Open 361 Days a Year: Admissions 10:00am – 3:30pm; park closes at 4:30pm

Due to significant flooding and impassable roads in our region from Tropical Storm Helene, the WNC Nature Center is temporarily CLOSED.

All of our animals are safe and accounted for, and there is minimal damage to the habitats. However, Swannanoa River Road and the main bridge to the Nature Center were washed away, and it will take time to reopen. We will undoubtedly need your support as we rebuild.

Donations can be made at www.wildwnc.org/donate.

October 18, 2024
5:03 pm

Tropical Storm Helene

A Message from the Friends of the WNC Nature Center Executive Director

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Due to significant flooding and impassable roads in our region from Tropical Storm Helene, the WNC Nature Center is CLOSED and all events and programs in the foreseeable future are cancelled. We are relieved to share that all of our animals are safe and accounted for, and our staff are present and taking care of them. There is minimal damage to the habitats, but Swannanoa River Road and the main bridge to the Nature Center were washed away. There is no current timeline for reopening. We will undoubtedly need your financial support over the coming months as we recover. However, there are also greater immediate needs in our community right now, and we ask you to consider the entire Western North Carolina region as we rebuild together.

First and foremost, if you call the Western North Carolina mountains your home, I hope you are safe and have the resources you need. I don’t think anyone anticipated how dire this situation would become, and we all held a collective breath waiting for spotty cell service to let us know about the state of the Nature Center and if the animals were alright. Knowing that every single one of our animals made it through the storm safe and sound was a bright moment during this devastating time.

I have been in communication with Nature Center Director Chris Gentile daily, and I was able to visit the Nature Center yesterday to see the damage for myself. Our main bridge access was washed away, along with a good portion of Swannanoa River Road. Thankfully, animal keepers are able to get to the Nature Center and are working in shifts to ensure our animals are well-cared for. Their habitats had minimal damage, but the lack of power and gas has made it difficult to make repairs that are needed.

With the support of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as several of our zoo neighbors – including NC Zoo in Asheboro and Knoxville Zoo in TN – we have had several teams offer their support. From arborists to welders to generators and car batteries, it’s been a team effort to make the Nature Center safe for our staff and animals during this first critical week.

Please continue to check our website and social media for updates about progress being made around the WNC Nature Center. Our hope is that we will be able to restore bridge access as quickly as possible, reopen, and resume operations. The truth is, there is no real timeline, and this may take months.

As you know, admissions, memberships, Gift Shop purchases, and event revenues all support the operations of the Nature Center. With the Nature Center closed, our ability to support the ongoing care of the animals is diminished. We will rely on our members and donors to help bridge that gap over the coming weeks and months.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions. We will continue to share updates, needs, and opportunities with the community, and we are so glad we are all in this together.

Kate Frost
Executive Director
Friends of the WNC Nature Center
friends@wildwnc.org

PS: If you would like to help sustain the WNC Nature Center over the coming months, please consider becoming a monthly donor. You can go to wildwnc.org/donate and click on monthly instead of one-time to set that up. Because of you, we will get through this!

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WNC Nature Center
75 Gashes Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28805
Getting Here

General Inquiries
828-259-8080
admin@wildwnc.org

Friends of the
WNC Nature Center
PO Box 19151
Asheville, NC 28815
828-259-8092

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Open 361 Days a Year
Admissions
10:00am – 3:30pm
Park closes at 4:30pm

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