MCDOWELL CO., N.C. — A hotel owner is reeling after losing his business, a historic nearly century-old hotel, from Hurricane Helene.

What You Need To Know

  • Alpine Inn has clung to the cliffs for over 95 years, providing the community with nearly a century worth of memories

  • The inn began as a souvenir and gas station before developing into a family destination

  • As soon as Helene hit, owner Carter Francois said he moved his guests to the safest building

  • He recently posted a GoFundMe, raising about $27,000, but not nearly enough to help him rebuild, and he needs the community's help

In the mountain community of Little Switzerland, an unincorporated area of McDowell and Mitchell counties, Alpine Inn has clung to the cliffs for over 95 years, providing the community with nearly a century worth of memories. 

The breathtaking views show Table Rock, among many other spots, bringing people in from all over the world. It’s a spot that brings peace to many.

The Inn began as a souvenir and gas station before developing into a family destination. Sitting over 3,000 feet above sea level, the crisp mountain air and cool temperatures invite guests to settle in.

One of its three buildings is now a pile of rubble, full of memories. The remnants of each room, once filled with chairs and dressers, are now splashed across the mountainside.

Owner Carter Francois said he can’t help but remember the vivid details of that night.

“[At] 6:05 all of a sudden the building went pop, and it leaned back,” Francois said. “When the storm came in, it blew out my window and glass went on me. I was lying in bed and I thought I was having a nightmare.”

Owning this piece of mountain heaven became Carter Francois’s dream. He said he saved up and bought it with cash three years ago, planning out every detail — except one.

“We didn’t have a hurricane evacuation plan, not at 3,200 feet up here on the mountain top,“ Francois explained. Helene caught them all by surprise, leaving them scrambling for their lives.

As soon as Helene hit, he said he moved his guests to the safest building.

“We rounded everybody up and stuck them in that building and it was blowing still. It was raining still and the front door started not latching,” he said.

Still, he knew something was wrong. “I started hearing a ‘pop pop pop’ that was the road going the asphalt leaving us,” Francois said. The hotel’s deck quickly followed, tumbling down the mountain.

By the afternoon, they left for another hotel. Carter says he poured all his life savings into the business.

Still, he has hope.

“It’s down for the count for now, but I don’t think we’re out just yet,” Francois said.

He said he believes this spot that brought joy to so many lives for nearly a century will once again see another sunrise. Carter Francois added insurance gave little, but said they don’t cover moving earth. FEMA has not yet come to assess the property.   

He recently held a GoFundMe, raising about $27,000 but not nearly enough to help him rebuild. 

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