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Campgrounds, Picnic Areas and Visitor Facilities Along the Blue Ridge Parkway Became Fully Operational Friday

By Jesse Wood

It took 20 years of engineering ingenuity to design a viaduct that would extend the Parkway around Grandfather Mountain without causing significant damage to such fragile terrain. Photo by Hugh Morton
It took 20 years of engineering ingenuity to design a viaduct that would extend the Parkway around Grandfather Mountain without causing significant damage to such fragile terrain. Photo by Hugh Morton

May 12, 2014. Aside from a few areas, most of the campgrounds, picnic areas and visitor facilities along the Blue Ridge Parkway are now fully operational. A majority of the areas opened to the public on Friday after being closed during the long winter.

“We are very happy to restore services at a number of facilities this season. We recognize how important these areas are to local communities and the traveling public. The Parkway is an important resource for many reasons for many people. Restoring services at these facilities is an honor for us,” Blue Ridge Parkway Supt. Mark Woods said in a prior release.

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. But arguably the heart of the Blue Ridge Parkway is included in the 100-mile stretch of road that is within a relative short distance from downtown Boone and features iconic areas such as Linn Cove Viaduct, Julian Price Memorial Park and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.

Below is the current schedule for facilities in the vicinity of the High Country followed by the schedule for the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.

Information about the Parkway’s schedule and seasonal programs can also be found at any Parkway visitor center or online at BooneNCinfo.com.

CAMPGROUNDS

Milepost 239.2: Doughton Park Campground* – RV loop and one tent camping

Milepost 296.9: Price Park Campground* – Full services available

Milepost 316.4: Linville Falls Campground* – Full services available

For more information on the individual campgrounds listed above and for camping along the Blue Ridge Parkway in general, click to BooneNCinfo.com’s “Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds” webpage.

*Opens May 9

CONCESSION FACILITIES

Milepost 258.7: Northwest Trading Post opens April 19

Milepost 294: Parkway Craft Center at the Moses Cone Manor opens March 15: Visit BooneNCinfo.com for more info

Milepost 296.9: Price Park Boat Rental opens May 9: Visit BooneNCinfo.com for more info

PICNIC AREAS

Milepost 241.1: Doughton Park Picnic Area*

Milepost 271.9: Jeffress Park Picnic Area*

Milepost 316.4: Linville Falls Picnic Area*

*Opens May 9

For more information about individual picnic areas listed above and for more details about the many picnic areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway, click to BooneNCinfo.com’s “Picnic Spots Along the Parkway” webpage.

VISITOR CONTACT STATIONS, AREAS OF INTEREST

Milepost 238.5: Brinegar Cabin opens May 24: Open Saturday and Sunday only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Milepost 294: Moses Cone Manor House opens April 25: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, tours available by reservation after June 7

Milepost 304.4: Linn Cove Visitor Center opens May 9: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Milepost 316.4: Linville Falls Visitor Center opens May 9: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Milepost 330.9: N.C. Museum of Minerals open year round: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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