Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene struck McDowell County, several campgrounds remain closed, highlighting the long recovery process for outdoor hospitality businesses in the region.
Camping has long been a central part of the county’s tourism economy, drawing visitors for both short-term stays and seasonal use.
Triple C Campground, located in the Buck Creek area outside Marion, illustrates the lingering effects of the storm.
Before Helene, the campground housed more than 100 trailers and operated as a busy vacation destination where many visitors left their units on-site permanently.
Following the September 2024 storm, about half of the property remains empty, with campers damaged by silt, debris, and mud deposits that raised the ground level by several feet.
Owners Charlie and Pat Gowan lived on the property at the time of the flooding.
“Just everything we owned being destroyed in an hour’s time. Literally everything we own was gone. All we had was the clothes on our backs,” said Charlie Gowan. The couple watched from higher ground as their home was destroyed after six feet of water rushed through.
Although a portion of Triple C Campground has since reopened, the Gowans report that operations remain far from normal.
“In McDowell County, there was campers and cars up and down this road nonstop. It’s a very popular tourist road. It’s hurt McDowell County a lot,” Gowan told WLOS.
Recovery is further complicated by ongoing infrastructure challenges. Portions of Buck Creek Road, a major access route for visitors, are still closed or limited to one lane nearly a year later.
While all guests at the campground were able to evacuate safely during the storm, the reduced accessibility continues to affect visitation.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, McDowell County’s experience underscores how natural disasters can disrupt not only individual campgrounds but also the broader tourism economy.
Operators who rely heavily on repeat visitors and long-term stays may face unique recovery challenges compared to transient parks.
The case also highlights the importance of risk management planning, disaster recovery resources, and collaboration with local governments to restore infrastructure quickly, as road closures and access issues can significantly impact business viability.