Hello Patrick,
By now, most of you have heard about and seen the devastation our neighbors have suffered from Hurricane Helene. We were mostly spared here, although we did have several power outages. Our hearts go out to those who lost everything. Thank you for the help that you have been giving. This will be an ongoing effort as people try to make sense of it all.
Although our physical damages are minimal, we will suffer indirectly. This is one of the busiest times of the year for tourism in our county, and our businesses that rely on tourism will suffer.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is crucial to our gateway community of Meadows of Dan. Closing the Parkway during the fall travel season will cause financial loss and affect events like Pancake Days. This is not to overshadow Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia’s devastation. Still, we cannot forget its economic impact on other communities that rely on those traveling by and to the Parkway.
A recent news release from the National Parkway Service reported that the Blue Ridge Parkway saw 16,757,635 visitors in 2023. These visitors spent $1,390,803,000 in communities near the park, supporting 19,159 jobs in the local area and having a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1,810,286,000. As you can see, this will affect us!
Patrick, I am asking that we, as a community, remember our local merchants and shop locally. We are a strong, vibrant community, which makes us great. So please continue praying and helping our neighbors, and let’s show our support by supporting locals, too. Our community’s support is crucial in these times of need.
Remember, “Come get lost and find yourself here.” Praying and supporting all of us!
James Houchins
Director of Economic Development and Tourism
