Morning mist envelops the picturesque mountains as groups of helmeted riders whiz through the streets of Old Fort, North Carolina, during the FloatLife Fest. This gathering, known as the “ORIGINAL and LONGEST RUNNING” festival for motorized Onewheel boards, sees around 400 attendees converge on the town, swelling its population by nearly 50%. Held in mid-September, the event provides a much-needed economic stimulus to a community that continues to recuperate a year after being ravaged by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Participants, like Jess Jones, a marine biologist from Edinburgh, Scotland, express their enthusiasm for both the festival and the warm welcome from the locals: “The vibe and the welcome that we got there was really nice.”
The resilience of Old Fort is apparent, marked by a mix of progress and reminders of the disaster that struck on September 27, 2024. As workers still clear debris downtown, most businesses have reopened and are eager to attract tourists once again.
Chad Schoenauer, who runs a local bike shop, hopes the fall season will bring in visitors. Post-Hurricane Helene, many potential customers remain unaware of operational businesses in town. “Oh, I didn’t know that you were open,” has become a common remark, reflecting lingering perceptions of devastation.
Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic flooding and landslides interrupted the town’s ambitions to emerge as an outdoor destination after significant job losses in the local manufacturing sector. Efforts were underway to harness the region's natural landscapes for hiking, mountain biking, and more.
Despite the challenges, initiatives like the G5 Trail Collective have forged new trails to bolster the area’s appeal. Unfortunately, the storm set these advancements back, creating severe business losses and destroying existing infrastructure.
Though the state saw record travel spending last year, many of the hardest-hit areas, including McDowell County where Old Fort is located, saw declines. Visitor traffic remains significantly low, partly due to extended closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway caused by the hurricane’s damage.
Schoenauer's experiences reflect the ongoing struggle of local businesses, with his shop reopening amid a drastic decrease in customer volume. The community's collective efforts aim to transform Old Fort into a thriving outdoor recreation destination once again as they recover and rebuild from the storm’s impacts.
Participants, like Jess Jones, a marine biologist from Edinburgh, Scotland, express their enthusiasm for both the festival and the warm welcome from the locals: “The vibe and the welcome that we got there was really nice.”
The resilience of Old Fort is apparent, marked by a mix of progress and reminders of the disaster that struck on September 27, 2024. As workers still clear debris downtown, most businesses have reopened and are eager to attract tourists once again.
Chad Schoenauer, who runs a local bike shop, hopes the fall season will bring in visitors. Post-Hurricane Helene, many potential customers remain unaware of operational businesses in town. “Oh, I didn’t know that you were open,” has become a common remark, reflecting lingering perceptions of devastation.
Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic flooding and landslides interrupted the town’s ambitions to emerge as an outdoor destination after significant job losses in the local manufacturing sector. Efforts were underway to harness the region's natural landscapes for hiking, mountain biking, and more.
Despite the challenges, initiatives like the G5 Trail Collective have forged new trails to bolster the area’s appeal. Unfortunately, the storm set these advancements back, creating severe business losses and destroying existing infrastructure.
Though the state saw record travel spending last year, many of the hardest-hit areas, including McDowell County where Old Fort is located, saw declines. Visitor traffic remains significantly low, partly due to extended closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway caused by the hurricane’s damage.
Schoenauer's experiences reflect the ongoing struggle of local businesses, with his shop reopening amid a drastic decrease in customer volume. The community's collective efforts aim to transform Old Fort into a thriving outdoor recreation destination once again as they recover and rebuild from the storm’s impacts.
