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Hurricane Helene Update

innkeeper009

Updated: Nov 11, 2024

​Hurricane Helene swept through the Western North Carolina the morning of Friday, September 27th, leaving widespread power outages in its wake.  Many in our community were devastated and our hearts go out to them.  We appreciate the amount of assistance that has followed this disaster and are buoyed by the resilience of our friends and neighbors.   Please keep this region in your thoughts as we continue to rebound!   Please see the end  of this blog for links to ways to help and resources in our community.


The Lovill House Inn, built in 1875, is the oldest house still in use here in Boone. It has weathered 150 years of wear and tear, storms, fires, and other natural disasters, and yet continues to emerge as a beacon of resilience. Equipped with a solar-powered microgrid installed in 2020, the Inn maintained power to the entire 11-acre property and its guests, underscoring the importance of renewable energy during extreme weather events.

While much of the region experienced historic rainfall, flooding, and extended power outages, the Lovill House Inn stood apart. A 30-kilowatt solar array, built atop a carport protecting the Inn's parking lot, combined with six Tesla batteries, powered the entire property throughout the storm. The Inn’s system not only provided uninterrupted power to its guests but also helped alleviate some of the burden on New River Light and Power's grid during a time of crisis.


Video of the Waterfall Post-Hurricane Helene at Lovill House Inn on Friday, Sept. 27th, 2024:

Following the storm, the waterfall took a new shape, with beautifully exposed bedrock.


We continue to operate overnight accommodations for our guests and currently have some availability to accommodate new guests should the need arise.  Long term prosects for the Inn are good, and Boone is a resilient community working hard to restore all commercial operations. 


While all of the major roads are open to Boone, our biggest concern is guest safety, and we ask that you confirm your route to the Inn before traveling by checking the North Carolina Department of Transportation's website.  We expect most businesses to return to operation in the near future, although some may take longer.


Please check the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding road updates by clicking here.


High Country Host- local closure info

Town of Boone- Resources

Red Cross- Donations

Samaritan's Purse- Donations


In the meantime, we have been working to clear fallen branches from the property. A big shout out to one of our team members, Emily, and her family, who came to help!



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Tel:  (828) 270-0831

404 Old Bristol Rd. Boone, North Carolina

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