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June 2016 - In this Issue of The Scenic:
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| View from Craggy Pinnacle. Photograph by Vicki Dameron
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Bask in the mist and magnificence at the foot of Linville Falls. Paddle across Price Lake with Grandfather Mountain as the backdrop. Take an inspirational morning climb up Rough Ridge Trail. Enjoy a picnic in the sunshine at Doughton Park. Hunt for the first blueberries of the season at Graveyard Fields. Tell stories around a campfire at Price Park Campground. Take a family field trip to Johnson Farm to step back in time. Dance to mountain music under the stars at the Blue Ridge Music Center. As you make the most of summer on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we'd like you to add one more must-do item to your summer fun list: give to protect it. We're already halfway through the year, and we still have so many projects that need your support. We're working hard to preserve the unforgettable experiences that make the Parkway so important to you. As you explore, think of the ways you connect to this wonderful park, then make a donation to ensure it thrives for hundreds of summers to come.
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In the mountains, we're lucky to have the Parkway in our backyard. It's our escape and connection to nature and history. It's also the top economic driver in the National Park System, contributing $1.3 billion to its neighboring communities. In 2015, it once again ranked No. 1 in visitation and jobs provided. In her latest blog, CEO Carolyn Ward weighs in on the efforts needed to keep visitors coming back.
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The grand opening of the TRACK Trail at Chilhowee Recreation Area in Tennessee
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Kid and families in Tennessee can now get trekking on the state's first TRACK Trail at Chilhowee Recreation Area in Cherokee National Forest. Our Kids in Park's program opened its 140th adventure on National Get Outdoors Day.
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Ray crosses
the finish line!
He did it. Ray Russell of Ray's Weather and Blue Ridge Parkway Weather ran the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 24 consecutive days. His finish on June 9 was doubly exciting because as he was approaching milepost 469, he and his wife, Rhonda, got word that their grandson had just been born. Learn more about Ray's journey at relaywithray.com. To make a donation in his honor, click here.
Have you traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway from end to end?
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It's time to get your tickets for The Denim Ball, a fundraising party for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Join us on Saturday, August 6, at 7 p.m., for dinner, dancing, and an auction at Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock. Spend an evening with friends and remake history at the cherished estate in one fun-filled night. We have a great auction planned with items up for bidding from Peaks of Otter Lodge, Aloft Asheville, Biltmore Estate, High Gravity Adventures, Lost Province Brewing Company, Proper, CoBo Sushi Bistro, Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blue Ridge Music Center, WNC magazine, and many more. Tickets are $100 per person. Call (866) 308-2773, ext. 245, or click here for tickets.
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Road to the past
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Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
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Even back in the 1960s, a hike to Crabtree Falls, milepost 339.5, was a popular way to beat the summer heat. Here, a group takes a nature walk with a ranger.
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Get the Plate.
For each North Carolina specialty plate sold, $20 goes to protect the beautiful ribbon of road through the mountains. Get yours today to show your support for the Parkway everywhere you go.
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| | The Steep Canyon Rangers play Friday, June 17.
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Grammy award-winning contemporary bluegrass band the Steep Canyon Rangers returns to the Blue Ridge Music Center on Friday, June 17, at 7 p.m. Rolling Stone named the group's show at this year's MerleFest one of the top 12 performances. Southwest Virginia native Dori Freeman opens the concert. The influence of her Appalachian upbringing lies at the core of her music, heard especially in the lulling mountain drawl of her voice. Tickets are $25.
Click here for tickets or call (866) 308-2773, ext. 245.
Upcoming concerts at the Music Center include Bryan Sutton Bluegrass Band (July 2), Carlene Carter (July 16), The Church Sisters (August 20), Lonesome River Band (August 27), and many more. See the full season schedule. Season passes are also available online or by phone.
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On May 14, the Asheville BMW Riders' third annual Blue Ridge High Pass Boogie saw nearly 100 riders depart from Eurosport Asheville to participate in one of three rides to benefit the Foundation. A mixer on Friday night featured a silent auction. Both events were a great success, raising more than $10,000 for rehab efforts at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The gift will be doubled to $20,000 thanks to the Centennial Challenge Matching Program. A huge thank you goes out to all the Asheville BMW Riders and the event sponsors for their generous support!
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Your support matters
Join our Community of Stewards
As the primary fundraiser and trusted steward of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foundation is forever committed to preserving the past, enhancing the present, and safeguarding the future of America's Favorite Journey™. Learn more about joining our Community of Stewards at BRPFoundation.org.
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