Mayor Peter O’Leary |  March 13, 2025 Update

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The Village remains a focus for reporters and news agencies. As the six-month anniversary of the flood nears, everyone seeks an update. I welcome this because we must keep our story out there. Today it is still fresh, and everyone is interested in our progress. This story will continue for years, and we need people to remember it.

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I often get the same questions about how it happened, what our progress has been, what does the future look like, and I do my best to answer them. I can’t say it gets old because I love this Village, and I love to talk about how it is going to be amazing in the future.

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But every interview reminds me again of the enormity of the task we are facing. I see much work going on every day. The road west, the neighborhoods, the volunteers still pouring in and rebuilding, the progress is steady, but the job remains huge.

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We all need to remember that but also enjoy today, enjoy the process. Some of us will be here 5 or 10 or 15 years from now and we will be telling others “I lived through it, and I was one of the people who brought Chimney Rock Village back”. It seems, at times, that this won’t end. You wonder if this will be going on forever. It won’t but we need to remind each other of that and support each other. We also need the support of those outside who love this Village and want to help us bring it back.

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I am seeing a few signs of normality. The CDA sponsored a Souper Supper at Fae Nectar Meadery, and it was packed. It was great to see familiar faces, share greetings and hugs, and enjoy a great meal. The community is eager for these opportunities to get together for laughter, conversation, and support. It is healing when you can share your burdens.

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A few more notes on what’s going on:

• Rose Senehi, author, is writing another book, which will be about the flood. She has been interviewing many people and said she thinks it is going to make a great story. I am sure it will and will excite her fans to know this is on its way. Rose has become a bit of a Village and local historian with her fictional novels documenting life and events in the Gorge.

• The Chimney Rock Task Force held a public input session and concluded an online survey. Over 3,500 people responded, which is phenomenal. If you submitted a survey, thank you for your input and support. You too, have now become a player in the rebuilding of the Village. We look forward to seeing the complete analysis by Destination by Design.

• DOT held a public input session primarily about the new replacement bridge into Chimney Rock State Park. They had a tremendous turnout and will be sharing their findings with the Village soon. They have also been working with the Village and Southside Drive residents to find a suitable temporary entrance into the Park.The Governor, the Secretary of DNCR (who oversees the Park) and the Director of the NC Park Service have all been working hard to get the Park open this summer. We applaud their efforts and thank them for recognizing how important this is to our survival and future.

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If you made it this far, I want to thank you for enduring my rambles. Please continue your prayers and support for the people of the Village. We are doing our best but need help on so many levels. The outpouring of so much from so many is keeping us going and with God’s Grace and your support we will bring this Village back. Thank you.

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