Biltmore Estate Announces Holiday Reopening Plans After Helene

Three weeks after the remnants of Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, leaving devastation in its wake, the famed Biltmore Estate announced plans to reopen for the holidays.

The tourist attraction, located near the hard-hit city of Asheville, said it plans to reopen on November 2 in an effort to “provide critical support” to the surrounding community.

The mountainous region relies heavily on tourism, with autumn marking the peak season for visitors. But recovery efforts to restore cities devastated by unprecedented storms continue.

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“For more than 125 years, Biltmore has been a testament to the resilience of this community,” the property said in an Instagram post Saturday. “Our region’s compassion and resolve have emerged every day under the weight of this storm.”

Power, water and internet services are still slowly being restored in neighboring cities and counties. Some are still under boil water notices.

A portion of Interstate 40 stretching across western North Carolina remains closed after collapsing during the storm. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has said repairs will require several billion dollars, but there is no estimated date for the major highway’s reopening.