WOODFIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — After years of planning, fundraising and a construction delay caused by Tropical Storm Helene, surfers and kayakers can finally catch a wave on the French Broad River in Woodfin.
Taylor’s Wave, a man-made whitewater feature with an estimated $4.8 million price tag, is officially open near Riverside Park. The town has lifted its stay-out-of-water advisory following completion of construction in the river, allowing recreational use of the long-awaited attraction.
A grand-opening event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23.
The wave is part of Woodfin’s larger Greenway and Blueway initiative, an effort to transform the town’s riverfront into a destination for outdoor recreation while creating opportunities for nearby businesses.
Unlike ocean waves that come and go, Taylor’s Wave stays in one place. A carefully engineered ledge made of natural rock and concrete creates a standing wave as water flows over it, allowing surfers and kayakers to ride without traveling downstream.
The wave is designed for surfers and kayakers with intermediate to advanced skills, although conditions and difficulty change as river levels rise and fall.
And while the wave is open, the work isn’t necessarily finished.
Project organizers say temporary closures may be needed over the next several months as crews make adjustments to improve the wave’s performance. Visitors are also being asked to stay out of areas where construction continues.
Recent posts on the Taylor’s Wave Facebook page show surfers taking advantage of the new feature despite lower-than-normal river levels. Organizers say the wave is providing a smooth ride, with more powerful conditions expected as river flows increase.
As with any whitewater feature, conditions can change, and paddlers and surfers should consider their experience and current river conditions before getting in the water.
A wave designed halfway around the world
Long before anyone could surf Taylor’s Wave, engineers were testing a much smaller version of it in Prague, Czech Republic.
In August 2022, the project team traveled to a hydraulics laboratory at Czech Technical University, where a 1/30-scale model of the proposed river structure was tested and adjusted.
The model allowed engineers to study how water would flow over the structure and make changes before construction began in the French Broad River.
S2O Design and Engineering, the firm behind the wave, used the testing to help develop a feature that could accommodate recreational and freestyle kayakers while limiting environmental impacts.
The design also includes passage for fish and other wildlife, along with a route for river users who prefer to bypass the wave.
In a recent Facebook post, Taylor’s Wave organizers said the tests in Prague closely predicted the shape of the finished wave.
A tribute to a local paddler
The wave carries the name of Taylor Hunt, an experienced whitewater paddler who died in an accident in Ecuador in 2015.
Woodfin officially established the name Taylor’s Wave in 2023 to honor Hunt’s life and recognize his family’s years of volunteer leadership and financial support for the project.
His father, Marc Hunt, a former Asheville City Council member and longtime advocate for river recreation, helped champion the project.
The Hunt family’s involvement dates to the early stages of the effort, which sought to create a dedicated whitewater attraction along a stretch of the French Broad River just north of Asheville.
For the family, the completed wave also serves as a lasting tribute to Taylor and his love of paddling.
Helene interrupted construction
Construction began in June 2024, but the project encountered a major setback just a few months later.
Tropical Storm Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, sending floodwaters through the French Broad River corridor and disrupting construction projects throughout the region.
Work on Taylor’s Wave stopped for several months because of the storm’s impacts and river conditions. Construction resumed in April or May 2025, according to the town.
The first phase was completed in April 2026, with the second phase beginning the following month. The project was completed in October.
Woodfin estimates the wave’s cost at $4.8 million. Funding came from bonds authorized by town voters in 2016, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s Tourism Product Development Fund, Friends of the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway, and private donations.
The wave is one part of a larger effort to improve public access and recreation along the river.
The Riverside Park expansion includes plans for additional greenway connections, gathering spaces, restrooms, changing areas and other amenities. Construction of those improvements is separate from the wave itself, and visitors are being asked to avoid active work areas.
Hopes for a tourism boost
Woodfin officials and project supporters hope Taylor’s Wave will attract paddlers, surfers and visitors from beyond Western North Carolina, bringing more people to the town’s riverfront and potentially benefiting nearby businesses.
Man-made whitewater features have become attractions in other river communities, offering a way to draw outdoor enthusiasts and encourage spending at local restaurants, shops and lodging businesses.
A new venture, Wave Yard WNC, has already launched with Taylor’s Wave and Woodfin as its first featured destination.
The town welcomed the business in an Oct. 13 Facebook post, before the wave opened. The website, waveyardwnc.com, aims to help visitors find information about river conditions, access, accommodations and nearby businesses.
Whether Taylor’s Wave will generate the tourism and economic activity supporters envision remains to be seen.
For Woodfin, though, the opening marks the end of a long effort to bring a dedicated whitewater attraction to the French Broad River.
And after years of planning, construction and delays, people are finally riding the wave.