Biltmore Estate, one of the most famous tourist centres in North Carolina, has numerous employees who have announced their return weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged the area, abruptly halting operations and causing extensive damage to the estate.
The company, in a social media statement released on Monday, said that its operations would resume on November 2nd. Helene’s historic flooding was reported to have ravaged a large portion of the Biltmore grounds, not sparing the entrance and several low-lying structures within the estate.
The statement revealed that several of the estate’s animals were affected by the storm and many were killed. However, the statement added that the vast majority of the animals survived and are generally okay at the moment and can be accounted for. Many of the estate’s facilities, such as the gilded-age Biltmore House, the conservatory, winery, gardens, and the estate’s hotels, reportedly received minimal or no damage.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support for our community and the determination of our first responders, utility workers and community volunteers,” Bill Cecil Jr., president and CEO of Biltmore, said in a statement. “As recovery unfolds, welcoming guests back to Biltmore not only means we can open but also brings critical support to our region’s economy to aid area employees, local businesses and friends.