How the Western North Carolina Outdoor Industry is Recovering Nearly a Year Post-Helene
Outdoor businesses such as Second Gear, Pirani, Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, and Asheville Wellness Tours are working together with local outdoor business groups to bounce back after the devastating hurricane created unfathomable destruction last year.
RISE – A Gathering to Celebrate Our Fly Fishing Community and Restore the French Broad Watershed, August 24, 2025 at Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins
Born from a desire to give back to a watershed that has given us so much. It’s a party with our ragtag fishing buddies, down to the beers and BBQ and tall tales. We’re celebrating the resilience of our community one year after Helene, standing tall as a group of people unified by the river, not destroyed by it.
Come out and enjoy gear demos, hands on activities for kids, barbeque, pop up tattoo studio, live music and plenty of good times! All benefitting River Link and MountainTrue – together we will RISE.
Free admission.
BANFF Film Festival heads to Asheville in September (proceeds benefit MountainTrue)
You’re invited for not one, but TWO unforgettable nights of high-altitude excitement! Join us for a celebration of jaw-dropping adventure, heart-pounding sports, wild places, and inspiring stories from around the globe 🌍 Whether you’re a climber, paddler, trail fanatic, or armchair adventurer, there’s something here to spark your spirit.
6th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference is Sept 15 – 18, 2025
Investing in the ecosystem: 6th Annual Outdoor Economy Conference is back in Cherokee. The nation’s leading outdoor recreation-focused economic development conference. Sponsor and exhibnitor information is available now.
Asheville Wellness Tours Locals Offer – BOGO!
Asheville Wellness Tours is so excited to share that we’re sharing a Buy One, Get One Free initiative for Asheville locals on select public experiences. Whether you’d like to take in the beauty of a local working farm and meet some new (four-legged!) friends or discover your new favorite local hike, we can’t wait to serve more of our local mountain community as we recover from the hurricane as a collective.
Join us with a special locals-only code for:
Public Yoga Hikes at Bearwallow Mountain
Public Goat Yoga at Wilde Dairy Goat Farm
Public Sound Baths at HapBE Valley Equine and Wellbeing Farm
To book, folks can call, text, or email us and simply mention the BOGO locals discount and where they heard about us. Info@AshevilleWellnessTours.com or 828-407-0711
Thanks for spreading the word and for all you do to support our local wellness community!
Mountain BizWorks Extends Helene Business Recovery Fund Loan Application Window to September 30th
Due to strong ongoing need, Mountain BizWorks is extending the WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund application window for one more calendar quarter. Businesses may apply through September 30!
- Applications due September 30.
- Up to $100k
- 1% interest-only for the first year
- No fees or prepayment penalties.
Mountain BizWorks and Made by Mountains Welcome 20 Outdoor Businesses into Waypoint Resilience Program
Last week at a celebratory kick-off, Mountain BizWorks, along with partners Made by Mountains, the Outdoor Business Alliance of WNC and the NC Outdoor Economy Office, welcomed 20 entrepreneurs into the Waypoint Resilience Cohort. The program aims to help outdoor industry businesses rebuild from Helene, problem-solve with peers and experts, and chart a course for long-term sustainability and growth.
U.S. Dept of Interior and National Park Service Seeks Input on Need for Potential Trail Master Certification Course in WNC this Fall
Amy Mathis with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Interagency Recovery Coordination Natural & Cultural Resources Field Coordinator is assessing interest in bringing folks from the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program at the National Park Service to North Carolina to host a Trail Master Certification course this Fall to help with Helene Restoration. Please reach out to Amy Mathis before July 31st if you would benefit from such an offering.
Amy L. Mathis, Ph.D. – Deepwater Horizon Restoration Planner/Hurricane Helene Natural and Cultural Resources Recovery Field Coordinator; Department of the Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
251-401-2172