CARL SANDBURG HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE News Release
Release Date: October 21, 2024
Contact: Public Information Officer,
Carl Sandburg Home staff assess damages and start clean-up after Hurricane Helene
closure
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site remains closed due to impacts from Hurricane
Helene. The closure includes all trails, park grounds, and facilities. The park will re-open
once damage assessments have been made and the park is deemed safe for visitation.
“The hurricane has had an impact on all of us here at Carl Sandburg Home and in the
broader community,” said Park Superintendent Polly Angelakis. “We are grateful that
park staff, volunteers, partners, and the rest of our community made it safely through the
storm. The goats and other livestock fared well also.”
Impacts includes numerous downed trees and washouts, which make park trails and
grounds inaccessible. The historic buildings appear undamaged. However, the Front Lake
Dam sustained substantial damage. NPS teams are assessing the extent of the damage to
determine what work needs to be accomplished to make the park safe for visitors to
return.
“We know the how important the Carl Sandburg Home is to the community for recreation,
exercise, and as an escape from the everyday chaos,” said Angelakis. "However, there are
still dangerous conditions present. Crews are working with chainsaws to remove trees; we
ask for everyone’s patience while we work to get Carl Sandburg Home safely open for
everyone to enjoy.”
Park updates will be posted on the Carl Sandburg Home website at nps.gov/carl and on the
park’s social media platforms at @CarlSandburgHomeNHS (Facebook, X and Instagram).
