Saluda businesses threatened by water flooding Main Street Tuesday

Published 8:00 am Thursday, May 31, 2018

SALUDA — Though Saluda had a massive amount of water flood the sidewalks on Main Street, which threatened  downtown businesses Tuesday night, City Manager Jonathan Cannon said the city’s heart goes out to those residents down the mountain in Tryon.

Heath Potter, with Green River Brew Depot in Saluda, shot a video of water gushing across Church Street and flooding the sidewalk past city hall and The Purple Onion restaurant on Main Street in Saluda.

“The water was trying to come in through the [front] door,” said Emily Lamar, operations manager for The Purple Onion. “Some staff members were able to keep it out with a broom and squeegee.”

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Cannon said the water came pouring down the street around 7 p.m.

“It washed out the shoulder on Laurel Drive and threatened to come in the city hall,” he said.

Cannon said some residents were without power Tuesday night and part of Wednesday, but the town itself faired pretty well.

“Compared to neighbors down the mountain, we have not been hit nearly as bad,” Cannon said.

On Wednesday, Potter said Green River Cove Road near Green River Cove Tubing was completely washed out, and there was a mudslide near the area that blocked the road for several hours. He also reported a washout on Holbert Cover Road near Bradley Falls.

Green River Cove Tubing is currently closed because the river is unsafe for tubing, according to a voicemail message from the company. The message states the business will reassess conditions later in the week and will reopen again when it is safe.

Lamar said water also threatened The Purple Onion and other businesses in Saluda a week ago Friday, but they were able to keep the water out then as well.

“[Tuesday] night, we had to close an hour early, but [Wednesday] the sun is shining and we’re open,” she said.