IN 1985 Riverside Industries Leave and Artists Set Up In the Warehouses
On the wild western edge of Asheville flows the French Broad River, ancient and winding—as old as the mountains themselves and filled with stories older than memory. For ten thousand years, the Cherokee knew its waters intimately, fishing and honoring the “racing place” where its rapids churn.
Centuries passed, and settlers built small farms and plantations along the banks, turning the river into a thread binding communities together. Through the 1800s, the railroad arrived, and the river’s banks teemed with life—stockyards, tanneries, and factories bustling amid the rising fog. But then disaster struck. In 1916, floodwaters surged, reclaiming the land and driving industries to higher ground. The world changed, yet hope flickered on.
In 1985, amidst the quiet hush of abandoned warehouses stretched along Riverside Drive, a new energy began to pulse. Artists saw possibility in the fading brick and empty spaces, flocking to reshape old bones into lively studios. It started with only a handful, but soon became a movement. By 1994, the Odyssey Center’s first Studio Stroll called the curious to wander open doors and meet the creators bringing Asheville’s heart back to life.
The transformation gathered speed, powered by shared dreams and muddy boots. Highwater Clays shepherded the Stroll for four years before handing the reins to the burgeoning River District Artists group. In 2005, their efforts earned the district its proud name: River Arts District. Now, as part of RADA, over 300 artists work together, nurturing the spirit of a community that rises from its own history again and again
Photo of Flood of 1916
The River’s Creativity Endures
Warehouses gave way to studios, and artists built new purpose among the echoes of industry. Community spirit blossomed: murals painted in sunshine, sculptures rising from the old concrete, music and laughter spilling into the streets. Neighborhood leaders saw the magic, and in 2021, Asheville invested $50 million to modernize Riverside Drive and Lyman Street—installing greenways, bike lanes, sidewalks, and stormwater improvements, all to protect the art and the artists in this reborn district
The Flood of 2023: A Test of Spirit
But nature never forgets. In the summer of 2023, torrential rain swelled the French Broad beyond its banks. Floodwaters swept again through the River Arts District, battering studios and leaving mud-caked walls in their wake. For many artists, precious work and supplies were lost; the river’s power was terrifying and humbling.
What followed was a testament to Asheville’s soul. In the days after the flood, neighbors waded through ruined galleries, salvaging canvases and lending hands. Artists found shelter in makeshift studios, and RADA launched fundraising drives to support restoration materials and new beginnings. City teams reinforced levees, planted rain gardens, and promised better safeguards for the future. It was the art of coming together—raw, hopeful, and real.
Flood of 2023 in the River Arts District – Photo Peachy_Keach on Reddit/Asheville
Resiliance
Today, the River Arts District is a place where creative energy bursts through adversity, and every brushstroke tells a resilient story. Studios are open once more, inviting all to wander, connect, and join in the living spirit that continues to turn loss into beauty. After two great floods, the River Arts District endures—not as a polished relic, but as a vibrant tapestry, woven from memory, community, and the unstoppable flow of creativity.
Explore the district’s open studios, meet the artists, and witness art in progress—because in Asheville’s River Arts District, every day writes a fresh chapter in a story that belongs to everyone.
EXPLORE ASHEVILLE’S RIVER ARTS DISTRICT MAP & GUIDE
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