Carl Sandburg Home staff assess damages and start clean-up after Hurricane Helene closure

Contact:Public Information Officer, 828-573-5084

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site remains closed due to impacts from Hurricane Helene. The closure includes all trails, park grounds, and facilities. The park will re-open once damage assessments have been made and the park is deemed safe for visitation.

"The hurricane has had an impact on all of us here at Carl Sandburg Home and in the broader community," said Park Superintendent Polly Angelakis. "We are grateful that park staff, volunteers, partners, and the rest of our community made it safely through the storm. The goats and other livestock fared well also."

Impacts includes numerous downed trees and washouts, which make park trails and grounds inaccessible. The historic buildings appear undamaged. However, the Front Lake Dam sustained substantial damage. NPS teams are assessing the extent of the damage to determine what work needs to be accomplished to make the park safe for visitors to return.

"We know the how important the Carl Sandburg Home is to the community for recreation, exercise, and as an escape from the everyday chaos," said Angelakis. "However, there are still dangerous conditions present. Crews are working with chainsaws to remove trees; we ask for everyone's patience while we work to get Carl Sandburg Home safely open for everyone to enjoy."

Park updates will be posted on the Carl Sandburg Home website at nps.gov/carl and on the park's social media platforms at @CarlSandburgHomeNHS (Facebook, X and Instagram).