One of the enduring realities of Hurricane Helene is that it changed our landscape in significant ways. Almost two years later, we’re still adjusting to those changes.
Some changes have been heartbreaking. The loss of mature trees, damaged trails, and altered streambanks left some familiar places no longer quite the same. There have also been surprises of unexpected beauty, as when, for example, the removal of a tree has revealed a long-obscured vista and granted a fresh perspective down the valley. Even in difficult seasons, grace sometimes peeks through.
Not every change, however, reveals a silver lining.
The swimming hole below the intersection of Texas Road Extension and Assembly Drive is one such example. Long a favorite gathering place for cooling off, the swimming hole only grew larger and more inviting when floodwaters reshaped the creek. The culverts crossing beneath the road have become even more popular platforms for jumping into the deeper water below.
On a warm summer afternoon, cool mountain water is hard to resist. Unfortunately, what appears to be an improved swimming hole has also become a public safety concern.
The increased use of the area is contributing to erosion around the culverts and threatens the work undertaken by the Town of Montreat following Hurricane Helene to stabilize and restore the embankment below the road. Safety fencing and signage along the roadway have had only limited success in discouraging climbing and jumping, and the conditions now present potential hazards.
For that reason, the Town recently issued a public safety advisory strongly recommending that people refrain from jumping or diving in this location because of accumulated debris, unstable banks, and the increased risk of injury. We fully support that advisory.1
The conference center does not conduct activities at this site, either through conferences, recreation programs, or the Clubs program. Nevertheless, we recognize that many of those enjoying the swimming hole are participants of these programs. While unsupervised free time is one of the joys that makes Montreat so special, we are redoubling our efforts to communicate the message and encouragement that everyone avoid using the culverts as diving platforms or, better yet, choose another place to cool off altogether. If you have a youth or young adult in your midst this summer, I’m asking for your help, too.
The good news is that Montreat offers no shortage of beautiful creeks and shaded streambanks to enjoy God’s creation. There are many places one can explore without such risks and without compromising our town’s ongoing restoration efforts.
Helene reminded us that we are ALL entrusted with the beauty of the valley. Sometimes that means repair. Sometimes it means protecting what is still healing. In this case, it means that we have an obligation to leave one inviting place alone – so that it can recover and so that Montreaters can enjoy it in the years ahead.
Richard DuBose
President, Montreat Conference Center
- A few hours after submitting this article to our communications team for publication, I received word that a youth with an apparent broken bone had been transported from the site to Mission Hospital. Though the injuries turned out not to be serious, the incident underscores the point that town officials’ concerns are not theoretical. ↩︎