A Storm That Changed Everything
When Hurricane Helene reached Western North Carolina in September 2024, it didn’t just bring rain and wind — it reshaped lives and landscapes. At Asheville West KOA Holiday, nearly 100 guests were on the park when the storm hit. Power went out, cell service was lost, and roads in and out of Asheville were blocked.
In those first chaotic hours, our staff and work campers made sure every guest was safe, cared for, and reassured. As one of our team later reflected, “We cooked, laughed, and cried as one together. The warmth of our shared meals — burgers, canned goods, whatever we could muster — reminded us that comfort comes in small things.”
Finding Our Way Through
The days after Helene were unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. For nine days without power, our campground became more than a place to stay — it became a community hub.
- We ran security with our work campers, protecting guests while law enforcement focused on the wider community.
- We served at least one hot meal every day, shared necessities from our convenience store, and distributed donated supplies.
- We hauled generators from as far away as Memphis and borrowed another from a South Carolina church, just to keep water, septic, and propane flowing.
Guests who had to cancel their trips often donated their deposits to support relief efforts, and charities came to cook, clean, and serve alongside us. What began as a campground quickly became a refuge.
A Long Year of Rebuilding
In the weeks that followed, volunteers gave way to tree crews, then contractors, then recovery teams. Our grounds filled with heavy equipment, and though progress was steady, the scars of Helene remained.
For the past 12 months, we’ve lived side by side with those contractors. Only now are we beginning the repairs to undo the wear-and-tear left by the storm and the machinery it required. It has been a long, tiring road — but also a road full of reminders about resilience, generosity, and the strength of Western North Carolina.
New Life, New Growth
Helene stripped the campground of topsoil, gravel, and much of our natural canopy. But from that loss came an unexpected opportunity. Heather led the effort to restore native plants and wildlife, and in October 2025 Asheville West KOA Holiday earned recognition as both a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Certified Pollinator Habitat.
More than 60 native species now grow across the park — wildflowers, lilies, coneflowers, milkweed — welcoming back pollinators, deer, hummingbirds, and countless other creatures. Our guests notice it too; spotting butterflies, watching deer graze, or hearing birdsong in the mornings has become part of the KOA West experience.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood with us in those days — from the campers and staff who kept spirits up, to the charities and neighbors who came with food and supplies, to the many guests who donated even when they couldn’t visit.
Helene changed Asheville West KOA, but it didn’t break us. Instead, it deepened our sense of purpose: to be a safe, welcoming basecamp for adventures in Western North Carolina, and to be part of this region’s ongoing recovery.
As we look ahead, we invite you to come see what resilience looks like. The flowers are blooming again, the wildlife has returned, and our campground is ready to welcome you.
We remember Helene. We remember the people who stood with us. And we are proud to be part of Western North Carolina’s comeback.