High Country NC Tourism Openings & Closures
Hurricane Helene Update

High Country NC Tourism Openings & Closures Hurricane Helene
Updated 10-21-24

ROAD UPDATE
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS IN AREAS IMPACTED BY HELENE
Although access to some communities has improved, hazards remain. The affected area has limited supplies and traffic delays are possible due to recovery activities. Obey all signs and barricades.

Many top local tourism attractions have sustained damage, are unable to open due to road closures/ staffing, or are closed to keep traffic to the area at a minimum while supporting locals. We will be updating this list of openings/closures daily as visitor activities reopen:

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Entrances: all entrances and travel closed in North Carolina
NC Campgrounds, visitor centers, ranger programs: closed
ALL NC Hiking Trails: closed
NC Restrooms, picnic areas: closed
Parkway Craft Center @ Moses Cone Manor: closed

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH COUNTRY STATE PARKS:

Elk Knob State Park: Closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024
Grandfather Mountain State Park: closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area: closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024
New River State Park: closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024
Rendezvous Mountain: closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024
Stone Mountain State Park: closed through at least Oct. 31, 2024

ALLEGHANY COUNTY - SPARTA AREA

Town and County Roads: open
Town Parks: open
Sparta Candle: open
Alleghany Jubilee: open
Local Golf Courses: open
Alleghany Inn & Conference Center: open
21 Salon and Boutique: open
Alleghany Historical Museum: open
Sprinkle’s Salt Cave: open
Thistle Meadow Winery: open
All Eateries: open
Private Lodging Facilities: most are open
Blue Ridge Parkway: closed indefinitely

EVENTS

Alleghany Farmers Market: open
NC Mountain Arts Adventure Tour for October 18-19: open
NC Mountain Arts Adventure Tour for October 25-26: open

AVERY COUNTY- BANNER ELK, BEECH MOUNTAIN, LINVILLE, SUGAR MOUNTAIN
Curfew 8:00pm- 5:00am

Banner Elk Town parks: closed
Beech Mountain Town parks: open
Apple Hill Farm: open
Banner Elk Winery: closed
Beech Mountain Resort: closed until season opening
Crossnore Weavers: closed
Elk Creek Outfitters: closed
Emerald Village: closed
Ensemble Stage: closed
Gem Mountain: closed
Grandfather Mountain: closed
Grandfather Trout Farm: closed
Grandfather Winery: closed
Linville Caverns: closed
Orchard at Altapass: closed
Sugar Mountain Resort: closed
Wildcat Lake: closed for season
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster: closed
Linville Falls Campground, RV & Cabins: closed until April 2025

EVENTS

Avery Farmers Market: closed
Oktoberfest Sugar Mountain: cancelled
Valle Country Fair (Oct): cancelled
Woolly Worm Festival: cancelled

WATAUGA COUNTY-BOONE, BLOWING ROCK
Curfew 11:00pm- 7:00am

Blowing Rock Downtown Parks and Businesses: open
Boone Town Parks: open
Boone Downtown Businesses: open
Appalachian Theatre: open
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum: open
Chetola Resort
- Spa: open
- Restaurant: open
C&J Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze: open
Daniel Boone Native Gardens: open
Doc’s Rocks: open
Foggy Mountain Gem Mine: open *321 location only (105 location closed)
Green Park Inn
- Divide Tavern: open
Harvest Farm Corn Maze: closed
Hawksnest Zipline: closed until 2025
Hickory Ridge Homestead tours: closed
High Gravity Zipline & Aerial Adventure Park: aerial adventure park open only on weekends
High Mountain Expeditions: closed
Mast General Store- Downtown Boone: open limited hours
Mountainbound Fly Guides: closed
Mystery Hill: open
Mysterium Escape Adventure: open
Original Mast General Store, Valle Crucis: open limited hours
River & Earth Adventures: closed
Rock Dimensions: open
Sky Valley Zip Tours: closed
Tanger Outlet Mall: limited stores open
The Blowing Rock: open
The Children’s Playhouse: open
The Jones House: open
Turchin Center: opening October 16
Tweetsie Railroad: closed for fall, will reopen for Tweetsie Christmas
Valle Crucis Park: closed
Wahoo's Adventures: closed
Watauga Lake Winery: closed
Willow Creek Golf: closed
Westglow Spa, Restaurant, House: open

EVENTS

Fall Art in the Park: cancelled
Mountain Home Music: TBD
Watauga Farmers Market: open at new location- Lavine Hall, State Farm Road, Boone
Blowing Rock Halloween Festival: October 26th
Boone Boo: October 31st
Southern Appalachian Historical Association FallFest: cancelled

ASHE COUNTY- WEST JEFFERSON AREA

WJ Town Parks: open
Ashe County Cheese: open
Ashe County Arts Council: open
Ashe County Corn Maze: open
Mountainaire Golf: open
Ben Long Fresco Churches: open
Florence Thomas Art School: open
Lantern Farm Pumpkin Patch and Maze: open
Museum of Ashe County History: open
Zaloo's Canoes: closed
The Old Store Grassy Creek: open

EVENTS

Ashe Farmers Market: open
Downtown Scarecrow Contest: open

WILKESBORO

Alpha Omega Corn Maze: open
Town Parks: open
Call Family Distillery: open
Leatherwood Mountains:
- lodging: open
- horse trail rides: open
- zipline: reopening mid-October
- Saddlebrook restaurant: open weekends
New Castle Farm Pumpkin Patch: open
Perry Lowe Orchard: open
Wilkes Heritage Museum: open
The Block- Jump, Golf, Skate: open