Current:Home > FinanceVideo shows 'world's fanciest' McDonald's, complete with grand piano, gutted by Helene -InvestPioneer
Video shows 'world's fanciest' McDonald's, complete with grand piano, gutted by Helene
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:20:15
A pretty special McDonald's took a big hit after Hurricane Helene rolled into North Carolina, which caused unprecedented devastation and destruction to a number of states across the Southeast.
The McDonald's, located in Asheville, was one of many structures in the historic Biltmore Village, an 8,000-acre property affected by "catastrophic flooding," according to reporting by Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Biltmore Village is expected to remain closed until Tuesday, Oct. 15, but may remain shuttered longer as crews begin to assess the damages caused by the storm, which killed at least 200 people.
The McDonald's franchise, built in 2000, was renovated to exude the "high-society elegance" that other bars, restaurants, clothing stores within the Biltmore Village, and was dubbed the "world's fanciest" McDonald's, according to reporting by Atlas Obscura.
Before Hurricane Helene completely gutted the inside of the McDonald's, customers were greeted with red oak tables, wrought iron railings, "and luminous chandeliers under a sweeping pressed-tin ceiling, with every wood feature boasting a handsome finish," Atlas Obscura reported.
A baby grand piano stationed in the corner only elevated the dining experience, playing music as customers waited for their orders or tucked into Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets, Atlas Obscura reported. The McDonald's even had a giant stone chimney.
USA TODAY has reached out to McDonald's for additional information.
Watch: 'World's fanciest' McDonald's left in ruins after Hurricane Helene
As an Uber and Lyft driver, Vitor Sa drives by the corner everyday despite never eating there, he told USA TODAY on Friday. The fancy McDonald's is now caked by at least a foot of mud, Sa said.
"I have passengers this week that I picked up and their family is just like 'We're not going to be able to go to McDonald's and Wendy's anymore this week,' because they're all closed. They're completely destroyed," Sa said. "Their kids are missing the McDonald's that was there."
Contributing: Anthony Robledo
veryGood! (38282)
Related
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Lack of Loggers Is Hobbling Arizona Forest-Thinning Projects That Could Have Slowed This Year’s Devastating Wildfires
- Has JPMorgan Chase grown too large? A former White House economic adviser weighs in
- Mangrove Tree Offspring Travel Through Water Currents. How will Changing Ocean Densities Alter this Process?
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- In Nevada’s Senate Race, Energy Policy Is a Stark Divide Between Cortez Masto and Laxalt
- Shaun White Deserves a Gold Medal for Helping Girlfriend Nina Dobrev Prepare for New Role
- California Water Regulators Still Haven’t Considered the Growing Body of Research on the Risks of Oil Field Wastewater
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- How businesses are using designated areas to help lactating mothers
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Blast Off With These Secrets About Apollo 13
- Who's the boss in today's labor market?
- When the Power Goes Out, Who Suffers? Climate Epidemiologists Are Now Trying to Figure That Out
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Red States Still Pose a Major Threat to Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, Activists Warn
- The Day of Two Noons (Classic)
- Want your hotel room cleaned every day? Hotel housekeepers hope you say yes
Recommendation
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Pamper Yourself With the Top 18 Trending Beauty Products on Amazon Right Now
Blast Off With These Secrets About Apollo 13
From the Middle East to East Baltimore, a Johns Hopkins Professor Works to Make the City More Climate-Resilient
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
How Is the Jet Stream Connected to Simultaneous Heat Waves Across the Globe?
As the Biden Administration Eyes Wind Leases Off California’s Coast, the Port of Humboldt Sees Opportunity
How the Fed got so powerful