MAYOR PETER O'LEARY UPDATE | July 02, 2025

​

Friday, June 27, was a great day for Chimney Rock. Exactly 9 months after the flood and Chimney Rock State Park has reopened. Governor Stein officially declared the Park open and we had a number of special guests join us. Secretary of NCDNCR, Pam Cashwell; Secretary of Transportation, Joey Hopkins; NC Legislator Jake Johnson; NC Senator Tim Moffitt; Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchett and many other legislators and political figures as well as local leaders were there to celebrate.

One of the distinguished guests was our own Bonnie Elliotte. The temporary bridge has been named the “Bonnie Elliotte” bridge as it crosses the former site of Elliotte’s Grocery, which was damaged beyond repair by the flood. Bonnie and her niece, Brenda Brackett Crawford, have been instrumental in helping the State Park to reopen. When the state was searching for a solution as to where to put the temporary entrance their property became a viable site when it was determined that a bridge could be used there. Even though they have future plans for the property they were willing to work for the good of the Village and the State Park and came to an agreement to allow the temporary use of their property for a bridge.

Bonnie actually grew up in the house between The Christmas Shop and Chimney Rock Harley Davidson. Bonnie and her mother started Elliotte’s Grocery in 1952 and ran it until the early 2000s. It was a one room storehouse of groceries, information, advice, and conversation. The type of store you just can’t find anymore. Their cooperation paved the way for the Park to reopen and helped bring about another huge milestone in our Village’s recovery. Thank you to Bonnie and Brenda for your important part in continuing the Village’s journey forward.

As of today, our Village “Open for business” chart shows four businesses open; Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock Essentials, Hickory Nut Plants and Gifts, and the Dogwood Travel Park. Many of the rest are just waiting on a few small fixes and projects. I expect during the month of July we will see a lot more businesses opening back up.

The State Park and the Village continue to work with DOT reviewing bridge designs on the permanent bridge into the Park. Suggestions are being incorporated into the design as we work toward a bridge that not only meets the basic transportation needs but will be a visual asset to our Village.

The Village also received the great news that our six applications for funding from the NC Dept of Commerce were approved. These six grants, totaling $5,500,000 will go towards building small business infrastructure on the eastern entrance to the Village. We will be putting in sidewalks, curb and gutter, and retaining walls to further the streetscape from the Village Square next to Bubba O'Leary's eastward to the Broad River Inn.

 

A retaining wall is planned for the property next to the Post Office and this will be used as infill commercial development to potentially relocate the businesses lost during the storm from the Old Rock to the Brewery. These suggestions are from the TASK Force Master Plan. The plan is still being developed but it was instrumental in the success of these six grant applications.

 

Representatives from the NC Dept of Commerce attended our public input session on the Master Plan and were very impressed with the work that the Village has done towards recovery. The efforts of Don Cason and the TASK Force are already paying off. This will continue as we implement the suggestions in the Master Plan. The Plan gives us something to sell as we apply for future grants and look to recover and rebuild. Granting agencies want doable plans that show overall vision and planning and demonstrate exactly how a community will use funds to rebuild. The TASK Force and the Village will continue to work with the State and other groups to study our Village, its economy, our assets, and determine what we need to recover, rebuild, and thrive – all while maintaining the beauty, charm, and magic that make Chimney Rock Village truly special.

​​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​​