October 11, 2024
Exactly 2 weeks ago, our lives and those in western North Carolina were forever changed due to the impact of Hurricane Helene. Six guests plus 3 family members sheltered at Pinecrest B&B until they could try and return to their homes with the last guest leaving on October 1st. We hope we provided them with food, shelter, and comfort while stranded in Asheville.
Personally we are safe and the B&B suffered no damage beyond trees in the yard. However, the city of Asheville can not provide city-wide water service. There is no timeline in place for restoration of water service.
Out of an abundance of caution and due to the destruction to area roads, we made the decision one week post-Helene on October 4, 2024 to cancel all bookings through the end of 2024. This was a pragmatic decision to allow guests who were going to visit Asheville to make alternative plans this fall because we believe in the restorative power of travel.
Communications are one of many challenges due to poor cell service and WiFi outages. Slowly but surely we are refunding cancellations based on arrival dates. And we are grateful to the guests who requested a gift certificate for a future stay. Their faith in Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast as a destination they want to return to is heartwarming.
Stay tuned for more updates as we look forward to the day we can welcome guests back to Asheville and our B&B.
October 15, 2024
This was a momentous day as water began to flow in Asheville. City engineers have assessed that treating the water in the reservoir was not an option due to the extreme amount of silt that washed down the mountains. While we can flush toilets, shower, etc, we do not yet have drinking water flowing from any city taps.
Downtown Asheville suffered minimal damage so many shops and restaurants are scheduled to reopen for the weekend on October 19th. Restaurants are permitted to prepare and serve food under Emergency Operation Plans with an alternative source of potable water and limited menus. Two major attractions, Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed as well as most of the region’s national forests as rangers access the safety of hiking trails.
NC DOT is working tirelessly to repair and reopen over 600 roads but has identified 6,900 sites of damage to roads and bridges that still need repairs. State Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins says “Non-essential traffic continues to hinder our efforts to reopen roads. Many of our crews are having to stop work to allow traffic through damaged areas. We’re working as hard as we can, but we need most of these travelers to use alternate routes outside the impacted areas to get through and around Western North Carolina.” We have heeded this advice so we do not have first-hand knowledge of the widespread destruction beyond the pictures circulating via media sources.
We continue to evaluate the conditions in Asheville and stand by our decision to temporarily close the B&B while the area does the important work of rebuilding. We’ll know when we can safely welcome you back to Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast.
October 25, 2024
It’s been 4 weeks since Helene. While it doesn’t get an easier to write these updates, we have learned to live with uncertainty. Maybe that’s a lesson we can all learn to embrace. We know that FEMA, SBA, and a myriad of organizations are providing much needed support for recovery. A disaster response team came to clean up all the trees in our yard. We made them chocolate chip cookies and it feels like a debt that will be hard to repay but we intend to try when we are out of this crisis.
We had a renovation planned for our slow season in January. In light of the fact that treated water is still several weeks away, we have fast tracked this project and will begin November 4. This decision feels like a relief. We are not just sitting around waiting for potable tap water but instead we are doing something productive.
Two things that we recommended in our Winter Blog are opening. Most notably, Biltmore Estate is opening for the Christmas season beginning on November 2. Guests can enjoy Biltmore House decorated with all the holiday finery along with the Conservatory, Winery, and Chihuly but trails and outdoor activities remain closed. The NC Arboretum plans to reopen November 15 through Dec. 31 for Winter Lights with tickets for sale now.
The region needs to strike the correct balance between welcoming guests who help our economy while setting realistic expectations while Asheville rebuilds. Some areas suffered complete destruction while other parts of the city are relatively unscathed. Restaurants are opening but serving a limited menu on paper plates with plastic forks. Shops are reopening but breweries need water to make beer. It’s really a mixed bag right now.
For those who are ready to travel, please check out the Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association. They have an updated list of B&Bs who are our friends and their utilities are fully restored. For activities, events, and other information about travel, click through to Post Helene Area Updates from our Association.
If coming to Asheville soon and interested in supporting recovery efforts during your stay, consider a day of volunteering. Hands On Asheville is an excellent resource and easy to navigate for taking a shift that doesn’t require a big time commitment.
November 2, 2024
For the first time since Helene, there is a potential timeline for restoration of potable water in the city of Asheville. Water treatment experts have 2 simultaneous projects to address the high amount of sediment in the reservoir. The first approach involves curtaining off a 4-acre section of water and treating it with chemicals to reduce turbidity from 21 to 1.5 NTUs. For the second approach, the Army Corp of Engineers has a 35-day buildout for a mobile filtration system designed to remove the silt. Both approaches would result in water eventually going through the regular treatment plant. Either approach then requires 2-3 weeks to backflush all the nonpotable water from the system.
Best case scenario for drinking water from our taps is approximately mid-December. However this timeline could be derailed by any number of factors like weather, construction delays, etc. We stand by the decision we made on October 4th to cancel bookings through year end.
Life has added a tragedy to the catastrophe of Helene. Our dear friend and interim innkeeper, Angela Harrell, was struck by a car on Oct 20th while walking her dog. She remains in ICU at Mission Hospital and faces a long road to recovery. Our hearts are broken but we have been able to offer respite to her family by visiting Angela most evenings so they can have dinner together. Angela is a quietly devout Catholic and prayer warrior for others. She and her family desperately need your prayers now and in the months to come. We yearn for the day she can return to Pinecrest, whole and healthy.
November 11, 2024
Renovations are underway behind the scenes at Pinecrest as upgrades bring our 1905 house into the 21st century. We are most definitely in the “worse before it gets better” phase for anyone who ever lived through renovations.
We are normally busy taking care of guests but Dan will soon be taking care of packages. He is looking forward to starting as a UPS seasonal driver on 11/13. Dan has an uncanny ability to adapt as he worked a US Census job during the pandemic. This is not something we could have predicted 6 weeks ago but here we go.
Our friend Angela has relocated to a rehab facility in Charlotte. We miss her but are grateful for forward progress, no matter how big or small. We have a bottle of her favorite champagne chilling and ready for the day she returns to Pinecrest.
December 10, 2024
A lot has happened since our last update. We were thrilled when the Water Resources Department lifted the boil water notice on November 18th! With all utilities fully restored, Asheville and the region are welcoming tourists back in the area albeit with some changes. Unfortunately some stores and restaurants will not be reopening after the hurricane so always check websites and social media for the latest information. Except for piles of debris from fallen trees, many areas look completely normal. However, the areas near the rivers remain devastated including Biltmore Village.
Our renovations are moving along and we will be reopening after Christmas. We are excited to put the hurricane and 2024 behind us. Book Now for December 26th and into 2025!
December 26, 2024
We are open and so excited to welcome back guests. In fact, the first people through the door were return guests with the most visits of anyone! Check out our Specials and Packages page. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. We can’t wait to see you in 2025!