141-year-old Mast General Store still standing after Helene [Video]

VALLE CRUCIS, N.C. — Like many places across western North Carolina, the historic community of Valle Crucis in Watauga County suffered its fair share of devastation as Helene swept over the region.

But there is at least one thing that withstood the storm — the original Mast General Store and Annex at 3565 Highway 194 South.

WFMY News 2’s Taylor Leverett was in Valle Crucis on Tuesday and talked to many locals about the trials and tribulations they’ve been though over the past several days.

Joe Bentley, the store’s general manager and a native of Boone — located just 10 miles down the road from Valle Crucis — said he thinks the Mast General Store represents the entire community following Helene’s rampage.

“The building has been here 125 years and it’s not going anywhere,” Bentley said. “You see how strong it is.”

The location in Valle Crucis is the site of the first-ever Mast General Store, which opened …