Did you know?
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NPS Archives
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The Parkway crosses 176 road bridges. |
Winter...
"When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -
Welcome wool sweaters."
- B. Cybrill
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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 amphibian species (43).
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Calling all photographers!
We are always looking for beautiful photos of the Blue Ridge Parkway to use in our e-news and other publications.
If you have photos that you would be willing to let us use, please get in touch with our communications staff at
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Photo by Norris Barnes
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"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the
bone structure of the landscape.
Something waits
beneath it; the whole story doesn't show. "
- Andrew Wyeth
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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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Journey Wines
Purchase our Journey wines for your next dinner or as a holiday gift. Part of the proceeds benefit the Foundation.
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Your Stewardship in Action |
Are You Up For a Challenge?
We are, and we need your help! The Foundation is trying to bring in 469 donations between Nov. 1 and December 31st...one to celebrate every mile on the Parkway.
Will you help us reach our goal? Make a donation today - and ask friends and family to help the cause. Any amount counts and every dollar goes to support projects that protect and enhance YOUR Parkway.
Donate today by clicking here. Stay tuned to e-news and our Facebook page for updates on our progress. Let's show the Parkway what it means to us!
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Fall 2011 Scenic
The latest version of our semi-annual publication, The Scenic, is in the mail.
If you are not currently on our mailing list, you can download it here. (It's a large file, so be patient!)
If you are not on our mailing list and would like a copy of our most recent The Scenic please go to our website and sign up for our mailing list!
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Searching for the Perfect Gift?
Shop from the convenience of your home for one of these memorable gifts that also helps preserve the protect the Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Give a contribution to the Foundation in their honor. They will receive a beautiful hand-addressed card acknowledging your gift and will receive a copy of the 2012 Spring Scenic where all honor and memorial gifts are listed.
- Purchase a 2012 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar from Ray's Weather. The calendar highlights beautiful photos from the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 189 in Southwest Virginia to milepost 435 near the southernmost section of the parkway. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Foundation.
 Order a signed and limited edition serigraph in the WPA style commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Less than 200 of the original 600 numbered serigraphs are left. You can order yours for only $50 by calling our offices at (866) 308-2773 (toll-free).
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The Parkway in Winter
The Blue Ridge Parkway can be impacted by snow, ice, and fog at a moments notice, all of which present hazards to bikers and motorists. Rangers try to close gates whenever hazardous conditions are present, but aren't always able to get there in time. Even when gates are open, snow and ice may be present. Drive slowly and carefully, and be on the lookout for road hazards. Remember that the Parkway is higher in elevation than surrounding roads, and that roads can ice over unexpectedly. For the latest closing information and weather conditions, you can call the Park information line at (828) 298 0398.
Most Parkway facilities are closed for the season and will re-open in May 2012. The Peaks of Otter Lodge & Restaurant (Milepost 85), the Museum of North Carolina Minerals near Spruce Pine, NC (Milepost 331), the Folk Art Center (Milepost 382) and the Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 384) in Asheville, NC are year round facilities.
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A Week In Heaven
We've always wanted to travel The Parkway end-to-end on our motorcycle but alas, as the Mrs. pointed out, you can't pack for the whole week on a bike. So for October of 2011 she planned a B&B Blue Ridge Parkway trip to die for...an entire week end-to-end in our convertible.
And what a trip! The road, the weather and the fall colors were splendid. Also, we spent a whole day at Biltmore Estate. She picked some wonderful B & B's. We felt like we were in heaven for a week! We finally did it! - Rob & Lisa 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 host the Buncombe County High School Disc Golf League Tournament
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program and the WNC Disc Golf Association hosted the first ever Buncombe County High School Disc Golf League Tournament at Enka High on Saturday, November 19th. A total of 25 kids from Enka, Owen and North Buncombe were on hand to represent their school's disc golf clubs and show off their skills... and with a 56 and 57 being shot, there were some skills to be shown!
Each player was given a brand new disc and earned points for their school just for playing, and the Top 9 players earned bonus points for their teams for finishing in the top 1/3 of the field. In the end, North Buncombe High finished with 29 points, followed by Enka High with 22 points and Owen High with 20 points. Before the end of the school year, there will be 3 more tournaments, and the school with the highest total points will be crowned the 2011-2012 Buncombe County High School Disc Golf League Champions.
Congratulations to all the players who represented their schools. It was a great day for disc golf (in the grand scheme of the sport), and a great day to disc golf.
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Welcome and a huge thank you to our new Parkway Plus partners!
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!
Are you planning holiday travels on or near the Parkway? Please make sure to stay or dine with our outstanding Parkway Plus Partners. For a full list, check www.parkwayplus.org.
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 When you call our offices, the person you're most like to speak to is our Director of Administration, Lynne Fletcher. Lynne has been with the Foundation since 2002 and is an encyclopedia of knowledge on both the Parkway and the Foundation. She is a certified "Park Service Brat," having spent the first 15 years of her life on the Blue Ridge Parkway, first at Doughton Park then in Asheville. Her father was a career National Park Service employee and his transfers took the family from North Carolina to Tennessee and California.
As the Director of Administration, Lynne provides support to the executive staff and board members as well as managing the overall operations of the Foundation. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and has been a volunteer for the American Red Cross since 1995. She has loved photography since she was a child and always seems to have a camera in hand, especially when she's on the Parkway.
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Parkway Place Challenge
Do you know the location of this photo? Submit your answer on our website by midnight, December 26th. 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 Low Notch overlook at Doughton Park near the Bluffs Restaurant (MP 240). 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.
Thanks to Barbara Quickel who submitted this month's Challenge photo. Do you have a photo that you think would be a great puzzler? Submit it here!
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