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We can’t thank you enough! On Giving Tuesday, you helped raise $44,000 to support the Blue Ridge Parkway’s recovery after Hurricane Helene.  Your love and appreciation for this treasured place is awe-inspiring. In a time of great need, you stepped up for the park you love. We are so grateful.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) named George Ivey, North Carolina Development Director for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to participate in the 2024-2025 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a leadership training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change.

From the National Park Service:

News release from the National Park Service (Oct. 23, 2024) BLOWING ROCK, NC – On Wednesday morning, October 23, 2024, the Blue Ridge Parkway opened to traffic from milepost 285.5, at Bamboo Gap, to milepost 305, near Beacon Heights, in the Blowing Rock, North Carolina area. This is the first section of roadway to open in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene. Opening this section of the park provides improved transportation links while communities address ongoing storm recovery on other local routes.   

Update from National Park Service 10/10/24 Asheville, N.C. – The Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia, which closed due to impacts from Hurricane Helene, will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 11. This includes the 198 miles of the scenic byway from Shenandoah National Park south to Virginia Route 685 - Skyview Drive/Turkey Ridge Road (near Fancy Gap):

October 3, 2024 Updates on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Surrounding Areas: The Blue Ridge Parkway remains closed through North Carolina as crews continue their initial assessment of the damage from Hurricane Helene. The Blue Ridge Music Center remains closed as of today. Power was restored yesterday but the fire suppression systems need to be assessed before any operational decisions can be made. This means Midday Mountain Music is canceled through at least Monday, October 7.

In August, two groups set out on adaptive kayaking adventures at Price Lake near Blowing Rock. The excursion led by Waypoint Adventure, in partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, paired trained staff and volunteers with individuals with physical or mental disabilities for morning and afternoon sessions of paddling. “That program was a highlight of the summer,” said Adam Combs, cofounder and North Carolina director of Waypoint Adventure. “I couldn’t think of a better way to close out our summer season.”

Each year, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation collaborates with the National Park Service to identify critical projects that protect and sustain the scenic route. These initiatives are chosen to enhance the journey for the millions of visitors who explore this wondrous landscape to discover the rich historic, cultural, and natural resources it holds.

We are so saddened to share the news that Ranger Charles “Chuck” Robertson, who welcomed thousands of visitors to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park over the last decade, passed away on March 14. He was a friend to our organization and held a deep commitment to the continued preservation of the scenic mountain estate.