After devastating floods halted tourism in Asheville, North Carolina, something tiny and luminous is helping the region recover. The elusive blue ghost fireflies found only in the Southern Appalachian mountains, have returned to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park drawing thousands of curious visitors. These beetles emit a steady blue-white glow that lights up the forest floor each summer. Ranger-led tours and events like the Blue Ghost Firefly Tour have surged in popularity, with a lottery system in place to protect the species from overcrowding and light pollution.
Locals, still reeling from last year’s hurricane, are welcoming the renewed tourism as both an emotional and economic boost. Small businesses report increased foot traffic, and visitors are once again filling local shops, inns, and restaurants. Entomologists were concerned the floods might harm the fireflies, but signs of their recovery have lifted community spirits. Now, the glow of these rare creatures is more than a natural wonder, it’s a symbol of resilience. Asheville’s comeback is quietly lighting up the woods.