One year ago, as Western North Carolina prepared for Thanksgiving 2024, communities throughout the High Country were still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact in late September. My family, friends, and neighbors faced the holiday season amid unprecedented destruction. In my 2024 article “Finding Gratitude Amidst Tragedy,” I wrote about the resilience and community spirit emerging from the rubble. Today, as we approach Thanksgiving 2025, that same spirit has evolved into something equally powerful: a determined effort to rebuild not just homes and infrastructure, but entire economic foundations—with tourism leading the charge toward long-term recovery. The Long Road to Recovery The