There are moments that define the heartbeat of a city—and this is one of them.
After months of heartbreak and uncertainty, The Salvage Station is making its comeback, and it’s nothing short of miraculous. For those who have lived, danced, and gathered in this space, the news is electric: Asheville’s beloved riverside music venue is coming back to life, stronger, louder, and more community-rooted than ever before.
When Hurricane Helene roared through Asheville, it didn’t just flood buildings—it disrupted the rhythm of our city. Salvage Station, along with the incredible Root Down food truck team, saw their space destroyed overnight. To make matters worse, plans for major highway construction near Westgate Bridge were already putting pressure on the site. It was a blow to our community—our music, our food, our gathering places.
But Asheville doesn’t stay down for long.
Today, we’re thrilled to share that Salvage Station is rebuilding, and their new home will rise from the historic McMahan/Pace family property, deep in the heart of Asheville’s River Arts District. Once the home of Asheville Waste Paper and a pillar of the city’s recycling legacy, this 13.5-acre site—also ravaged by the storm—is being reborn in partnership with Salvage Station, marking a powerful union of resilience, renewal, and local pride.
Trey and Whitney Pace of the McMahan/Pace family said it best:
“Everything our family worked for over 83 years was swept away overnight. But meeting Danny and Katie from Salvage Station and hearing their vision has brought us hope again. Our property will continue to serve this community, just in a new way.”
The iconic “Homer Simpson donut” building on-site will become a world-class, year-round indoor music venue, designed to hold even more hearts, feet, and voices than before. With this transformation, Asheville isn’t just getting a venue—it’s getting an economic engine, a cultural cornerstone, and a symbol of our city’s ability to rise from any storm.
This redevelopment means:
Salvage Station’s mission has always been about more than music.
“We’re not just rebuilding a venue—we’re rebuilding momentum, livelihoods, and community,” the owners said. “Our new home will honor the legacy of this land while creating a future even brighter than what came before.”
To Asheville and beyond — we’re witnessing a rebirth. A reminder that this town doesn’t crumble when things get hard. It rebuilds with soul.
Stay tuned for updates, progress, and—yes—plenty of parties to come. The River Arts District is alive. And so is the Salvage Station.
Welcome back. We missed you.
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