Seldomridge Homestead and River & Earth Adventures Recovery

If you know our dear friends Grant and Laura in Boone NC, you know they have (stubbornly) resisted fundraising attempts as they are thoughtfully aware that so many in our region are suffering right now. But if you’ve seen or heard about what they’ve endured, you know they could use some extra love (view picture album here)

If you've ever shared an adventure with them or experienced the magic of River and Earth Adventures … or if you simply feel called to support a local family/small business as they rebuild, please consider contributing or sharing with others off the mountain. Any bit raised will thoughtfully go toward restoration, replacing essential equipment, and helping Grant and Laura bring back the vibrant, welcoming spaces they’ve created for our community. They would never want folks in our area to feel burdened, so this is posted with a request to help share it with folks outside of the impact zone who may connect with their story and want to help.

Here is some of the story: click here for pictures -

Our dear friends, the Seldomridges, suffered an unimaginable loss during Hurricane Helene. In a matter of hours, the New River swept away almost everything essential to their 20-year-old business, River and Earth Adventures. Their beloved Todd, NC outpost was decimated—including an entire fleet of kayaks and canoes, caving equipment (that had been recently purchased), their main office building (the "cabana"), records/paperwork, 4 large passenger vans, and essential equipment needed for their trips. Despite Grant’s efforts to move things to higher ground, he watched in disbelief as the river washed away the Outpost.

Unfortunately, their second outpost in Elizabethton also sustained severe damage, with buildings destroyed and equipment lost. And as if this weren’t enough, their personal homestead was also hit hard. During the storm, while Grant was attempting to aid at the outpost, Laura and their boys were back at home, helplessly watching the destruction unfold. A major part of their precious homestead (which they had so lovingly restored) was torn apart. The river ripped up the road, washed away a covered bridge and nearly carried off their chicken house. A landslide completely demolished one of their cabins, and another was extensively damaged when the river diverted into its basement. Countless trees were knocked over, leading to major obstacles and forever altering the landscape.

Since that night, they, along with friends and family, have been working tirelessly, digging out mudslides, cutting up down trees, clearing debris, and salvaging what they can. Despite everything, they’ve expressed immense gratitude for all that they DO have and for the unending support from friends and family. Their resilience is inspiring, but the road ahead is daunting. They face month/years of rebuilding and emotional healing, compounded by a massive financial loss.

For 20 years, River and Earth Adventures has brought joy and outdoor adventures to countless families and individuals. The Seldomridges have always generously supported our community—providing local jobs, donating their time to take kids on adventures, offering free trip gift certificates to every fundraiser they can, and working hard to preserve the land and rivers through environmental education. Family-owned businesses like River and Earth Adventures are a foundation of this community, and this family deserves some well-earned love.

If you feel moved to support rebuilding efforts, please consider contributing or sharing with others.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICS