Did you know?
The Parkway contributes more than $2 Billion to the economies of North Carolina and Virginia. |
I know the lands are lit, with all the autumn blaze of Goldenrod."
- Helen Hunt Jackson
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Save the Journey®
Donate today
and your tax deductible contribution will help preserve this magnificent National Park area for future generations.
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Did you know?
The Parkway ranks in the top three NPS units for the largest number of vascular plan species (1614).
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Find something fun to do on the Parkway!
A listing of ranger-led Parkway events can found on our website
and on our
Facebook page!
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Can you help?
Our Winston Salem and Asheville offices are in need of several items:
- A full-size refrigerator
- An 8-10 person conference table and chairs
- An outdoor picnic table
Contact us
if you can help!
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Protect the Parkway
For each new or renewed specialty plate, $20 is given to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
The entire specialty plate fee of $30 is tax deductible.
If you are a North Carolina resident, Click Here to
Find out how you can help protect the Blue Ridge Parkway's historic, cultural and scenic resources today and into the future.
Already own a
NC Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Plate?
Enter to Win a 2 Night Stay at Mast Farm Inn, a Porsche rental, and a $100 gift certificate to Mast General Store!
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"In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds"
- Robert Green Ingersoll
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Journey Wines
 Purchase our Journey wines for your next dinner or picnic on the Parkway. Part of the proceeds benefit the Foundation. |
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 Enter the Ninth Annual Appalachian Mountain Photo Competition!
Deadline for submission is
Nov 18th.
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Photos courtesy of
Vicki Dameron
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Your Stewardship in Action |
Look for this sign soon at the Graveyard Fields parking area at Milepost 418. The Foundation has received a Scenic Byways grant of $261,336 and will be raising the matching funds to expand the capacity of the parking area, make trail improvements and build a comfort station. For more information on the project or to make a contribution towards these improvements, visit our website.
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The National Park Service Releases Draft of
the General Management Plan for the
Blue Ridge Parkway
The National Park Service has released the draft Blue Ridge Parkway's General Management Plan (GMP) for public comment. This plan provides comprehensive guidance for perpetuating natural systems, preserving cultural resources, and providing opportunities for quality visitor experiences along the parkway for the next 20+ years. The full plan can be viewed here.
The National Park Service has invited all interested parties to attend any of four open house style public meetings to learn about the plan and to submit comments. Each meeting will feature exhibits that facilitate understanding of the plan.
Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Folk Art Center
Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville NC
Date: Thursday, November 3, 2011
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
7738 U.S. 321 Bus, Blowing Rock, NC
Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Nelson Memorial Library
8521 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, VA
Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Brambleton Center
3738 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA
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Parkway Hosts a Community Workshop
The Parkway and its neighbors are finalizing plans to tackle "The Dollars & Sense of Protecting Community Character," Nov 15-17, 2011 in Galax, Virginia.
Parkway neighbors are invited to participate in a 3-day workshop and/or an evening public presentation by Ed McMahon exploring this topic and identifying real strategies for the Parkway region. Updated information about the workshop and Tuesday public program is available here. |
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Parkway Facilities
 | photo by J. Scott Graham
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While many parkway facilities and concessions are preparing for seasonal closures, the Peaks of Otter lodge is planning to stay open throughout the year and will be available for lodging during the winter of 2011/2012. For information and reservations visit the Peaks of Otter website. Rocky Knob Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 167 now offers campers the option of reserving campsites at Recreation.gov, a company that provides online campsite reservation processing for private, state and federal campgrounds in the United States. About 25 percent of the campground's sites will be available for reservations. The remaining sites will be first-come, first-serve. The full opening and closing schedule for the season can be found here.
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An End-to-End Retirement Gift
 As a retirement gift to myself, my wife and I decided on a trip of the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway on our BMW K1200LT motorcycle. We rode up to mile marker zero to ride the BRP south back towards home in the Atlanta, GA area. At mile marker zero we were greeted by VERY thick fog and slowly ventured south towards the Peaks of Otter for our first night's stay. Even in foggy weather the Parkway affords some very beautiful and enjoyable scenery. Even though we also got rained on a few times it was still a fun and wonderful trip. Along the way we stayed again in Virginia off the parkway, spent 2 days in Little Switzerland, NC, and spent our last night in Maggie Valley, NC before getting on the parkway for the short remaining distance to Cherokee and the end.
Along the way we met friendly people, saw deer, coyotes and a lot of wild turkey. When we got to the higher altitudes in NC, the leaves were already getting colorful. Even with rain for part of the day from Little Switzerland to Maggie Valley it was amazing. It seemed we almost had the BRP to ourselves for the week.
We intentionally planned to take our time and travel as long as we did to enjoy it more. We plan on more trips. Maybe not end to end but more on the BRP.
- Chris and Donna
One of the special attributes of the Parkway is that everyone has their own special connection and personal memories. If you have a special memory you would like to share or would like to read other Parkway stories, please visit our website.
If you've traveled the Parkway from one end to the other, submit your story and request your rewards package at EndtoEnder.org
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Kids in Parks Receives $701,000 Grant from the
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
In 2008, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and the Blue Ridge Parkway partnered with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation to form the Kids in Parks initiative. With the initial investment of $204,000, the Kids in Parks program became a huge success, installing more than 8 hiking trails designed to get kids and families outdoors and reconnected to nature for their health and the health of our parks.
Not wanting the program to lose any momentum after their initial investment, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation decided to reinvest in the Kids in Parks program with a $701,000 three-year grant. This grant will enable the Kids in Parks program to become a national model for the "no child left inside" movement, as well as expand the program across the state of North Carolina and the nation.
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Welcome and a huge thank you to our new Parkway Plus partners!
- Boyd Mountain Log Cabins, Waynesville, NC
- Brookstone Lodge, Asheville, NC
- Mountain View Restaurant, Little Switzerland, NC
- Old Stone Inn and Restaurant, Waynesville, NC
- Salsa's Restaurant, Asheville, NC
- The Waynesville Inn, Waynesville, NC
Parkway Plus is a select group of dining and lodging establishments that have agreed to help us - and you - support the Parkway. Parkway Plus partners provide their customers with the opportunity to add $1 (or more) to their bill to support the Foundation's efforts. All you have to do is eat, sleep and donate!
Parkway Plus represents the best of the best of the Parkway. As you plan your Parkway journey, check www.parkwayplus.org to see all the businesses that have been invited to join this group...and then visit them to let them know you appreciate their support!
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Have you registered your NC Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Plate this year?
Do you have a NC Blue Ridge Parkway Specialty Plate? Or maybe you don't live in North Carolina and just wish you could have one! Whether you have one or not, you are eligible to register for our annual drawing for a luxury weekend at the Mast Farm Inn. The winner will receive a 2-night stay at the Inn, a $100 gift certificate to the Mast Store, and a Porsche rental during your stay.
The deadline for entry is midnight, October 31st, so register today!
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Parkway Place Challenge
Do you know the location of this photo? Submit your answer on our website by midnight, November 28th. Five winners will be drawn at random from those who submit the correct answer, and each winner will receive their choice of an array of prizes.
Last month's correct answer  was the trail to Sam's Knob off Black Balsam Road (MP 420). If you submitted a correct answer, the 5 random winners will be drawn this week, and you will be notified if you are one of the winners.
Do you have a photo that you think would be a great puzzler? Submit it here!
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