After the destruction of Helene, a mountain town dependent on fall tourism wonders what comes next

BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Freddie Pell helps lift a vintage wooden chair from the sidewalk into his art gallery. It's starting to rain in downtown Boone, and he doesn't want it to get drenched again.

Inside, huge muddy puddles spread across the room as workers push the water out the door with mops. A thin dark line on the wall – about 30cm above the ground – shows how high the water has risen and when Tropical Storm Helene came through on Friday, Pell said.

“Fortunately, most of our art is on the wall,” Pell said Monday, pointing to the colorful paintings and prints by local artists.

In the days after Helene leveled much of western North Carolina, some shop owners in downtown Boone have a lot of cleaning to do and don't know if they'll see much business at all any time soon – a critical problem for a city of around 19,000 people who rely on tourism, especially in autumn.

Like many towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone sees throngs of visitors eager to witness the cascade of vibrant colors of the changing fall foliage beginning in October. Many also come to cheer on various sports teams at Appalachian State University. The influx of tourists brings in millions of dollars for the city and state.

But Helene's devastation calls all that into question.

Across Watauga County, where Boone is located, many residents do not have electricity or cell service. Several streets are flooded, leaving people trapped or forced to find another way out. Emergency services were constantly working to save people.

On the highway winding toward downtown Boone, fallen trees lie precariously upside down on the mountainside along the road. In some places, power lines sag beneath them like a slingshot.

Arriving on King Street – the main street that runs through downtown Boone – the dull, muddy sheen of the sidewalks is a reminder of the rushing, murky water that engulfed the street as the storm swept through the area.

Some people stroll along the sidewalk, curious about what stores they can enter. Many were still closed Monday and it is unclear when they will reopen.

Companies need time to recover – and then worry about what comes next

The back door of Melanie's, a brunch spot on King Street, flooded during a normal downpour, said co-owner Paul Tuttle. After seeing the “apocalyptic” damage caused by Helene, Tuttle expected the worst when he ventured into town on Saturday.

When he went inside, he found the building — which dates back to the early 20th century — largely intact. A mat that Tuttle had propped against the door to seal it surprisingly prevented water from entering, he said.

The restaurant reopened on Sunday, but it wasn't about making money at the time. Although Tuttle has no internet and is operating under a boil water advisory, he said he wants to remain open for storm victims who need a hot meal.

But that doesn't mean he isn't nervous about what the coming weeks will bring for the cafe. Tuttle is already in discussions with his business partner about what to expect. The majority of the restaurant's profit comes between July and October – with October being the second best month for business, he said.

“I don't know if anyone would want to come here when they normally come to see one of the most beautiful places in the country and now they're coming to look at the devastation,” Tuttle said.

Some are noticing warning signs that could spell trouble for tourism in Boone and surrounding mountain towns.

Kurt Kaunath, 60, rode out the storm with his wife in their RV overlooking Watauga Lake in Tennessee. They had no cell service and at one point he said he was worried the wind would send the RV into the lake – but the couple made it out safely.

When they returned to his home on the outskirts of Blowing Rock – about eight miles south of Boone – on Sunday, there was still no power. His job as a part-time paramedic in downtown Boone has become a sanctuary — he has access to running water and air conditioning.

But Kaunath said there has been “cancellation after cancellation” for an Airbnb he owns in the area. It was almost fully booked for October before the storm hit, he said.

“Then all these companies make their money, and then all the people are here supporting the hotels and all the infrastructure,” he said. “And that’s not going to happen.”

October is the busiest time of year for Lililu on King, a clothing boutique in downtown Boone that was undamaged, said manager Kim Greene. The store didn't have internet access to run its register Monday, so Greene spent her time packing up sale items to donate to storm victims along with employee Sarah Jackson.

But there's still a lot of uncertainty about when they'll be able to reopen – and whether they'll have enough employees to run the store.

“I don’t know where we go from here.”

Some stores like Lililu on King primarily employ students at Appalachian State University, which has canceled classes through at least Friday. With students going home, store owners will have to make do without them for now.

“It's up to both of us,” Greene said, flashing a smile before adding, “When we open back up, and we can when we're able to.”

The university, which has more than 20,000 students, appeared largely empty on Monday. The university's arena, the Holmes Convocation Center, was converted into a Red Cross emergency shelter, and donations piled up outside the entrance. Some students who lived in off-campus housing are left without a place to stay after the flooding.

Aidan Mullane, a 19-year-old ASU sophomore, doubts classes will even resume this semester. He received an email Monday from a professor who said their home suffered “significant damage” and their ability to respond to students was limited. Mullane said his professor is one of many facing the same problem.

“I don’t know where we go from here,” Mullane said. “If professors can’t live here, what do you do?”