Nearly 200 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway set to welcome visitors again in Virginia





According to a news release, the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia, which closed due to Hurricane Helene's impacts, will reopen at 8 a.m., with the National Park Service hoping to reopen the remainder of the parkway in V.A. within "the next two weeks."

The release said thestretch includes 198 miles of the scenic byway from Shenandoah National Park south to Virginia Route 685.

NO ROAD, NO ROOM: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY CLOSURE HITS PISGAH INN, OWNER TALKS ECONOMIC IMPACT

"Due to the hard work of the Blue Ridge Parkway crews, we are able to open nearly 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, a vital and scenic route that both embodies the natural beauty and cultural heritage of our region and plays a vital role in the local economy through tourism and community engagement," said Tracy Swartout, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. "While we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize that significant and, in some areas, long-term work remains in North Carolina. We are committed to restoring all sections of the parkway to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for our visitors."



National Park Service officials said visitors should be aware that trail assessments have not been completed in all areas and exercise caution when hiking. Additionally, officials said visitors may find "fewer services than usual" as many employees are assisting with operations in N.C., where the storm's impacts were "far more severe."

Below are the locations set to reopen along the V.A. stretch of the parkway in October:

  • Skyview Drive/Turkey Ridge Road (near Fancy Gap)
  • The Humpback Rocks, James River, and Peaks of Otter visitor centers will reopen as power and water have been restored to all facilities where water existed before the storm
  • The Mabry Mill Cultural Site will be open, and the Eastern National/America's National Parks sales outlet will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
  • Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob campgrounds will operate on a first-come, first-served basis until Oct. 14, at which time existing reservations will again be honored
  • Peaks of Otter Lodge will continue to operate (it did not close after the storm)

Areas closed due to construction before the storm will remain closed.

SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE REPORTED ON BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, REOPENING DATE REMAINS UNCERTAIN

Officials saidthe length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in N.C. remains closed as crews continue emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene.


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