Your Gifts at Work | Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Since the Foundation’s start, our Community of Stewards has invested more than $22 million toward Parkway initiatives and programs. Our work focuses on Education & Outreach, Historical & Cultural Preservation, Visitor Amenities, and Natural Resources.

Initiatives Along the Parkway

Craggy Gardens Revamp & Plans

MATCHING GIFT OPPORTUNITY! With its prolific summer blooms of rhododendron and 360-degree mountaintop views, Craggy Gardens is an iconic Parkway destination that is loved by tourists and locals. It ranks as one of the most popular locations in America's most visited national park unit.

Trails & Views Forever Program

The places you enjoy nature on the Parkway desperately need your help! As the National Park Service faces an astonishing price tag to repair all aspects of the Blue Ridge Parkway, coupled with budget constraints, care of the trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and overlooks is falling to the bottom of the long list of priorities.

Linville Gorge Trail Rehabilitation

You can help repair the trail that leads to Linville Falls, one of the most iconic outdoor destinations in North Carolina. The Linville Gorge Trail poses serious safety concerns with several downed trees, uneven and unstable terrain, and a steep, sloped tread that is eroding into the Linville River. Your gift will bring in a Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards team to clear trees, install rock structures including stone steps and retaining walls, and create sidehill reinforcements at several major erosion areas. Donate

Museum of North Carolina Minerals Repairs

Since 1955, the Museum of North Carolina Minerals has served as a hub of information about the area’s rich mineral resources and mining heritage. Constructed in part with stone quarried at Grandfather Mountain, the aging building's exterior requires repairs, including the replacement of damaged wood and fresh paint. Inside, the building needs a new HVAC system to ensure adequate climate control to protect the exhibits.

Mabry Mill Roof & Complex Repairs

In 1938, the Parkway's most photographed site, Mabry Mill, was almost lost forever. In the early years of Parkway construction, many buildings were either designated to be saved or razed along the route.

Digitize Historical Maps and Drawings to Provide Online Access

The Blue Ridge Parkway has more than 5,000 original maps and drawings dating from 1934 to the present. Many of the older maps and drawings, located in the parks engineering offices and archives, are not digitized and are in very poor condition. With your support, you can fund the work of archivists who will locate, identify, pack and ship historic maps and drawings to National Park Service’s Denver Service Center for inventorying and digitizing. Digital copies will be made accessible to the public and staff online.

Milepost Music

Milepost Music is a series of free summer concerts hosted from June through September at popular destinations on the Parkway. These Sunday afternoon shows supplement educational programs for visitors as park staffing shortages continue and help support local and regional musicians. Because of the success of past seasons, the Music Center is increasing the number of concerts at Humpback Rocks and Mabry Mill in Virginia and Doughton Park and Asheville's Parkway Visitor Center in North Carolina this year.

Blue Ridge Music Center Programming

The sounds of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar are woven into every Blue Ridge Mountain community. Cultural preservation is a core element of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s mission, and we advance that goal by supporting projects and programs at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Virginia. You can be part of this preservation effort by donating to these initiatives: Milepost Music

Crabtree Falls Interpreter-in-Residence

The Parkway is a fascinating place, and sometimes visitors need a little help to get to know it better. With the addition of an interpreter-in-residence at Crabtree Falls, the National Park Service will be able to expand its services for visitors to include demonstrations, campfire programs, and guided hikes. This popular spot has seen an increase in campers in recent years, making it an ideal place to station a knowledgeable interpreter to share details about the flora, fauna, and history of the area.

The Bluffs Restaurant: Ongoing Support

Before the effort to rehabilitate The Bluffs Restaurant, there was little that generations of loyal customers could do to help their beloved dining establishment. Today, the opportunities are twofold. Care for the circa-1949 building

Kids in Parks

Kids in Parks is a network of hiking, biking, paddling and disc golf trails outfitted with free activity guides for children and families. The goals behind these TRACK Trails are to encourage kids to be physically active and help them build meaningful connections with nature. In turn, these goals help inspire the next generation of stewards, who will care for all public lands, including the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Rehabilitation

You can give to address crucial repairs and maintenance at Flat Top Manor as well as trail work and landscape restoration for this treasure listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park: Bass Lake Accessibility Ramp

Blue Ridge Rising: Help the Region Soar

The Foundation and gateway communities along the Parkway are entering a new phase of the Blue Ridge Rising initiative. After hosting more than 35 meetings in 29 counties and the inaugural Blue Ridge Rising Two-State Summit, we are now working to implement the strategies prioritized in the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan, a guide that highlights the next steps in this collaborative process.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Estate Maps

Each year, the Foundation prints and distributes maps of the Cone estate to help guide visitors on the 25 miles of carriage trails and share the past of the historic gem. Your gift will ensure more visitors can appreciate the backstory and beauty of this park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Donate

Viewshed Restoration

The Parkway’s designers created astounding roadside overlooks as hallmarks of the national park. Today, many are hidden by years of tree growth. With your help, arborist crews will clear overgrown vegetation at designated vistas.

Volunteer Supplies & Training

In 2023, the Parkway hosted more than 800 volunteers who dedicated more than 45,000 hours to critical operational support and visitor services in the national park, from repairing trails and protecting rare plants to directing visitors on their journey. These energetic and dedicated volunteers require training, uniforms, and equipment to perform their jobs safely and successfully.

Success Stories

Since 1997, donors have supported a wealth of projects that enhance and protect the Blue Ridge Parkway. We invite you to learn more about our history and the work of our Community of Stewards.