Steven Foy is the Director of Outpost Operations at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where he started as a river guide back in 2008. Foy is also a board member for the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition (NCOREC) and America Outdoors, as well as an advisor with American Rivers. He has served the Guiding and Outfitting industry at the local, state, and national levels through conservation and policy work, and his personal adventures have taken him from the French Broad River to far-flung locations like Costa Rica, Nepal, and Italy. When he’s not working on river and recreation issues, you can find him producing The Moth Story Slam events in Asheville.
In this installment of our Coffee Talk series, we hear from Foy on the devastating impact Hurricane Helene had on the outdoor industry in western North Carolina, as well as updates on NCOREC’s ongoing efforts to help people and businesses recover.
Tell us a little about the North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Coalition (NCOREC) mission and what kind of work it does.
NCOREC’s mission statement is to support and serve North Carolina’s Outdoor Recreation Industry by advocating and enhancing the state’s thriving outdoor recreation economy. We work to shape policy, garner funding, and build a coalition of legislators on behalf of the outdoor recreation industry.
Can you speak to Hurricane Helene’s impact on western North Carolina’s outdoor industry?
Hurricane Helene was absolutely devastating. In WNC’s outdoor industry, we saw impacts like business disruption, infrastructure damage, and ongoing limits to access. We saw immediate, 4th quarter business loss. That is a key time of year as fall leaf colors and holidays drive a lot of tourism and retail spending. I’ve seen/heard/read varying predictions of impacts on tourism, and there is a general anticipation that tourism demand will be suppressed for the 2025 spring and summer seasons.
One of the main impacts we see is the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure, whether it’s washed-out river access points, landslides on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or treefall on popular trails. For example, the Blue Ridge Parkway has over 45 landslides, and Pisgah National Forest reported that over 50% of its roads and over 822 miles of trail were damaged. While federal relief funding was released in late 2024, this volume of projects alone will take time and a big workforce.
As we see these projects completed and access return, we will absolutely see the use return. Incredibly, as early as the first week of February, the U.S. Forest Service had crews and machinery reestablishing the Stackhouse take-out on Section 9 of the French Broad. This is likely one of the busiest river access points in the region, and getting it reopened is a big step to recreational use, both commercial and private, returning to the forest and bringing economic benefits back to Madison County.
Hurricane Helene by the Numbers in Western NC*
- Approximately $53 billion needed for damage recovery
- More than 1,900 landslides
- More than 160 water/wastewater systems damaged
- At least 6,000 miles of roads damaged
- 12,000+ miles of rivers and streams impacted
- 190,000 acres of National Forest land impacted
- Approximately 822 miles of trails impacted
What is NCOREC doing to support the recovery and rebuilding of WNC’s outdoor industry?
NCOREC quickly increased our meeting schedule after the hurricane hit to measure the impacts on businesses and entities within the industry. As we started to capture first-hand experiences from our members and non-members, we saw a few opportunities to work on behalf of the industry.
We worked with Amy Allison, NC’s State Outdoor Recreation Director, to communicate with state officials about reopening western counties that were capable of serving the public and supporting tourism without exacerbating damage. This was critical in supporting rural economies during a pivotal season of the year for revenue generation.
We worked with partners in retail manufacturing and distribution to develop a large-scale clothing collection and distribution center.
We also identified key segments of the outdoor industry that were impacted to help funnel relief funds appropriately. This meant reviewing the governor’s funding recommendations and identifying where new or increased funding could specifically support our industry.
Can you share any specific stories or examples of this industry’s resilience in the face of an unprecedented natural disaster?
In the western counties that were shut down immediately after the hurricane, we held tight and worked hard to get reopened. Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) was able to pull together our Guest Appreciation Festival and host approximately 5,000 whitewater enthusiasts onsite over the weekend. We worked with key partners to raise over $15K in disaster relief donations. We also saw many businesses and organizations pivot into support mode immediately. Non-profits like the Carolina Mountain Club and Asheville on Bikes stepped into big efforts to clear trails and work on bike path/greenway redevelopment, while industry brands like Recover, Nester Hosiery, Great Outdoor Provision Co., and 360 Adventure Collective have donated hundreds of boxes of clothing to the United Way. Other local brands like Astral and Watershed stepped heavily into collecting and distributing relief supplies.
Spring and summer are right around the corner and for many outdoor-focused businesses, it’s a critical time for business. What would you say to anyone considering traveling to WNC for some outdoor adventure this year?
I would tell them, “Come on over, and know that we’re all still shellshocked.” Honestly, I think there’s no better time than this season to come see how vibrant WNC is. The communities are rebuilding, many are ready for visitors.
I would also utilize the “know before you go” mindset. There have been a lot of recreation areas that were damaged or inaccessible coming back online as funding has started to flow and projects are underway. Don’t just assume that your favorite trail/fishing spot/etc. from your last trip is open–you might want to reach out to the agency or a business to verify. To that, be enthusiastic about exploring new-to-you areas that are open. Support the local businesses.
There has been an incredible outpouring of support for our area from all over the country since the hurricane. How can people reading this contribute to NCOREC’s efforts and help rebuild our vibrant outdoor industry?
I would encourage folks to contact their state legislators and share their support for funding to rebuild recreation infrastructure. People reading this from outside the region should consider a trip to WNC. We’re all working hard to restore the businesses and landscape for ourselves, and for you!
Where can people follow along with NCOREC’s progress and initiatives?
We post our updated legislative priorities on our website. As the state legislature is in session and we see the next round of funding, we will be narrowing in on our key agenda for the year, but we are certain that hurricane relief funding for outdoor recreation businesses and infrastructure will be our top priority.
Curious if your state has an OREC office? Visit the Confluence of States.
*Information from the USDA Forest Service Helene Incident Response & Recovery report.
Interested in learning about other interesting people in the outdoor industry? Check out our complete Coffee Talk series HERE.