Hot Springs

Hot Springs is a small mountain town shaped by its rivers, trails, history, and strong sense of community. Located at the confluence of Spring Creek and the French Broad River and directly on the Appalachian Trail, the town is known for its welcoming downtown, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage.
Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding in Hot Springs, primarily from Spring Creek, damaging homes, businesses, essential infrastructure, and key community buildings. The scale of the flooding underscored the need for coordinated recovery and long-term resilience planning.
Since the storm, Hot Springs has undertaken a range of recovery efforts supported by local leadership and state investment. The Appalachian Design Center is supporting this work by providing planning and design assistance and facilitating community engagement to help advance locally identified priorities and prepare projects for future implementation and funding.