Thanks to work by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), a new stretch of Highway 9 from Bat Cave to Chimney Rock is a thrill for locals now that the road is open and ready for cars.

Heavy rains in the Bat Cave area caused mudslides and road damage, exacerbating damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Continued slides are expected throughout the summer storm season. Roads in the Bat ...

“It’s probably the nicest road in several counties right now,” said Paul Brock, who lives in Bat Cave. “Obviously, there’s limited access the [NC]DOT crews have done an awesome job.