Blog

Dozens of community members, project donors, and representatives from National Park Foundation and National Park Service joined our staff on October 3 to celebrate the replacement of the old flume at Mabry Mill and installation of new shake roofs on additional historic buildings at the site. 

By Clay Fleming

Bolstering rare plant populations. Archiving and sharing photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s past. Revealing obscured views at overlooks. Repairs to a historic mill. We are asking donors to support these projects and additional initiatives that will enhance the scenic route and share its stories with millions of visitors. Each year, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation works with the National Park Service to select projects that will connect visitors with the park’s natural wonders and history and sustain the park for generations to come.

Update (January 28, 2019):  With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff along the Blue Ridge Parkway resumed regular winter operations beginning Monday, January 28, 2019.  The National Park Service reminds visitors to remain patient as Parkway staff begin to assess road conditions on the sections of Parkway that remain closed due to debris and winter weather conditions.

Thanks to your gifts, the new roof at the former Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park is complete! The facility at milepost 241 near Sparta, N.C., is now one step closer to reopening. The concrete shingles were replaced with Enviroshake shingles, which are easier and less costly to maintain.

An announcement from the National Park Service: (NC/VA) –National Park Service maintenance personnel are conducting boom axe operations in multiple locations along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway between now and the end of the year. Visitors should anticipate intermittent and temporary closures in active work zones as indicated.Both lanes of the Parkway will be closed to all activity (cars, bicycles, and hikers) in active work zones to ensure the safety of the maintenance workers as well as Parkway visitors.

Sharp Top Shelter is looking its best thanks to your support! This summer, a crew with the National Park Service repaired and reset the windows, sills, and door frames, replaced the roof, and painted the clapboard siding on the structure at Peaks of Otter in Virginia. The most noticeable improvement is the removal of prolific graffiti that marred the charm of the circa-1850s building. You can still make a gift to show your appreciation for the rehab of this hikers’ haven.

The Blue Ridge Parkway will close tonight due to potential dangerous conditions on the road from Hurricane Florence. Please stay safe. From the National Park Service:

To kick off the auction bidding during the third annual Denim Ball, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is hosting an online auction featuring three fantastic items. It’s a great opportunity for those who can’t attend the event to get in on the auction fun and support Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.