Community and business representatives from across the rail industry gathered in Asheville on Sept. 22 for the Railroads & Regional Economic Development Conference. Organized by the WNC Rail Committee, the conference revealed some hints of how railroads may adapt to changing times.
Traffic pattern
Asheville, N.C.
How to not die in the Smokies
When you think about the Great Smoky Mountains, your thoughts might not immediately jump to death and destruction. But that is exactly what adventure travel writer David Brill of Morgan County, Tenn., dives into with his new book, “Into the Mist: Tales of Death and Disaster, Mishaps and Misdeeds, Misfortune and Mayhem in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
Cycle through seasonal splendor in WNC
Autumn cycling events in the region feature options for all experience levels and highlight the gorgeous landscape while raising money for nonprofits.
Explore Asheville CVB celebrates new office, brand & independence
The dreary Wednesday morning weather couldn’t put a damper on a 1 p.m. reception celebrating the new office location of the recently-rebranded Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Monumental change
Asheville, N.C.
Local agencies work to improve water quality in Buncombe & Madison counties
This week, Xpress looks at the network of agencies and organizations working in Buncombe and Madison counties to improve water quality and position the French Broad as the region’s next great tourist attraction.
Total eclipse of the park
Asheville, N.C.
Communities along Upper French Broad work to restore water quality
In this two-part series, Xpress invites you on a guided a trip down the river as we examine the work of various communities to write the next chapter in the French Broad’s history, beginning with Transylvania and Henderson counties.
Van life: What happens when the road leads to Asheville?
Rising housing costs, a longing for travel, the opportunity to leverage technology to work remotely: It’s not any one trend alone that’s driving a resurgence of interest in life on the road. Our correspondent looks at the van life phenomenon through the lens of its connections to Asheville and Western North Carolina.
Panelists dish on Asheville’s growth at Buzz Breakfast
As part of its summer Buzz Breakfast series, Leadership Asheville (a program of UNC Asheville) hosted “How will Asheville grow thoughtfully?” on July 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The event explored the public sector’s role in shaping and encouraging the city’s growth.
Business booming as Asheville builds on tourist trade
Asheville’s bustling economy owes much to the city’s continued popularity as a tourist destination, but the area is also benefiting from a wave of local business expansions.
Busker see, büsker dü
Asheville, NC
Independence Day events around WNC
Whether you favor pig pickin’ or watermelon, live music or a dramatic reading of the “Declaration of Independence,” there’s something for everyone this holiday, and Xpress has all your pie-flavored, freedom-filled needs covered.
Watchers in the woods
Asheville, NC
Economic engine trouble
Asheville, NC
Despite progress, concerns about the I-26 Connector persist
When the DOT finally decided on a design for Section B of the Connector project in 2015, many stakeholders thought they saw light at the end of a very long tunnel. Other residents, however, see serious flaws in Alternative 4B, questioning whether the project’s long-term benefits will justify the sacrifices their neighborhoods must make to see it completed.
2016 numbers reflect continuing strength in Buncombe County tourism industry
At the first annual Tourism Week Summit, the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled new statistics about the economic impact of tourism in Buncombe County in 2016.
Café at the Cradle: A ‘hidden gem’ in Pisgah National Forest
Asheville chef Zika Singogo is partnering with local farmer and food supplier Kendall Huntley to provide sustainability-focused food at the Cradle of Forestry.
P&Z approves its final big hotel
Asheville’s Planning & Zoning Commission heard the last hotel zoning application submitted under the city’s previous zoning rules, which changed on Feb. 14. The commission approved a 112-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel planned for 26 Meadow Road. Moving forward, any hotel project with more than 20 rooms will have to make its case to City Council as a conditional zoning application. The conditional zoning process gives the elected officials more discretion than P&Z’s guidelines allow.
Asheville’s newest section of greenway opens next to New Belgium Brewery
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest section of the French Broad River Greenway was held Friday, April 21, at the foot of the New Belgium brewery as part of the city of Asheville’s Earth Week Celebration. Representatives from the many public and private partnerships that had a role in the development of this section, called […]