ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — This weekend, Hellbender by the Orange Peel, the newest music venue in Asheville, will open its doors to the public for the first time. Before Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr. take the stage on Friday, we took a tour of the outdoor concert space. Here is a sneak peek.
Where is Hellbender?
Hellbender is located along the Swannanoa River at 151 Thompson St., Asheville, between Biltmore Village and South Tunnel Road.
Parking at Hellbender
There is no free parking at the venue, but concertgoers can pay for the following parking options:
- $30 – Salamander Lot, 40 Simpson St.
- $20 – Water Dog Lot, 99 Thompson St.
- $15 – Swannanoa Lot, 208 Swannanoa River Road
The lots open one hour before the gates, and will remain open until 11 p.m. after each show.
There will also be a complimentary shuttle available from the nearby Asheville Mall. Five free shuttle buses will run continuously from one hour before gates open until 10 p.m. Pick-up will be near the back entrance to the former JCPenney, just past Belk Department Store.
From Helene to Hellbender
Thompson Street was heavily impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. The Swannanoa River flooded during the storm, dumping dirt and debris over the present site of Hellbender.
Liz Tallent, Orange Peel co-owner and marketing director, said that almost everything at the venue now has come after months of hard work by the Orange Peel team…