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Tryon Garden Club says restoration team in place

 

TRYON—After assessing storm damage, the Tryon Garden Club says that Pearson’s Falls and Glen were not spared Hurricane Helene’s fury.

Pearson’s Falls and Glen, a botanical preserve on Highway 176 between Tryon and Saluda, is a unique habitat along Colt Creek protected by steep sides of the river cove forest up to the 90-foot upper waterfall. 

The storm has forced a temporary closure of the preserve, and there is no public access. 

“We are grateful for the rescue teams and road crews that helped people along Pearson’s Falls Road,” said Tryon Garden Club President Beth Rounds. “Operations Director Andy Ruff and his wife were able to walk out to safety with the help of a team on Monday, September 30. The road is now cleared and open to local traffic. Ruff and wife Melissa moved back into their home at Pearson’s Falls on October 21.” 

Rounds provided an overview of the damage. 

“The good news is that the buildings near the entrance and parking areas are not damaged,” she said. “The Webster Way trail is mostly intact and is repairable up to the lower picnic area. However, the main trail to the falls is severely damaged and impassable from the lower picnic area, past Lightner’s Ledge, over the stone Chase Bridge, and up to the upper falls. 

“The Upper Falls picnic area is also a mess. Logs and debris fell over the falls, trees fell, and there were two sizable landslides to the right of the falls. Fortunately, both the lower and upper falls themselves are clear of logs.”

Rounds has established a restoration team led by Vice-President John James to assess the damage and repairs needed. Key members of the team include Andy Ruff, Pearson’s Falls Chair and professional botanist Rae Ann Wessel, and former Pearson’s Falls Chair Bob Tobey. Rounds is handling outreach and communications.

The team is investigating multiple courses of action, speaking with experts, and contacting people with technical knowledge of cleaning up and repairing severe storm damage. They plan to take time, consult professionals, and develop a plan of action, knowing it is a valuable botanical preserve and must be protected. Inspections are already in progress. 

Once restoration cost estimates are established, a fundraising committee will be established. 

“Fortunately, due to prudent planning, Tryon Garden Club has an operations fund that will carry us for a year,” Rounds said. “The restoration team hopes to have an initial report by mid-November.”

Pearson’s Falls and Glen is a 501(c)(3) organization owned and operated by the Tryon Garden Club since 1931. For more information, contact pearsonfallsinfo@gmail.com or visit pearsonsfalls.org.