ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — This morning, a major step forward in the revitalization of the River Arts District was announced. The Salvage Station, a popular outdoor music venue formerly located along Riverside Drive, has announced that it will begin a new life on Lyman Street after its old location was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
The new Salvage Station will be housed inside the former Asheville Waste Paper building, known locally for its iconic graffiti and murals, including a prominent painting of Homer Simpson and Bender from “Futurama” sharing a donut.
The Lyman Street property has long been managed by the McMahan and Pace families, descending through four generations of recycling-conscious Ashevillians since its founding in 1941. However, like the Salvage Station, Asheville Waste Paper was one of the RAD businesses destroyed by Helene in the fall of 2024.
“This historic property — held by the McMahan/Pace family since the 1940s and formerly one of the oldest recycling facilities in the United States — was also devastated by Hurricane Helene. Now, in a powerful partnership rooted in resilience and community spirit, the family is opening its arms to Salvage Station to bring new life, energy and opportunity back into the RAD,” the Salvage Station wrote in a post on their Facebook page.
In the same post, Trey and Whitney Pace shared their response to the news.
“Our family was devastated seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Everything our family had worked for over 83 years was swept away overnight. Meeting Danny and Katie and feeling their excitement in their vision has brought so much happiness to our family in knowing our property will continue to serve the community, as it always has!” Trey Pace and Whitney Pace said.
According to the Salvage Station, the first phase of the road to the new Salvage Station will be to clean up and rehabilitate the 13.5 acre property. Potential benefits of the reopened music venue include even more jobs than the last location and, of course, more music, resulting in increased tourism that will support the “hotels, independent artists, restaurants, galleries and the many local entrepreneurs who help make Asheville the cultural capital that it is,” the venue wrote.
“Our mission has always been to uplift this community,” the Salvage Station ownership team explained in the post. “We’re not just rebuilding a venue — we’re rebuilding momentum, rebuilding livelihoods and helping keep the lights shining bright in the River Arts District. Our new home will honor the legacy of this land while offering an even greater future for Asheville’s music and arts scene.”
For more information about the Salvage Station, visit www.salvagestation.com.