.
- Wedge Brewing Company, Asheville: Experienced flooding at both locations and has re-opened.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK THAT ARE OPEN:
- Asheville Brewing Company, Asheville
- Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery, Asheville
- Chai Pani, Asheville
- Highland Brewing Company, Asheville
- One World Brewing, Asheville
- Twin Leaf Brewing Company, Asheville: Despite remaining open after the hurricane, they said business is down 90 percent compared to this time last year due to the loss of traffic and tourism in Downtown Asheville.
- Urban Orchard Cider Co, Asheville
- White Labs Brewing Co, Asheville
- Wicked Weed, Asheville
PLACES TO SHOP & OTHER ACTIVITIES:
- Ann Art – The Art of Ann Vasilik, Asheville
- Asheville Massage & Natural Therapeutics, Asheville
- Asheville Wine Market, Asheville
- Asheville Yoga Center, Asheville
- Astral, Asheville
- Beer City Bicycles, Asheville
- Billy Goat Bikes – Bicycle Shop, Asheville
- Black Dome Mountain Sports, Asheville
- Casablanca Cigar Bar, Asheville
- Image 420, Asheville
- Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville
- Earth Fare, Asheville and surrounding counties
- Ingles, Asheville and surrounding counties
- Folk Art Center, Asheville
- Franklins Outdoor Sports, Asheville
- Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, Asheville
- Henco Reprographics, Asheville
- Hunter Banks Fly Fishing, Asheville
- In Blue Handmade, Asheville
- LaZoom Tours, Asheville
- Liberty Bicycles, Asheville
- Metro Wines, Asheville
- Mighty Good Eats, Asheville
- Motion Makers, Asheville
- REI, Asheville
- Sensibilities Day Spa, Asheville
- Ski Country Sports, Asheville
- Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville
- The Orvis Company, Asheville
- Tim Barnwell Photography, Asheville
- Asheville Distilling Co., Asheville
- Diamond Brand Outdoors, Asheville
- Cane Creek Cycling Components, Asheville
- LightHeart Gear ultralight backpacking gear, Asheville
PLACES TO STAY:
- Biltmore, Asheville
- Double Tree Biltmore, Asheville
- Element Asheville Downtown, Asheville
- Sourwood Inn, Asheville
- The Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville
Haywood County
One of the primary entrances to the national park from Haywood County remains closed at Cataloochee. However, the nearby Oconaluftee Valley region is just a stone’s throw away. This area offers something for everyone with trails for all skill levels, a mountain farm museum, an excellent visitor center, and some of the best opportunities for elk viewing in the park.
One of our favorite hikes is the Oconaluftee River Trail, a scenic 3-mile out-and-back route that follows the river along a flat, easy-to-navigate path.
CHRISTMAS TREES
- Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Maggie Valley
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK THAT ARE OPEN AND RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE:
- BearWaters Brewing Company, Maggie Valley open and Canton closed: Their Maggie Valley and Hazelwood buildings (renamed Assembly On Main in Waynesville) remain open, but the Canton location is closed due to flood damage.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK:
- Boojum Brewing, Waynesville
- The Patio Bistro, Waynesville
PLACES TO SHOP & OTHER ACTIVITIES
- Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville
- Bosu’s Wine Shop, Waynesville
- The Classic WineSeller, Waynesville
- Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon, Waynesville
- Mast General Store, Waynesville
- T Pennington Art Gallery, Waynesville
- Grace Cathey Sculpture, Waynesville
- Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, Waynesville
- Hazelwood Soap Company, Waynesville
- Mud Dabbers Pottery, Waynesville
- Twigs and Leaves, Waynesville
- The Jewelers Workbench, Waynesville
- The Print Haus, Waynesville
PLACES TO STAY:
- Alamo Motel & Cottages, Maggie Valley
- Carolina Vacations, Maggie Valley
- Cataloochee Ranch, Maggie Valley
- Maggie Valley Creekside Lodge, Maggie Valley
- Twinbrook Resort, Maggie Valley
- Boyd Mountain Log Cabins, Maggie Valley
- The Waynesville Inn, Waynesville
- The Swag Resort, Waynesville
Swain County
Bryson City is fully decked out and festive for the holiday season! While the area saw minimal damage from Hurricane Helene, it experienced a decline in visitation. Just a short drive away from Byson City, you’ll find the Deep Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area offers trails for all levels of hikers and is home to several stunning waterfalls. One highlight is the Deep Creek Loop Trail, a 4.6-mile route that takes you past multiple waterfalls.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK:
- Everett Street Diner, Bryson City
PLACES TO SHOP & OTHER ACTIVITIES:
- Elizabeth Ellison Watercolors Gallery, Bryson City
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City: They now have their Polar Express excursion running
- Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City
PLACES TO STAY:
- Bryson City Cabin Rentals, Bryson City
- Hemlock Inn, Bryson City
- Mountain Vista Log Cabins, Bryson City
- The Everett Hotel, Bryson City
- The Historic Calhoun House Hotel, Bryson City
Other Gateway Counties
Here are some of the businesses that have partnered with Friends of the Smokies in Ashe, Clay, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Watauga counties.
PLACES TO EAT/DRINK:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing, Fletcher
- Lakeside Restaurant, Highlands
PLACES TO SHOP & OTHER ACTIVITIES:
- Mud Dabbers Pottery, Brevard
- Blackrock Outdoor Company, Sylva
- It’s By Nature Gallery, Sylva
- DB Bar D Outfitters, Mills River
- Davidson River Outfitters, Pisgah Forest
- Highlands Outpost, Scaly Mountain
- The Copper Door, Hayesville
PLACES TO STAY:
- Balsam Mountain Inn, Balsam
- Historic Tapoco Lodge, Robbinsville
- Snowbird Mountain Lodge, Robbinsville
- Fontana Village Resort, Fontana Dam
- Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Highlands
Something Missing? Contact Us!
Are you a Friend of the Smokies in Western North Carolina that relies on tourism and we accidentally overlooked your business? Our sincere apologies! This initial list was compiled using computer databases and other imperfect technology. Please, contact us and let us know to include you as a previous Friends partner at info@friendsofthesmokies.org. We’ll get you added to the list as soon as possible. If you’re not already a Friend of the Smokies and would like to be, please contact us at the same email address or make a gift at our donate page. Your donation directly supports needed projects in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.