9 Months Closed, Now Open: Inside Chimney Rock Park's Helene Recovery with Emily Walker

9 Months Closed, Now Open: Inside Chimney Rock Park's Helene Recovery with Emily Walker

When Hurricane Helene hit, most people wondered if Chimney Rock Park would ever be the same. After nine months of closure, the answer is yes, and then some.I sit down with Emily Walker, General Manager at Chimney Rock State Park, to talk about what actually happened the day the storm hit, how her team pivoted to keep the mission alive, and what it looks like to fully reopen one of Western North Carolina's most beloved landmarks.In this conversation, we cover:The day before Helene and why evacuating the animals first may have been the smartest decision they madeWhat it felt like to see the park for the first time after the stormHow the education team kept going, bringing animal programs to schools, museums, and libraries while the park was darkTater the groundhog and why their 20th Groundhog Day event was the most attended in park historyWhat is open right now including daily wildlife programs every weekday at 2pm, all trails, the elevator, both shops, and the deliJuly 4th weekend events featuring historic games, flag crafts, and a flag retirement ceremony tied to America 250Annual passes for just $34 and why they are the best deal in Western North CarolinaThe park's full history from its Grand Opening on July 4, 1916 all the way to todayChimney Rock is not just a state park. It is a community anchor, a natural treasure, and one of the most resilient places in Western North Carolina. If you have been waiting to visit, there is no reason to wait any longer. Both main roads are open. The village is open. Lake Lure is open. The park is ready for you.Plan Your Visit:➡️ https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/plan-... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJaS0k2SGc5R29GQ1l0dWxNVG9nbU9hX2VPUXxBQ3Jtc0tuaDBjQlZGUWxlclNhMnQtYmVDcjhXNTl3UFhFUTk4MFdSWGZDd0s0OU52UEJXM25zQlhDVGlzME00T00yX3ZOWHBQSy1KUVJYbVA0d1pzTWdmd2ZZYll6bnRYUlQ1Mjl1TURmYklSMWNCQlVqZHR3QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chimneyrockpark.com%2Fplan-your-visit%2F&v=GoHnGpfH6fs]Upcoming Events at Chimney Rock Park:➡️ https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/event... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0lPc3hBeHhRM3VvMEVjUHg3ZExHQXNncnBqd3xBQ3Jtc0ttVlFjTjJ4ZEVjSGQ3TWVVZDZPWGU0V1psVVRCZUR1aHBLRUh5cDl5aTgtWmtfempCWTMxdW1BU2dBNmV2Wk1RaE9LZ1VhU09FdDlEb2QxLWc4LWtzeXBVLXhxQmp1aE1pWUFBbHloTUpYME0xaXVONA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chimneyrockpark.com%2Fevents%2Flist%2F&v=GoHnGpfH6fs]Stay Connected and Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0xzS2tMTldWVzlYOFVYTVowZ083eGRLY0hoQXxBQ3Jtc0tuY0NzcW10VFlOQUQ5S1RCRUdSQWJTR09GNUJZSUV4MG1ZVDh4Vi16ajBzenRhamVEbElTRDBjbG1DM2FHa09TU0NSM1V1OE5OYUE0MkZqSV9XMi1VZTNTR3FwS0VFZjhTUXg0YTJNekVwYmxrVUo4QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tapestrycollaborative.com%2F&v=GoHnGpfH6fs]WNC Recovery Resources and How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1l0emlpQVBtSVYtajRHX3M5bE5HdG9QRklmZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsN1VrRWhNUTBsbmZ0bUlyTWJ5MEszSUJKdHp0eFdnNVhZOWNHb0NsTTZsTEtOS3ZFaGxzSF9iRWtnOTR2ZnVzZHdMZ1RoaGxZekhQbmdRc296NFcyeENPdlY3R2dLYi1UcGYwSEcyV2d0RHZ4Q0xoRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwncrecovery.nc.gov%2F&v=GoHnGpfH6fs]Chapters:[00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs]] Introduction: Emily Walker and Chimney Rock Park[00:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=28s]] Hurricane Helene: The Day Before the Storm[01:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=83s]] Evacuating the Animals and Closing the Park[02:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=143s]] The Morning of Helene and Losing Communication[03:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=204s]] First Time Back in the Park on October 2nd[04:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=253s]] How the Team Pivoted Fast[05:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=339s]] Taking Education Programs on the Road[06:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=401s]] Tater and the 20th Groundhog Day[07:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=477s]] Daily Wildlife Programs This Summer[09:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=566s]] Annual Passes and Added Value Programs[10:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=651s]] How to Get to the Park Right Now[11:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=713s]] July 4th Weekend Programming[13:47 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=827s]] The Energy in Chimney Rock Village Today[14:29 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=869s]] Park History Going Back to 1916[15:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=926s]] The Morse Family and the Sale to the State[17:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=1031s]] What Makes This Park Unlike Any Other in NC[18:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=1088s]] Everything That Is Open Right Now[19:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHnGpfH6fs&t=1153s]] Website and How to Stay Connected#ChimneyRockPark [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/chimneyrockpark] #WesternNorthCarolina [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/westernnorthcarolina] #HurricaneHelene [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hurricanehelene] #WNCRecovery [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wncrecovery] #WNCStrong [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wncstrong] #NatureEducation [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/natureeducation] #FamilyTravel [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/familytravel] #NorthCarolina [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/northcarolina] #StatePark [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/statepark] #HickoryNutGorge [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hickorynutgorge] #LakeLure [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lakelure] #Resilience [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/resilience] #OutdoorFamilies [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/outdoorfamilies] #Naturalist [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/naturalist]

Perched in the Storm: Why Rock Bottom Reveals Who We Are | Dr. William T. Lewis

What do you do when your bank account hits zero, your car gets repossessed, and you find yourself curled up in bed wondering if this is what entrepreneurship — what life — is supposed to feel like?Dr. Will Lewis has been there. And what he learned on the other side of that storm became the foundation for his powerful new book, Perched in the Storm: Brutal Lessons in Resilience Every Leader Can Learn from Entrepreneurs.In this conversation, Dr. Lewis — Marine Corps veteran, PhD, nationally recognized leadership expert, and entrepreneur — sits down with Sharon to get real about what it actually means to lead through failure, stay steady when the storm is raging, and find strength by leaning into your humanity instead of hiding it.In this conversation, we cover:- The moment everything fell apart — zero bank account, repossessed car, and what it took to get back up- Why the storm didn't come to break him — it came to reveal him- How faith, family, and community became his lifeline when the hustle couldn't fix it- The decision every leader faces in the middle of a storm: victim or victor- Keith Vest's story — cancer, financial collapse, and betrayal hitting all at once, and what came next- Why the strongest leaders are the ones willing to say "I don't know — I need your help"- What Dr. Lewis tells his sons about crying, emotion, and real strength- The founding of The Intersection — and what happens when three leaders collide their gifts📖 Get Perched in the Storm:➡️ Website: https://www.wtlewis.com/books➡️ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perched-Storm-Lessons-Resilience-Entrepreneurs/dp/1968760997➡️ Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/noresults/perched-in-the-storm-william-t-lewis/1149266130---🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govFind Dr. Will Lewis & Cam's Coffee Co.:➡️ https://www.wtlewis.com---Chapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Meet Dr. Will Lewis[01:50] - The Bird on the Cover: The Metaphor Behind *Perched in the Storm*[03:50] - The Original Title (You'll Want to Hear This One)[05:10] - When Everything Collapsed: Zero Bank Account & a Repossessed Car[07:45] - Faith, Family & Why He Never Lost Hope[09:35] - The Storm Came to Reveal You, Not Break You[10:06] - Victim or Victor — It's a Decision[11:20] - What Sharon Saw in WNC Small Business Owners After Helene[12:34] - Granny's Advice: Just Keep Living[14:00] - Humility as a Leadership Superpower[15:20] - The Power of Community in Crisis[17:06] - Why Dr. Lewis Teaches His Sons It's Okay to Cry[18:14] - The Wisdom Is in the Room, Not on the Stage[19:41] - Keith Vest's Story: Cancer, Collapse & Betrayal[24:51] - The Intersection: What Three Leaders Built Together[25:35] - How to Find the Book & Connect with Dr. Will Lewis---Key Takeaways:- The storm doesn't come to destroy you — it comes to reveal who you are- Every leader is either in a storm, coming out of one, or about to go into one- Strength shows up through vulnerability, not in spite of it- Community isn't optional — we were made for it- Faith gives you hope when your circumstances give you nothing- Feel the feels — stuffing it down doesn't make you stronger- The wisdom isn't on the stage. It's in the room.Topics covered: leadership lessons, entrepreneur rock bottom, Dr. Will Lewis, Perched in the Storm, Marine Corps leadership, faith and work, mental health for leaders, male vulnerability, organizational culture, change management, DEI leadership, community over individualism, Sharon Decker podcast, WNC small business recovery#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PerchedInTheStorm #DrWillLewis #SharonDeckerPodcast #Faith #MarineVet #LeadershipLessons #MentalHealth #CommunityMatters #ChangeManagement #WNC

31 Miles, Two States, One Vision for WNC: Land, Trails & Conservation with Kieran Roe

Western North Carolina is stunning. But keeping it that way? That takes people who show up every single day to protect it — and Kieran Roe is one of those people.I sat down with Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina, to talk about the work happening right now to preserve the land, restore the rivers, and build the trails that are going to define this region's future.In this conversation, we cover:What Conserving Carolina actually does — conservation easements, land acquisition, trail development, and river restorationThe Saluda Grade Trail: 31 miles across North and South Carolina that could connect Tryon and Saluda to Hendersonville, Brevard, and beyondThe Acoustic Trail — 19 miles linking downtown Hendersonville to downtown Brevard, already open and worth visitingHow floodplain restoration work did exactly what it was designed to do when Hurricane Helene hitWhy rail trails aren't just beautiful — they bring real economic life to the towns along their corridorsHow private landowners can protect their land through conservation easements and long-term estate planningAnd how you can get involved — whether that's volunteering, donating, or just showing up and walking the trailThis is the kind of stewardship that doesn't make the headlines — but it shapes everything. The beauty we love about Western North Carolina doesn't protect itself. It takes organizations like Conserving Carolina and the people who support them.How You Can Get Involved:Visit conservingcarolina.org to learn about volunteer opportunities, conservation easements, upcoming events, and how to support their work financially. Your membership directly funds everything they do.🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North CarolinaInstagram:➡️ instagram.com/thesharondeckerTapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit):➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.comWNC Recovery Resources & How to Help:➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.govChapters:[00:00] - Introduction: Kieran Roe & Conserving Carolina[00:44] - What Is Conserving Carolina? History & Mission[02:17] - Land Conservation, Easements & Acquiring Land[03:12] - Trail Development & The Outdoor Economy[04:44] - The Acoustic Trail: Hendersonville to Brevard[05:19] - Why Trails Matter for WNC's Economy[06:13] - The Saluda Grade Trail: 31 Miles Across Two States[07:57] - The Long Vision: A 60-Mile Connected Corridor[09:42] - Why These Trails Transform Small Towns[12:58] - Conservation Alongside Development[14:22] - The Historic Saluda Grade & Natural Heritage[16:18] - Protecting WNC's Conserved Lands for the Future[17:26] - Hurricane Helene Cleanup & River Restoration[18:58] - How to Connect with Conserving CarolinaKey Takeaways:Conserving Carolina works across Henderson, Transylvania, Polk, and parts of upstate South CarolinaThe Saluda Grade Trail corridor was purchased just last year — trail construction is the next big stepThe Acoustic Trail is already open — 6 miles constructed connecting Hendersonville toward BrevardFloodplain restoration work along the French Broad River mitigated flood damage from HeleneConserving Carolina has run an AmeriCorps program for over 20 years, placing young talent in conservation workPrivate landowners can explore conservation easements and estate planning through conservingcarolina.orgLocal membership support is the foundation of everything the organization doesTopics: Conserving Carolina, Western North Carolina conservation, Saluda Grade Trail, Acoustic Trail, rail trail WNC, land conservation easements, Hurricane Helene recovery WNC, WNC outdoor economy, Kieran Roe, trail development North Carolina, floodplain restoration, WNC hiking trails, Hendersonville Brevard trail, Tryon Saluda trail, private land conservation, WNC nonprofit, Sharon Decker podcast#WesternNorthCarolina #ConservingCarolina #SaludaGradeTrail #WNCTrails #LandConservation #HurricaneHeleneRecovery #WNCOutdoors #OutdoorEconomy #AcousticTrail #SharonDeckerPodcast

Former NFL Player Trades the Scoreboard for a Garden, & Ends Up in the Smithsonian | Chuck Hutchison

What if the most meaningful chapter of your life hadn't even started yet? Chuck Hutchison spent decades winning — as a collegiate and NFL football player, a coach, and a highly successful sales executive at Schreiber Foods, one of the nation's largest private label dairy companies. By every measure, he lived a full and accomplished life. And then he retired to Western North Carolina. And everything changed. What started as clearing an overgrown piece of land turned into 26,000 hours and 14 years of building something he never saw coming — a garden so thoughtfully designed that it was accepted into the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens, with over 4,000 plants documented. Chuck also just released his book, Getting My Hands Dirty, available now on Amazon. In this conversation, we cover: * What drew Chuck and his wife to Western North Carolina — and why they never looked back * How a blank, overgrown canvas became a space intentionally designed for emotional healing * The mindset shift that changed how Chuck thought about purpose, identity, and what comes next * Why he designed a garden to make people feel something — not just see something * The three women from the French Broad Garden Club who helped get his garden into the Smithsonian * How 26,000 hours in the dirt built an entirely new community around him * His one closing wisdom from a life in football, business, and gardening that will stay with you This is a conversation about the fourth quarter of life — and how staying open to what unfolds next might just surprise you in the best possible way. Chuck's book Getting My Hands Dirty is available now: ➡️ Amazon | chuckhutchison.com Watch the 2.5-minute drone video of Chuck's garden: ➡️ chuckhutchison.com 🌿 Stay Connected & Join the Work in Western North Carolina Instagram: ➡️ instagram.com/thesharondecker Tapestry Collaborative (Nonprofit): ➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com [https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com/] WNC Recovery Resources & How to Help: ➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov [https://wncrecovery.nc.gov/] Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Meet Chuck Hutchison 01:45 - From the NFL to Schreiber Foods: A Life Well Lived 03:30 - Why Western North Carolina? "I'm Among My People" 06:00 - Retiring to Asheville and Discovering Something New 08:15 - The Garden Begins: A Blank Canvas 11:00 - Meathead Labor, Deep Thinking & Meditation in Motion 13:30 - Designing for Emotion, Not Just Beauty 16:00 - 40,000 Pounds of Pea Gravel and 26,000 Hours Later 18:30 - When You Know You've Got It Right 20:30 - The Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens 23:00 - The French Broad Garden Club Connection 25:30 - A Whole New Community Nobody Expected 27:45 - Getting My Hands Dirty: The Book 29:30 - The One Thing Chuck Leaves With All of Us Key Takeaways: * Retirement opens a door to identity and purpose that a career never could * Chuck's garden was designed from the start to create an emotional experience, not just a visual one * Repetitive, physical work can be the most powerful form of creative thinking * 26,000 hours and zero gardening background led to Smithsonian recognition * Community forms in the most unexpected places when you show up with an open hand * Western North Carolina has a way of drawing the right people — and keeping them * "You can do all of this differently, but you could not do it any better" — that's when you're done

How Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn Became One of the Most Recognizable Brands from Asheville, NC | with Founder, Ginger Frank

If you've ever grabbed a bag of Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn — first of all, good taste. Second, you're going to love this conversation. I sat down with Ginger Frank, the founder and co-CEO behind one of Asheville's most beloved brands, to talk about how Poppy's went from a tiny shop on Merriman Avenue to a brand now carried in stores across all 50 states. And y'all — the story behind it is just as good as the popcorn. In this conversation we cover: * How Ginger opened a popcorn shop as a single mom with two kids and zero commercial batches under her belt * The shoestring budget marketing strategy that actually worked — spoiler, it involved a cute little popcorn cart and a lot of free samples * Surviving a roof collapse, COVID, and Hurricane Helene — and what each disaster taught her about running a business * Why surrounding yourself with the right people is everything, especially on the hard days * What it really means to be the person where the buck stops * New summer flavors dropping in May for America's 250th — she wouldn't spill the details but trust us, watch for it Poppy's is Asheville made, WNC proud, and every single bag supports real people and real families right here in our mountains. Buy a bag, share a bag, ship a bag to somebody you love. 🍿 Find Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn: Website: ➡️ https://poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com/ [https://poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com/] Instagram: ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/ [https://www.instagram.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/] Facebook: ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/ [https://www.facebook.com/poppyhandcraftedpopcorn/] TikTok: ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn [https://www.tiktok.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn] YouTube: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn [https://www.youtube.com/@poppyhandcraftedpopcorn] Stay Connected with Sharon & The Tapestry Collaborative: Instagram: ➡️ instagram.com/thesharondecker Tapestry Collaborative: ➡️ https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com [https://www.tapestrycollaborative.com/] WNC Recovery Resources: ➡️ https://wncrecovery.nc.gov [https://wncrecovery.nc.gov/] Topics: Poppy's Handcrafted Popcorn, Ginger Frank, Asheville NC small business, Asheville food brands, women entrepreneurs, single mom entrepreneur, how to start a food business, Western North Carolina brands, Hurricane Helene recovery, small business growth, entrepreneurship, buy local Asheville, handcrafted popcorn Asheville NC