MITCHELL COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — In the initial aftermath of Helene, the small community of Little Switzerland sat atop a picturesque vista cut off from the rest of the world.

“Our current population is 46,” said the General Manager at the Switzerland Inn & Chalet Restaurant, Whitney Ledford.

Ledford has worked at the Switzerland Inn her entire professional life.

“This is the draw here,” Ledford said pointing out over the horizon.

More than four months ago, Ledford went to sleep on the property expecting a wind event with some power outages. She woke up to a rude awakening, Helene.

The Inn had four guests when the storm hit and they were stuck in the dark for two days.

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“A few of us started to survey the damage,” Ledford said. “We went out 226A, wall of trees [on] both directions. We tried to go to the parkway, wall of trees [on] both directions.”

On the third day, at 2 a.m., the National Guard appeared after cutting their way through 226A.

“The next morning, 6 a.m., they woke up and they were out on the parkway cutting trees and it took them two days, but they got us out of here,” Ledford said.

The National Guard painted a helipad on the front lawn and soon they had seven Chinook helicopters landing on their front lawn bringing in supplies.

“You better hold on to your hat when they land,” Ledford said. “It was our staff, everybody on site, plus everybody in the community that was able-bodied just right here on this.”

The group created Little Switzerland Relief to distribute supplies to the rural community. The inn spent $300,000 on housing and feeding emergency personnel and volunteers.

“It was a little difficult to find the spark in all of us for a little bit without our guests here, but then we started housing, we were able to reopen and started housing relief workers and first responders, emergency works things like that, and I think in doing so they were so grateful to have such a warm place to sleep it gave us that sense of responsibility back and really got us excited for the 2025 season,” Ledford said.

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It’s a critical year because they lost $2 million in revenue from October alone.

“We’re just going to lean on our great customers and hope to reach some new markets this season,” Ledford said.

Although the road to Little Switzerland is open, many attractions around the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed.

In the weeks leading up to opening day, repairs continue including a completely new roof on the main building, fencing, replacing outdoor chairs and other outdoor cosmetic damage due to wind damage.

Their signature tree that splits the mountain views also sustained damage.

The Switzerland Inn reopens on Saturday, March 1.

“It’s going to feel like a fever dream like the last five months were not even real,” Ledford said.