Western NC restaurant wrecked by Hurricane Helene's floodwaters: A local landmark lost

Highway 176 – renowned for its stunning views between Saluda and Tryon, is now blocked in several spots – and some of its most iconic landmarks have been destroyed.

Many in our community are still desperately searching for missing family members and friends, as parts of western North Carolina remain cut off from the outside world. Some areas are even too dangerous for ATVs, and local businesses have little hope of reopening anytime soon.

The road, which for decades has been a popular destination for celebrations, has left the Tryon community in mourning.

"It’s hard to believe," Jeb Aho said.

The Caro-Mi Dining Room was a beloved landmark by the Pacolet River, with a charming covered bridge crossing over the water.

Diners would savor all-you-can-eat meals beneath twinkling strings of lights.

"No. It doesn’t look anything like it, right?" said residents Dale and Reggie Drake.

Dale and Reggie have frequented the dining room for nearly 40 years and visited on Tuesday to see the damage for themselves.

"Everybody that lives here, and Greenville, Spartanburg, as far as Columbia comes to eat here," Dale Drake said.

When the Pacolet River raged during Helene, it ripped apart homes, left others dangling and destroyed livelihoods.

Jeb and Melodie Aho say they feel lucky that they, and their home, survived.

"An AirBnb, and a cottage, and a hip camp. And we have journals filled with entries from guests that have enjoyed it there. But the flood took that out," Jeb Aho said.

"I think it’s important people don’t forget these small towns, and how much devastation has happened here," Melodie Aho said.

While some major roads in the mountains have been cleared, Highway 176 still faces significant challenges due to numerous fallen trees, washouts, and landslides, leaving uncertainty about when it will reopen.

In Polk County, the beloved Caro-Mi Dining Room stands in ruins, a heartbreaking sight for the community that has cherished it for years.

WRAL News has a list of people who have reported being safe from the storm. To mark yourself safe, please reach out to us via this form and use the subject line "NC Safe List."

By calling 211 or visiting nc211.org, families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources in their community. People trying to connect with family members can call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. People can also call those numbers to report missing loved ones.