On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt visited Burnsville, North Carolina to encourage Americans across the country to “Rediscover the Unforgettable” in Western North Carolina amid its recovery from Hurricane Helene.
The Lt. Governor toured the Earth to Sky Park at Mayland Community college and shopped at two small businesses in downtown Burnsville: Something Special Gift Shop and Hearth Glass and Gallery.
“Small businesses like these are the lifeblood of our mountain communities,” said Lt. Governor Hunt. “In the wake of Hurricane Helene, it’s never been clearer that they are not just places to shop or dine, but crucial spaces where community members can support one another.”
At Earth to Sky Park, an internationally certified Dark Sky Park, Lt. Governor Hunt toured the facility, including Bare Dark Sky Observatory, and experienced a short film at the park’s planetarium. The park is also home to the Carolyn Munro Wilson Picnic Shelter, numerous gardens, an Aquaponics Lab, soon-to-be-opened Children’s Discovery Centers, and more.
Following the tour, Lt. Governor Hunt went to downtown Burnsville to shop at Something Special Gift Shop, an over 40-year-old small business that offers gifts, apparel, accessories and souvenirs.
She continued her tour at Hearth Glass and Gallery: a studio for both beginner and experienced glass artists. Its owner, Keikichi Littleton, continues a proud legacy in glassworking, tracing back to her grandfather, Harvey K. Littleton, a renowned figure in the Studio Glass Movement in the United States.
“Hurricane Helene may have been almost two years ago, but for many small businesses in our mountain communities, its effects continue to be felt almost daily,” continued Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt. “With fall coming around the corner, now is the perfect time for families to plan their trip to Western North Carolina and experience the same beauty and hospitality that I experienced today.”
Plan your trip to Western North Carolina today by using VisitNC.com.
For more information about Burnsville, North Carolina, click here.