As many of you know, Hurricane Helene tore through the Chimney Rock Village and Lake Lure leaving behind significant damage in its aftermath. We are humbled and incredibly grateful to let you know we escaped with only minor water damage and that our shop, The Rustic Lamp is still standing.
While much of the village faced severe flooding, downed trees and damage to other shops we feel incredibly lucky that our little shop managed to weather the storm with only minor flood damage. Here are some pictures of how devastating the river was during the hurricane.
Damage to our shop
The shop sustained minor flooding with water level reaching about 24″. Currently we have removed the sheet rock around the perimeter of the interior of the shop and are preparing to repair it along with the electrical. Luckily, our inventory of lamps were sitting well above water level at the time, sparing almost all our lamps.
The Chimney Rock Village
While experts are still assessing the full extent of the damage, it’s clear that the road to recovery will be challenging. The storm didn’t just damage buildings; it disrupted the ecosystem of the town and took away the charm that draws tourism from all over. With roads washed out, bridges destroyed, downed power lines and debris scattered across the village, it’s going to take a significant amount of time restore the charm the village once had.
At this point in time the village has been classified as a no travel zone until reconstruction has been complete. There are no formal ETA’s on when tourism can return to the village, however we assume it would be at least a year.
In The Face Of Adversity
In an incredible show of support, the Tryon International Equestrian Center, located a short drive away, has extended a lifeline to Chimney Rock’s small businesses. They offered local shop owners to setup small booths at the center, giving us and others a chance to continue reaching customers. The initiative has been a godsend for many of us as it allows us to make ends meet while the village rebuilds.
Come see us Thursday through Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
