[bright music] I'm here with Shannon Odom, executive director of Destination McDowell.

Shannon, this is such a cute downtown.

What brings travelers and families to Old Fort?

- Well, we're really known a lot for our history, but we also have 42 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails.

We have wonderful shops here and there's just a great museum as well.

- Can you tell me some more about the Mountain Gateway Museum and its availability to visitors?

- Right now it's open in a temporary location across the street from its original spot.

The temporary location has a rotating exhibit and it still has its normal exhibits, which focus on history, mining, the manufacturing and all of the railroad history that went on here.

And then we also have two historic cabins here.

These were located elsewhere in the county and were replaced here to show people what pioneering life was like.

- Shannon, how can people support Old Fort in its recovery?

- Well, I think the main thing to know is that we are open for business.

That the businesses have returned from Hurricane Helene.

As traumatic as it was, the rebuilding process has started, the community is stronger, we really bonded together and we want people and the visitors to know that we're back open.

Our trails are open and just come spend your time here.

- To plan your visit to Old Fort, go to destinationmcdowell.com.