Chimney Rock, North Carolina will not be bulldozed

Posts circulated online claiming that the federal government was planning to raze the area.

CHIMNEY ROCK, North Carolina – An administrator for the village of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, has refuted claims that federal officials ordered the area to be destroyed.

Chimney Rock Village Administrator Stephen Duncan expressed frustration with the claims in a conversation with WCNC Charlotte on Thursday.

Posts have been circulating online since this week claiming that federal officials told village leaders that the government was exercising eminent domain over Chimney Rock and would raze the entire village to clean up the destruction left by Hurricane Helene.

Duncan says there is no such plan to raze the village. He said Chimney Rock would take legal action against any attempt to “destroy the village.”

RELATED: Here are the areas in North Carolina that were hardest hit by the Helene flooding

The death toll in Helene exceeded 200 on Thursday, around 90 of them in North Carolina alone. Chimney Rock was one of the hardest hit locations in Helene. The small village in Rutherford County suffered massive damage from the storm.

One resident estimated that about 40% of the village had disappeared, with buildings, roads and houses in the area completely destroyed.

“It's so overwhelming that you don't even know what recovery looks like, let alone where to start,” wrote Tariq Bokhari, a Charlotte city council member, on X. “It will be a long road to recovery, everyone Levels included.” Stakeholders are needed.”

RELATED: 'Worse than you could ever imagine': Chimney Rock devastated by Hurricane Helene

Chimney Rock is located approximately 110 miles northwest of Charlotte and approximately 20 miles southeast of Asheville. The village is a popular tourist destination, particularly because of the nearby Chimney Rock State Park.

In an email response to WCNC Charlotte, Chimney Rock State Park officials reiterated that they had no information about any bulldozing plans. The administration has not yet conducted an assessment of parking conditions. The park will remain closed until October 31st.

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