“As a native of Western North Carolina, the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Helene has felt personal. My ancestral thread runs deep within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains; since the 1700s, my family has rooted in the river valley that stretches from South Carolina to the base of the Appalachian Mountains, now present-day Polk County.
When I saw a post-hurricane photo of Chimney Rock, my heart sank. The village was gone. Flashbacks of childhood adventures came pouring in and with it a slow-burning grief.
Growing up, my mother would often drive my brother and me from our house in Green Creek up Highway 9 for 15 miles to Chimney Rock State Park. We would climb giant boulders peppering the river bed and look up at the mountain rock in awe of everything around us. We would unwrap packed pimiento cheese sandwiches, close our eyes, and listen to the water rushing beneath us.
There are other memories, too—like paying for cream sodas with quarters at the general store, and tossing pennies into the old wishing well. Once, I got to bring home the raccoon fur cap I’d long-been eyeing in a main street shop window. I wore it for years until eventually the tail fell off.
I remember feeling so small in the scheme of things, but also close to the presence of Spirit. And though I did not yet have the words to describe it, the ancient energy was palpable. It’s at Chimney Rock that I first thought about land and those who walked before me. There, on the banks of the French Broad River, I observed the majestic power of nature and began a lifelong commitment to honoring it.“
How can you help? Visit our online store and learn more. Make a contribution to Cardinals at the Window, a benefit music compilation featuring 135 artists—many with North Carolina roots—each contributing an unreleased song. Proceeds from this compilation have already raised over $300,000 for flood relief, bringing hope through music. Meanwhile, the Eno River Association is donating 50% of select sales from its online store through December 31st, 2024 to Conserving Carolina, a land trust dedicated to Western North Carolina’s recovery and conservation. Together, let’s support recovery and resilience in Western North Carolina.
