Home Care In Brevard, NC

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BREVARD, N.C. (WLOS) — An Upstate company plans to build a $30 million lodging development called Brevard Staytion just outside Brevard.

Upstate company to invest $30 million in new lodging development outside Brevard

Pisgah Hospitality, a boutique development group and hotel operator focused on modern, upscale, eco-friendly hotel and treehouse-style accommodations, plans to build the complex on 15 acres along Asheville Highway near Lamb's Creek Road. The project will include a 36-room lodge, tree house rental cabins and an entertainment venue.

“From start to finish, this is a great project for our community - the hotel will provide excellent accommodations and amenities for residents and visitors, connect its guests with Brevard’s many world-class recreation assets, and the development team has shown a strong desire to be meaningful stewards of their land while working with local partners to develop and build the hotel,” Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof said in a news release.

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY OKS INCENTIVE GRANT FOR PISGAH HOSPITALITY'S $30 MILLION INVESTMENT PLAN

On Oct. 23, Transylvania County commissioners approved an incentive package, valued at almost $764,000, for the project with certain conditions.

“Tourism spending exceeded $188 million in Transylvania County in 2022, and Brevard Staytion is an exciting addition to our strong brand as a destination and a hub of hospitality tax base and job creation,” Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jason Chappell said in the release. “This project is another example of Transylvania County's ongoing commitment to having a diverse and vibrant economy and is a quality project that will bring new hospitality amenities to Transylvania County and will help make our community even more attractive for visitor spending.”

The grant is performance-based and hinges on the company making at least $30 million in taxable investments through 2026. The company must also create five new full-time jobs with an average wage of $80,000 a year.

The project plans to break ground in early 2024.

"We've been working on this project for almost two years and are very eager to get started,” Matt Grandy & Brice Bay, two of the partners leading the development team, said in a news release. “Through all aspects of this process: working with the city of Brevard through permitting and zoning, engaging with local suppliers, vendors and partners, and Transylvania County's strong support, have all helped streamline the development process and create a dynamic relationship with community partners.”

BREVARD, N.C. (WLOS) — Lightning is to blame for a house fire in Brevard, but the strike didn't directly hit the home, according to the Brevard Fire Department and Transylvania County Fire Marshal's Office.

Lightning strike hits trees, gas line before sending Brevard house up in flames

Fire Chief Bobby Cooper said the lightning struck two trees in the backyard, then traveled underground where it hit a gas line under the home on Mary Shipman Drive.

“The gas line is a common place for them to run,” Cooper said.

The yellow corrugated stainless-steel tubing (CSST) is notorious for starting fires after a lightning strike, Cooper said.

The chief issued a word of warning for homeowners:

“Most places don’t use [CSST] anymore; there are better alternatives out there that prevent that type of fire from happening,” Cooper said. “I would check with your gas companies and make sure you’ve got the right stuff. They can change it out if need be.”

LIGHTNING STRIKE LEADS TO HOUSE FIRE IN BREVARD, OFFICIALS SAY

Cooper was one of the first people on scene, early Tuesday morning, second only to the person who saw the smoke and called it in – that person happened to be one of their own, Cooper said.

“One of our dispatchers had just gotten off shift and was on the way home and saw smoke coming out of the roof of the house,” Cooper said. “We had smoke coming out of the eaves, coming out of the attic. Once we got the front door open, we found that there was a hole in the floor going into the basement.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

WILDFIRE IN REMOTE PART OF MCDOWELL COUNTY IGNITES AFTER LIGHTNING STRIKE REPORTED IN AREA

The homeowner told News 13’s Hannah Mackenzie over the phone it is a renal house, and his tenant was out of state at the time. He said the tenant was scheduled to fly back to North Carolina on Wednesday evening, and she lost pretty much everything inside the home.

Nerves are understandable in state title matches, particularly for teams who have never experienced the bright lights before.

Brevard had no such stage fright.

The Blue Devils rolled 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-14) over Camden County on Saturday in Reynolds Coliseum to claim their first N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A volleyball championship in their first appearance.

The Blue Devils made it just one round short of reaching the title match last year.

"This has been a long journey ... we were this close last year and we did it this year, and I just couldn't be more proud," Brevard coach Cori Bryson said. "I never doubted this team. From offense to defense to serving to passing, we're 100 percent all there all the time."

With a much taller front court, powerful swings, and scrambling defense, Brevard rolled to a 25-12 first-set victory. The Bruins, making their third straight championship appearance, adjusted in the second set but still came up short by a 25-15 margin.

With a title in its sights, Brevard rolled in the third set, 25-14, to send the home fans back to Transylvania County with some hardware.

Brevard (32-2), the second seed in the 2A West, got a trademark performance at the net from star middle hitter Meleah Foster and junior defensive specialist Rafa Dabao kept several points alive.

Foster was named MVP of the championship match.

"We got used to the facility in warm-ups and we knew we would be fine," Foster said. "It wasn't as scary as we thought it'd be, and we just knew that we had to put our foot on the gas to win like that."

Photos: Brevard vs. Camden County volleyball (Nov. 4, 2023)

The Blue Devils, who had already faced 3A champ Kings Mountain and 1A finalist Polk County four times combined, were making their first appearance in the volleyball championship.

Camden County (23-4), the second seed in the 2A East, were led by senior Carlyn Tanis.

The Bruins, winners of 12 straight entering the match, were hoping that the third time was the charm after runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022.

"Tonight was not the outing that we were hoping for but I have to give credit to Brevard for making it very difficult for us to play the game we typically play," said Camden County coach Ashley Miller said. "For my team, could not be prouder of the grit and fight that they had throughout the whole season. To come back for a third consecutive year speaks volumes about the kids that I coach every day.

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Brevard's victory gives the West five straight titles in 2A, after the East had won four in a row from 2015-18.

Before the contest, one player from each team was awarded NCHSAA sportsmanship awards. For Camden County, it was senior Carlyn Tanis. For Brevard, it was senior Ella Scott.

JUNE 29, 2023 - The morning after a fire tore through a building housing two connected businesses -- 3 Oak Handcrafted and Platt Home, Transylvania fire marshal investigators, other crews and the families by the blaze were picking up the pieces. Fire Marshal Scott Justus said crews were combing through the ashes, trying to locate the source of the fire. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)

BREVARD, N.C. (WLOS) — A fast-moving fire tore through a downtown Brevard building Wednesday night, June 28, leaving two area businesses in ashes.

The building, located in the 200 block of Broad Street, is home to both 3 Oak Handcrafted and Platt Home and connects to a corner building that includes second-floor residences.

Thursday morning, firefighters continued looking for the source of the fire as they combed through the ashes and what remained.

According to Transylvania County Fire Marshal Scott Justus, the fire did not reach the residences largely because of a significant firewall that stood in its way.

Investigators comb through ashes in aftermath of fire that destroyed 2 Brevard businesses

'ALL HANDS ON DECK' FIRE BREAKS OUT, DAMAGING BUSINESSES IN BREVARD, DRAWING CROWD

The building is owned by Parker Platt, brother to Woody Platt, one of the founding members of area bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers. The Platt family also owns Platt Home, a design and home décor store located in the building.

According to one family relative who was on the scene Thursday morning, the family’s commitment to the community has always been without question.

“They do a lot for the community, and I'm hoping the community will rally around,” said Deb Malivuk, a Platt family relative. "Right now, what Mike's most concerned with is his staff."

3 Oak Handcrafted is owned by Mike Burns and Joshua Goins. The location, like Platt Home, was also burned out from the backside in a fire that, according to the fire marshal, seemed to be moving from the back toward the front of the building.

“We know that the fire originated somewhere in this area,” said Justus, referencing the area immediately behind 3 Oak, “and we had to pull some stuff out, just for firefighters' safety, because the structure’s pretty weak.”

WATCH: VIDEO SHOWS 2 PEOPLE APPROACH JAN DAVIS TIRE STORE MOMENTS BEFORE FIRE

According to Justus, the heat from the flames was hot enough to warp some of the metal crossbeams supporting the structure, while the fire likely fed on much of the older original wood framing within the walls, leaving the building highly unstable.

"It all has smoke damage at least, so all that inventory is done," Malivuk said.

In addition to fire marshal investigators, other crews were on the scene Thursday stabilizing the structure. Once the building is boarded up, they expect to begin the process of assessing the damage to property on the inside as well as to the building itself.

BREVARD – At halftime of Brevard football’s third game of the season, a road game at Erwin, coach Luke Coleman looked around the locker room at his team.

The Blue Devils and Warriors were tied at 7-7. Brevard already had lost its first two games, falling to Pisgah and Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic.

Coleman had a question for his team.

“When are y’all going to start making plays?” he said.

As the players describe, it was like a switch flipped. Brevard scored 20 points in the third quarter against Erwin on the way to a 34-14 win. The Blue Devils have won every game since, all but one of them – a 28-21 win over Chase – by a bigger margin of victory than that 20-point win.

“That was really a point where we had to turn our season around,” sophomore quarterback Benjamin Kessinger said. “We easily could have chose to lay back and let the season go by and be average. I think we chose the better half of that.”

Brevard (10-2), the No. 8 seed in 2A, puts that winning streak on the line Friday against No. 1 Reidsville (11-1) in the 2A playoffs.

To win, the Blue Devils will need to continue the trend of answering that question Coleman asked 11 weeks ago.

“It’s hard to win 10-straight,” Coleman said. “It’s hard to go out there and play at that high level. We played at a high level our first two games; we just beat ourselves.”

Kessinger has taken a clear step forward from the beginning of the season. After throwing for one touchdown and two interceptions in Brevard’s losses, the sophomore has since thrown 24 touchdowns with only three interceptions. On the year, he’s thrown for 1,472 yards on a 67% completion rate.

“He gets better every week,” Coleman said. “He goes out there and listens to the game plan. These kids are really coachable – its not just him, it’s the entire team. Yes, he’s gotten better, but the offense as a whole has gotten better.”

Brevard has no shortage of playmakers, a major reason the team has averaged 42 points per game during its win streak. Senior Corey Matthews has rushed for 745 yards, while sophomore Braylon Thomas has 676 rushing yards. Junior Eli Griffin has 508 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns, leading a pack of five receivers with multiple scores and more than 100 receiving yards.

“Sometimes its hard to even get the all the ball,” Kessinger said. “You’ll see games where Dillon (Galloway, a senior tight end) had like four touchdowns, then you go to Eli some games. … They all have their games.”

Defensively, junior Coleman Smith and senior Elijah Eubanks rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the conference in tackles with 122 and 109, respectively. Senior Leo Maupin’s seven interceptions rank No. 5 in Class 2A. Junior Zion Brown has nine sacks, two more than anyone else in the Mountain Foothills 7 Conference.

Brevard’s defense hates giving up touchdowns. Outside of its 40-13 loss to Knoxville Catholic, the unit is allowing just 12 points per game. A few games ago, Coleman said the defense was angry coming to the sideline after giving up a score.

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“I kinda laughed, like, ‘Guys, other teams practice. too,’” Coleman said. “The great thing about this group is they’ll get mad when a team scores one touchdown. They don’t want to be scored on and that’s the mentality when they walk out there.”

Smith said the defense likes contact, making it more fun to hit opposing players. He also credited Coleman with instilling the attitude that opponents shouldn’t score in the defense.

“He’s bred it into me,” Smith said. “My ninth-grade year (the season before Coleman arrived), I was scared. Coach Coleman came and starting yelling at us. He’s a great coach and great guy and he’s what’s made us mean and physical.”

The Blue Devils, underdogs on paper, don’t view themselves that way. While they know Reidsville is good, they know what they have, too. Smith said they aren’t scared, largely because Brevard’s ability to play as a unit.

“It’s not like one player feels out there alone,” Smith said. “Everybody is good and knows what they’re doing. If you miss a tackle, you know somebody behind you is going to back you up. That’s what I love.”

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.