After the devastating flood caused by Hurricane Helene erased the physical home of Salvage Station on Riverside Drive, Asheville’s celebrated music venue refuses to vanish quietly. Its comeback story unfolds on the historic grounds of Asheville Waste Paper, a 13.5-acre property at the heart of the River Arts District long owned by the McMahan/Pace family. This raw, industrial site—one of the nation’s oldest recycling operations—now stands poised for transformation, promising to rekindle creativity, commerce, and community energy.

The Salvage Station rebuild is more than a construction project; it’s a carefully crafted plan rooted in resilience. The McMahan/Pace family, witnesses to 83 years of cycle and change, found hope in Salvage Station’s vision. "Seeing our property continue to serve the community, just as it always has," Trey and Whitney Pace said, "brings a powerful sense of renewal."

Preparing to convert the iconic, ellipse-shaped 'Homer Simpson donut' building into a versatile, indoor live music venue is an ambitious first step. Enhanced capacity means more than larger crowds—it signals the creation of a broader economic ripple through Asheville’s arts-centric district. This redevelopment connects directly with local artists, galleries, and small businesses, uplifting the River Arts District’s unique ecosystem with renewed flow.

The venue’s indoor design opens the doors to year-round programming—shielding performances and audiences from Asheville’s unpredictable weather while expanding event possibilities. Collaboration with city officials, tourism boards, and community stakeholders ensures this space is more than a stage: it is a hub for culture, gathering, and opportunity.

Salvage Station’s owners emphasize that their mission extends beyond music. It’s about rebuilding livelihoods and sustaining Asheville’s vibrant artistic heartbeat. As the venue rises from past floodwaters, it promises a future layered with creative impulses, economic vitality, and community connection.

For visitors and locals alike, the Salvage Station revival offers a fresh venue to experience Asheville’s rich musical pulse, recharge local businesses, and strengthen the River Arts District’s identity. This bold new chapter reaffirms Asheville’s position as a cultural hotspot in the Southeast, marrying heritage with fresh ambition in a space fiercely tied to the community it serves.