News

GRADE A: Hero of Hickory Nut Gorge rebuilds infrastructure

Last weekend, Jarvis posted a photo of the “structurally unstable and damaged beyond repair” Geneva Hotel and Tiki Bar, which he was scheduled to demolish after another charitable organization salvaged the roof and other materials to build affordable homes. [PHOTO COURTESY OF JAKE JARVIS]

By Bill Moss, Published: May 3, 2025

After Hurricane Helene, before first responders could reach Hickory Nut Gorge, someone had to rebuild roads.

That person was Jake Jarvis, who arrived the day after Helene battered the mountains. From that day on, Jarvis and his Precision Grading crews have been working in Gerton, Bat Cave and Chimney Rock to rebuild roads, driveways and retaining walls and demolish wrecked structures — working seven days a week to fix what they can in the aftermath of Helene’s catastrophic destruction.

“You can see progress, but it's slow,” Justin Burrows said. “There’s a lot of earth-moving and rock and material moving. A lot of their roads and stuff got completely washed away — nothing left but massive boulders that are hard to move and there's really not much you can do.”

Burrows was on hand Saturday, April 26, when Precision Grading was recognized at a Hurricane Heroes Recognition. Jarvis, who had another commitment, called on Burrows to represent the company at the Republican Party’s 11^th Congressional District Convention in Waynesville. The Saluda-based grader was among around 30 Helene heroes who received a medal from U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards and multiple standing ovations from several hundred convention attendees for everything from supplying food to rebuilding homes. 

Justin Burrows shows medal Precision Grading received for coming to the aid of Hickory Nut Gorge by rebuilding roads, driveways and retaining walls.Precision has not charged anyone for the work; the company has gotten by via donations. If one homeowner writes a check for getting a driveway rebuilt, the money pays for the next job.

The objective is “just to help people in need,” said Burrows, who lives in Boiling Springs near Shelby. “The way we look at it is, if that was us, we would hope somebody would help for us. We're fortunate we're able to help them. As long as the donations can come in, Precision can keep trucking, but it'll be years” before the infrastructure is fixed.

One priority from the tourism angle is getting Chimney Rock State Park open. The bridge from the main highway to the park was washed away in the raging torrent of the Rocky Broad River.

“The parkway bridge is being built,” Burrows said. “They're making really great progress. I think they're wanting to have it open Memorial weekend but they have a lot of work to do. Hopefully it does, because a lot of people around there depend on that income.”

Last weekend, Jarvis posted a photo of the “structurally unstable and damaged beyond repair” Geneva Hotel and Tiki Bar, which he was scheduled to demolish after another charitable organization salvaged the roof and other materials to build affordable homes.

“I know so many people have memories at this location as well as the Tiki Bar that was washed away on the same property,” Jarvis wrote. “We are demolishing it at no charge, in hopes it will help the owners with the financial burden, and offset the cost of construction for a new building here.”