A Community Hub at the Heart of the South Toe Valley
Your donation will help us build a place where neighbors gather, learn, create, and support one another.
The former Celo Inn is becoming a shared space for local makers, small businesses, and community life, run by and for the people who live here in the South Toe Valley.
The Celo Inn has been a gateway to this community for as long as most of us can remember. Hurricane Helene damaged the building, but it also opened a door: a chance to ask what this place should become next.
The answer we keep coming back to is a commons, in the oldest sense of the word. A place that belongs to the community, that supports people's livelihoods, and that holds space for the kind of cooperation and creativity this valley has always run on.
Investing in Resilience
Right now, our primary work is renovation. The building sustained significant damage during Hurricane Helene and requires substantial repair before public programming can begin. Renovation is being led by Equinox Woodworks, using flood-resilient materials and methods designed to reduce future disaster vulnerability. The finished facility will include workspaces, studios and gathering space, plus a flagship store to bring fresh food access to the Valley.
Read our latest from News & Updates:
A Space That Serves Everyone
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Studio and office space for independent health and wellness practitioners, and flexible gathering space for wellness classes, health education, and community programming; complementing Mountain Community Health Partnership's existing clinic on Celo Community land.
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Below-market studio and workspace for artists, craftspeople, and small-scale entrepreneurs, alongside programming designed to strengthen creative livelihoods: mentorship, peer learning, and workshops on marketing, budgeting, and sustainable organizational practices.
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Below-market space for local farmers and food producers to distribute and sell fresh food products, including a flagship storefront dedicated to food access. In partnership with Dig In! Yancey Community Garden, supporting gleaning, food education, and community food events.
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Educational programming for residents of all ages, shaped by community listening sessions. Topics include crafts, sustainable living, local ecology, land stewardship, watershed health, and wellness practices. Programming offered free or at low cost.
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Local music, theater, dance, film screenings, readings, and creative showcases, as well as community festivals celebrating local heritage. Celo Commons serves as a resilience hub where relationships are built, local knowledge is shared, and community capacity is strengthened over time.
Strengthening Community & Economy through Partnerships
Celo Commons connects longstanding partners—including AMY Wellness, Celo Community, Equinox Woodworks, Dig In! Yancey Community Garden, and others—into a central hub for collaboration, entrepreneurship, and service delivery. By providing space for health services, creative enterprise, education, and food access, the Commons fosters a resilient local economy and improves quality of life for residents across the South Toe Valley.
Our Funders
The restoration of the Celo Inn and the launch of Celo Commons have been made possible by the generous support of these foundations.
Join the Effort
Celo Commons is more than a building—it’s a model for rural revitalization, where shared values, creativity, and collaboration meet practical solutions for our community’s needs. Your support helps us:
Preserve a historic landmark
Expand access to wellness, food, and education
Support local entrepreneurs and small businesses
Build a resilient, inclusive, and thriving South Toe Valley