What's Left of the Asheville River Arts District After Helene

Three weeks after Helene ravaged Western North Carolina, this is how things look along Riverside Drive in Asheville, NC. This area is called the "River Arts District" and is known for the art galleries, businesses and breweries that have revitalized this once run down industrialized area.
Music by Getty Images - Code: PTZH3SE2OLAO7MFZ

[@johnc132]

Beautiful music and such a grim reminder of Nature's fury.

[@AskforBryan]

I removed his comment

[@mamasmurf7830]

Thank you. Nearly every moment of the last 15 years of my life have been spent on this stretch of road. 💜 My art is in the river mud…. We’re devastated…. It’s a nightmare 😭

[@catfish24]

So sorry this happened. Stay strong my friend things will get better.

[@lgreen4479]

First of all thank you for your service. Thank you for documenting and sharing with the world in real time what was happening and how swift this disaster was. Words seem inept to all that has been lost.

[@AskforBryan]

I take it you saw my uniform in the reflection?

[@chev500l8]

Anyone who says their current predicament sucks needs to watch one of these videos, it will change their tune real quick.

[@MAWA2024]

Fantastic job choosing the background music for this video. I was last there in Sept 2022. This is simply heartbreaking to me. Go into Google maps, look up "River arts district Asheville", Go to the lower left corner and get into street view and you can drive this same stretch as the video side by side. It really makes an impact to see what it was vs what it is now. Helps a lot if you have two monitors.

[@AskforBryan]

I've been looking at street view a lot in the places I've been and it's crazy.

[@texaspatriot2841]

Perfect music for this video. God bless the people of Asheville.

[@AdrianMunch]

Yup, Get the road open so people can vacation and take videos. To think how close I was to being caught up in all that, I left Boone NC after spending a week around Greenville SC, and then Blowing Rock and Boone NC on Sept 18th. And it had rained during part of everyday we were there. That area was already flooding on Sept 18th.

[@elliott4570]

I lived on Grandview drive overlooking the “River Arts” district in the 50’s and 60’s. There were no other houses but ours there… it’s still hard to believe all the damage there.

[@bobbichavez5837]

You'll rebound more vibrant and stronger

[@lisaseaton4989]

My old drive to work, except I went straight through to Biltmore then onto Sweeten Creek. I don’t think I can drive that way anymore. I am afraid it’ll break my heart. I’m a chicken but I have been trying to avoid seeing any more devastation in person. Too heavy 😥

[@AskforBryan]

It's rough out there, I get it.

[@asheland_numismatics]

It’s absolutely unbelievable! It kills me to see this. 😞

[@RavenMagic369]

You don't have to a word the video speaks for itself! It made me cry it's beyond words ! And to look around the world this is happening everywhere?! Something else is at play here and it feels evil....

[@Michael65429]

It's the maggots...

[@AskforBryan]

It is hard to fathom how to rebuild all of this for sure.

[@SpencerCulbertson-s9b]

I raced ine of my best bicycle races at Carrier Park. Loved that place

[@DutchessUnderbridge18]

I was there. Camped practically right on the rivers edge.... 04:30 in this video.

[@AdrianMunch]

Do you understand why the natives lived in teepees?

[@briano.1503]

Indeed

[@KaranHawkins]

I feel so bad. No place in the USA should look like a 3rd world country 😢. Still praying for you all. ❤❤

[@AskforBryan]

Looks like a warzone yeah?

[@AdrianMunch]

Think of the jobs that will be available around there reconstructing that area.

[@AskforBryan]

Yeah, many contractors from out of state, taking money away from the community. I do agree that for those that do this type of work, they can be set for years out here.

[@davidpalen2543]

about 4:30, i helped build that container building on the river

[@shirleyperry3170]

It looked like it was spectacular. I’m sorry it’s not the same. ☮️♥️😢

[@smctrout4423]

There was a great Greek restaurant near Biltmore and just off of I-40. Did it survive?

[@AskforBryan]

Yeah it's fine. Really only places on the rivers had damage like this.

[@graalcloud]

@@AskforBryan Wrong!! Go take a drive to the top of Beaver Dam, it looks way worse than this. Every single tree fell, the debris is piled 100 feet high in places. Nowhere near a river.

[@johnharper2016]

Sad to see so much destruction. Do not rebuild in that area. Move the whole show to higher ground. It can and will flood again. Hendersonville, NC resident.

[@readingisfundamental58]

Did Dave Steel survive?!

[@-Amiya-]

Yes, the water line got close but they were untouched.

[@joysoderquist4665]

Research Asheville history the flood of 1916. It is called the river district.

[@Mindraker1]

Asheville CW: Let's build some hotels there

[@ColdShepherdmpr8]

Looks better now than it did

[@AskforBryan]

Crazy right?

[@WonkyWomanLife]

Is that near the mall area?

[@Luannnelson547]

No

[@WonkyWomanLife]

@luannnelson547 I know how to get to mall.I used to live in western N..C. I would get off at the hospital exit,to go to the mall. There was a re named hotel.Home2Suites,right off the exit

[@AskforBryan]

The mall is over on Tunnel Road on the other side of town from where the rivers arts district is.

[@WakieUppieYall]

Looks as if it was 'personal.'

[@graalcloud]

Sadly it needs to be said, the River Arts District was always a poorly conceived idea. There was a reason it was once run down.

[@AskforBryan]

Industry moved out which left a blight of buildings. The River Arts District is a great way to repurpose forgotten buildings into functional and desirable destinations. What's wrong with that?

[@graalcloud]

@@AskforBryan Are you illiterate? I just said it was run down for a reason. In other words industry left the area for a reason, this may be the worst but it's not the first time the river flooded, it happens almost every year.

[@appalachianmagic6370]

@@graalcloud Same thing the old folks of Asheville told them, the new people moving in would not listen about the flooding ... my own family has been here 300 years as of four years ago.

[@Andrew-bj6ym]

@@graalcloud What's the reason you nonce?

[@alkennedy1124]

Sorry to say it, but, everything at and below the high water mark need not ever be rebuilt, we ,as people,can’t stand for the willful pain of a flood, that was and should of never had people in low liying river beds and flood probable river direction beds, I pray,people get to higher ground and stay out of the river paths and all areas below this floods high water mark ok praise Jesus Christ grace amen 🙏

[@wesowen6624]

Perhaps we can put a beautiful park there someday

[@glennestes4940]

Hopefully it doesn't cause taxes to go up too high for people in Asheville, because of all the lost business's,it could have very well hit right thru the hickory area which got 5-7 inches of rain

[@Baybay25]

The exact reason why I will never stay near water or flood prone areas. Prayers for the victims of hurricane Helene

[@murkstalinskitm5334]

Unfortunately that’s where us that aren’t wealthy go to live and we will again.

[@fistteam]

@@glennestes4940 Taxes…Taxes…Taxes…Best be more concerned about your Insurance rates!! “Watch the water!” FKH…Let’s Go Brandon!!

[@joanmerriken9216]

It looks like a desert with dried mud ec😅.

[@briano.1503]

That's funny to you? That shit is full of toxic everything. You must be a Democrat. 🖕

[@scooterrockets7815]

All deciduous vegetation below the waterline is dead. Not a good sign.

[@AmericaShallBeSaved777]

It will come back. If the vegetation in the Virgin Islands can recover ante being hit by a cat 5 storm, then this can recover as well.

[@scooterrockets7815]

@@AmericaShallBeSaved777 you might be missing the point. Temporary submersion does not kill deciduous vegetation, but poison/toxicity does.

[@graalcloud]

@@scooterrockets7815 Maybe try explaining what you're talking about outright instead of expecting everyone to be mind readers

[@AskforBryan]

They are fine, just covered in dirt and dust, unless they got washed away of course.

[@Kay-ln3kx]

We need to take all of that ukrain money and rebuild this city!

[@readingisfundamental58]

It is an area that would be prone to flood, so.....

[@AskforBryan]

You do realize that most of all civilization is build around rivers and waterways right?

[@graalcloud]

@@AskforBryan I'm 100% sure that attempts were made to build them away from known flood plains though

[@readingisfundamental58]

@AskforBryan I am aware. U don't think that MOST businesses are built around rivers SOME are. I REMAIN ASTONISHED at how destructive the water was in other cities near Asheville, and in Biltmore Village, and the River Arts District,-- i just didn't think it would/could get THAT destructive. Ugh

[@philipharris9519]

10/27/24. this past week 50 billion went to ukraine!! connect the dots. what is in Ukraine and western North Carolina. do your research.

[@marksgoogle4360]

exactly

[@paulrevere2928]

100% of FEMA top management is Jewish, connect the dots. Evil exists. Beware.

[@HappyASScreatures]

​@@paulrevere2928source? Who cares about facts these days? History is told by the winner... 13 million people died in the holocaust but History only records the 6 million jews. I am vexed.

[@vickihoover9225]

Why the tornado shelters being brought in is something else about to happen ???? My heart aches for everyone 😢🙏

[@elliott4570]

Get all the facts before criticizing!

[@flowerseva]

Weather Engineering at its finest

[@claudiahansen4938]

War was waged against them.

[@claudiahansen4938]

@@geocam2 not sure of exact identities. But likely interests tied to reopening lithium or quartz mining in the general area.

[@claudiahansen4938]

@@geocam2 no, the arts district wasn't targeted specifically. Just cover for what was really sought. Follow the money. 1,000 US patents for modifying and steering the weather.

[@AmericaShallBeSaved777]

Do you assert similar viewpoints for all of the many natural disasters which occur around the world?

[@rustysdirtworks8398]

​@@geocam2no she is not, quit sticking your head in the sand, and wake up

[@claudiahansen4938]

@@AmericaShallBeSaved777 some of them, yes. But there are people who have done actual research and can document various incidences of weather alterations. I have no proof, so it is better to do your own research and draw your own conclusions.

[@philipharris9519]

what other "essential" natural resource cN be found in Western North Carolina? silica quartz!! what is used for? which mine opened very quickly after the flood? what washed away in in the silt and sand from the riverbed? do your research folks.

[@phillippitts6294]

Lithium and a very special sand that is used in technology manufacturing

[@philipharris9519]

@@phillippitts6294 very good!!

[@nerdlywehunt]

Just wait for Elon to get put in charge of the govment natural resources, ....they will sell mineral rights to highest bidder and grind up all of the mountains to get the natural resources just like West Virginia. All that will be left is sludge ponds that they will call lakes.

[@terrybane6206]

Oh no.....not the river arts district. Oh my....nothing that matters was lost.

[@emilottis3119]

😲..a MERCIFUL.. LOVING...GOD ???? ..😲

[@paulrevere2928]

No greedy, corporate interests. If you think anything about hurricane Helene was natural, you have your head stuck so far up your ass it’s blocking the sunshine. Beware be very very aware.. hurricane Helene Marked the 70th anniversary of #ProjectCirrus US military experimentation with manipulation of hurricanes. Look it up. 👀🙏❤️‍🩹🗽🇺🇸🕯️

[@jimhanty8149]

Yep .. he took out the stuff built in a giant flood plain by arrogant humans… how stupid… what do people think CREATED the flood plain..? ….FLOODS IN THE PAST..! He was teaching a lesson to the ignorant …Don’t rebuild anything that’s not at a flood rated elevation.

[@emilottis3119]

😳😠😫😩✝️😫😩😠😳

[@briano.1503]

Gut wrenching. The Kamala sign was laughable , but the rest is just horrible.

[@americanbeauty4015]

voting for a rapist?

[@graalcloud]

@@americanbeauty4015 Shut up idiot

[@emilottis3119]

✝️😳😠..so .WHYYYYY did Our GOD DO this to Us ?!? ..WHYYY did We deserve this ?!? .. Someone EXPLAIN plz ...😠😳✝️

[@Senerian]

Wanted to give you a glimpse of what live could be like in the blink of eye and that things you enjoy and take for granted are not really of the bible, But strong family, Loving thy neighbor and strong community are.

[@houstonbrown3450]

We are entering the End of Time Jesus is coming back soon be prepared ❤

[@americanbeauty4015]

yeah, or, we've been ignoring warning signs for 50 years running and it finally caught up to us

[@graalcloud]

Liberalism is an abomination before God.

[@davidpalen2543]

God did not do this, James 1:13

[@luismateo9064]

I don’t see the National Guard or FEMA anywhere! So widespread is the damage that just to remove the trash, will take years!😢😢😢

[@AskforBryan]

FYI, the guy taking the video (me) is in the National Guard and is working with others doing cleanup in other areas.

[@donutcookiepie]

Luis you’re full of shit. I smell you from my house.

[@donutcookiepie]

Bryan, thank you so much to you and all military for your service! I have food and water becuase of you and your military family. God bless you all!

[@houstontrousdale8795]

@@AskforBryan Thank you.

[@nannyoverzet1954]

Radioactive material has leaked into the soil and water. Cadaver teams are dying like flies. Their boots are melting off their feet. Major burns from people taking showers where the water has been turned back on. 10,000 people are dead and 10,000 families are still displaced...right now. It is not in the news. It is all lies. No one is doing anything to help these people.

[@KennyP-zh5uy]

Sad and sorry for losses of people and property. Stay out of the flood plain. Just like the coast it’s nice to visit but really a bad choice to build on.

[@Stefan-o5k]

kamala didn't help asheville.