Hurricane Helene Destroys Old Fort's Iconic Geyser

0:00It's March 26, from your city to your ears. This is Durham News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Hurricane Helene wiped out Andrew's geyser, a beloved landmark near Old Fort in Western North Carolina. This man-made fountain, built around 1885, shot water up to 250 feet high to welcome train passengers into the blue. Ridge Mountains. The storms, floods, and landslides shattered the pipe feeding in, leaving the site dry since September, 2024. The geysers sat along the Old Western North Carolina Railroad near the round knob hotel, which opened in 1884. Trains loop through the mountains, giving riders views from both sides. It starred in postcards and ads for decades until highways took over travel. Locals cherish the spot as a town treasure, with its image topping Old Fort's Facebook page. Former Mayor Steve Snipes calls it a beautiful area that's intriguing to watch, and visitors like Steve Little still remember their amazement seeing.

1:02It erupted decades ago during summer camp. The town fixed the geyser once before. After passenger trains stopped in 1975, they got it running again the next year, when the railroad handed over the land. Now Old Fort listed for federal emergency management agency aid, eyeing repairs that could top a couple million dollars. Officials are scouting damage and new water sources to bring back this piece of mountain history.