Asheville Flooding: Updates & New Belgium Brewery's Recovery

By Dr. Devon Bednar DDSMay 05, 2025

Can a single storm truly reshape a city's identity? Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Asheville, North Carolina, in late September 2024, proves that nature's fury can leave an indelible mark, altering the landscape and the lives of its residents in ways that will be felt for years to come.

The French Broad River, a defining feature of Asheville's landscape, swelled to unprecedented levels by 11 a.m. on September 27th, inundating much of the River Arts District (RAD). The Haywood Road Bridge offered a stark perspective on the devastation, as floodwaters consumed businesses, studios, and homes, painting a grim picture of the storm's destructive power. The remnants of Hurricane Helene, after battering the coast, unleashed torrential rainfall on western North Carolina, including Asheville, causing widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages. Asheville, a city known for its vibrant arts scene, thriving breweries, and stunning mountain scenery, was brought to its knees.

Category	Details
Event	Hurricane Helene's impact on Asheville, NC
Date of Impact	September 27-28, 2024 (peak flooding)
Location	Asheville, North Carolina, including the River Arts District (RAD) and surrounding areas.
Cause	Remnants of Hurricane Helene brought heavy rainfall.
River Level	French Broad River reached over 16 feet.
Rainfall	Nearly 14 inches of rain in cities along the Blue Ridge Mountains, including Asheville, through Friday, September 27th.
Damage	Extensive flooding in the River Arts District, downed trees, power outages, damaged roads and bridges.
Casualties	As of September 28th, the death toll in Buncombe County rose to 30. At least 57 dead across the impacted region.
Infrastructure Impact	Major roadways and bridges washed away. Widespread power outages and lack of cell service.
Businesses Impacted	Countless businesses heavily damaged or destroyed. New Belgium Brewing's Asheville facility sustained flood damage.
Relief Efforts	Supplies coming by air. Local beer companies and customers show support.
Breweries Affected	New Belgium Brewing's Asheville location (taproom closed, production facility down).
Recovery Timeline	New Belgium Brewing intends to resume production in 2025.
External Reference	WLOS - Asheville News

The Asheville Citizen Times' local news editor, Aaron Nelsen, provided valuable contributions to the unfolding story, documenting the escalating crisis as it unfolded. The devastation was widespread. The entire Asheville area found itself without power, water, and cellular service, with numerous roads rendered impassable due to flooding or structural damage. The isolation of the city, particularly on Saturday, as reported by the Associated Press, was stark. Damaged roads and a lack of essential services cut off Asheville, North Carolina's largest mountain city, from the outside world.

Drone footage, captured on Saturday and shared across various media outlets, offered a harrowing glimpse of the damage. The video footage from the River Arts District (RAD) revealed the extent of the flooding, with entire buildings submerged, a testament to the power of the overflowing French Broad River. Sheriff Quentin Miller confirmed the grim reality during a press conference, as the death toll in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, reached 30 people by September 28th. This figure reflects a larger tragedy unfolding across Southern Appalachia, where the remnants of Hurricane Helene left an unknown number dead and countless worried relatives struggling to connect with their loved ones.

The impact on local businesses, a cornerstone of Asheville's vibrant economy and cultural identity, was immense. New Belgium Brewing, a well-known brewery in Asheville, was deeply affected by the storm's fury. The brewery's River Arts District facility sustained significant flood damage. While its taproom, which had opened in 2016, was temporarily closed, the Fort Collins, Colorado, taproom remained open, providing a symbol of resilience and continuity. News from WLOS indicated that New Belgium was eager to reopen its Asheville taproom and crews were actively working on the main brewery, which flooded during the hurricane. Despite the challenges, New Belgium has retained all of its Asheville-based coworkers throughout the temporary closure, and they are proud to welcome the community back to their space. The production facility, however, is currently down while repairs are underway, with a planned resumption of production in 2025.

The floodwaters, as they receded, left behind a scene of widespread destruction. People watched from the Haywood Road bridge, witnessing the slow retreat of the flood in the River Arts District. The images, widely disseminated across news platforms, illustrated the devastation wrought by the storm. Cnns Rafael Romo spoke with long-time Asheville residents, capturing their stories and perspectives on the catastrophic flooding. Local beer companies and customers demonstrated support, showcasing the strong community spirit that defines Asheville. Local sports, high school events, and community news were also impacted, with obituaries, legal notices, and other essential services experiencing delays and disruptions.

The remnants of Hurricane Helenes passage through Asheville left nothing untouched. With major roadways and bridges destroyed, and countless businesses heavily damaged or gone, the task of rebuilding Asheville will be a long and arduous process. The catastrophic flooding, brought on by the relentless rainfall, created a scene of both immediate danger and long-term hardship. The mountainous regions of the Carolinas, including Asheville, were profoundly affected by these epic floods. The collective response to the disaster from the government providing supplies to the community coming together to support each other will be a critical component of Asheville's path towards recovery.

Asheville breweries 'devastated' by Helene flooding 'Closed indefinitely'

New Belgium Ashville Closed Until Further Notice Due To Flooding

Film on Asheville's 'Great Flood of 1916' shown at New Belgium benefit

Detail Author:

Name : Dr. Devon Bednar DDS
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