Blue Ridge Parkway managers are pleased to announce the spring 2016 opening dates for facilities and visitor services along the scenic, 469-mile route. As the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016, Parkway staff, volunteers, concession operators, and other partners are making plans for a robust season.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the largest designed landscapes in the country, providing visitors with a wide variety of opportunities to make meaningful connections to the nature, history, and culture of the southern Appalachian mountain region. “During the NPS Centennial, we want to encourage Parkway visitors to explore this special park in new and different ways,” said Mark Woods, Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway. “We want visitors to celebrate their own personal connections with this park and consider how this place will be available for future generations of visitors.”
Parkway visitors are also reminded to take time to carefully plan their visit. Considering its unique design, the Parkway drive is different than most and this can mean taking extra care to ensure a safe visit. Information is available to help plan a memorable and safe Parkway experience on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/blri, the real time road map site atwww.nps.gov/maps/blri/road-
| 2016 Blue Ridge Parkway Spring Season Opening Schedule | |||
| Milepost | Facility | Open Date | Notes: |
| CAMPGROUNDS (Open first come, first served with self-registration through May 14; Reservations available onrecreation.gov starting May 15) | |||
| 60.8 | Otter Creek Campground | 6-May | Full services available. |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Campground | 6-May | Full services available. |
| 167.1 | Rocky Knob Campground | 6-May | Full services available. |
| 239.2 | Doughton Park Campground | 6-May | RV loop and one tent camping loop open for season. |
| 296.9 | Price Park Campground | 1-Apr | Self registration and Loop A only open April 1 – May. 5. After May 5, full services available. |
| 316.4 | Linville Falls Campground | 1-Apr | Self registration until May 14. Full services available. Trout waters open 7:00 a.m. April 2. |
| 339.5 | Crabtree Falls Campground | 6-May | RV loop and one tent camping loop open for season. |
| 408.8 | Mt. Pisgah Campground | 6-May | Full services available. |
| CONCESSION FACILITIES | |||
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Lodge | Full services available; Sharp Top bus service begins May 7; and Peaks Country Store open April 9; visit peaksofotter.com for more information. | |
| 176.2 | Mabry Mill Restaurant & Gift Shop | 29-Apr | Visit mabrymillrestaurant.com for more information. |
| 258.7 | Northwest Trading Post | 16-Apr | Visit facebook.com/profile.php?id= |
| 294 | Parkway Craft Center at the Moses Cone Manor | 15-Mar | Visit craftguild.org for more information. |
| 296.9 | Price Park Boat Rental | 1-Apr | Open Fri.-Sun. only through May 27; Open daily beginningMay 27. Visit wix.com/ |
| 382.2 | Folk Art Center | Open Year Round | Visit craftguild.org for more information. |
| 408.8 | Pisgah Inn & Restaurant | 1-Apr | Visit pisgahinn.com for more information. |
| PICNIC AREAS (Open Daily until sunset; Restrooms available at picnic areas) | |||
| 8.5 | Humpback Rocks Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 63.6 | James River Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 154.5 | Smart View Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 120.4 | Roanoke Mtn Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Sunday Mtn. Music programs begin May 29, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. |
| 169 | Rocky Knob Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 188.8 | Groundhog Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 217.5 | Cumberland Knob Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 241.1 | Doughton Park Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 271.9 | Jeffress Park Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 296.4 | Price Park Picnic Area | Open Year Round | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 316.4 | Linville Falls Picnic Area | 3-Apr | April 2 (12noon) – May 5, 2016 one loop open with comfort station; Full services for entire area available beginning May 5 |
| 340.2 | Crabtree Falls Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 367.6 | Craggy Gardens Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| 407.8 | Mt. Pisgah Picnic Area | 15-Apr | Portable toilets available prior to May 5 |
| VISITOR CONTACT STATIONS & AREAS OF INTEREST | |||
| 6 | Humpback Rocks Visitor Center | 29-Apr | Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 6 | Humpback Rocks Farm | 13-May | Cabins open daily 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.; Weekend farmlife demonstrations |
| 63.6 | James River Visitor Center | 6-May | Open Wed. – Sun. 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. weekdays; 9:00-5:00pm on weekends |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Visitor Center | 6-May | Open daily 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. |
| 85.6 | Nature Center | 13-May | Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ( with 1 hour closure at 12:00 p.m.) |
| 85.6 | Johnson Farm | 13-May | Open Thu. – Mon., 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 169 | Rocky Knob Visitor Center | 7-May | Open Sat.-Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| 176.2 | Mabry Mill Cultural Site | 7-May | Open 10am-4pm Sat.-Sun. only through May 22; Open daily beginning May 28; Weekly music begins May 29 |
| 213 | Blue Ridge Music Center | 7-May | Open 10am-5pm Thurs. – Mon. through May 23, with Mid-day Mountain Music available daily from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Open daily beginning May 26; Concert Season begins May 21, visitblueridgemusiccenter.org for more information. |
| 238.5 | Brinegar Cabin | 7-May | Open Sat. & Sun. only, 10:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. (including holidays); Special request programs may be available during the week by calling 540-745-9680 |
| 294 | Moses Cone Manor House | 15-Apr | Open Fri-Sun 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; open daily beginning4/29/2016. |
| 304.4 | Linn Cove Visitor Center | 29-Apr | Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 316.4 | Linville Falls Visitor Center | 29-Apr | Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 330.9 | North Carolina Museum of Minerals | Open Year Round | Open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 364.5 | Craggy Gardens Visitor Center | 15-Apr | Open 10am-4pm Fri. – Sun. through May 1; open daily beginningMay 2; beginning May 22 open until 5:00pm |
| 382.2 | Folk Art Center, Visitor Information & Bookstore | Open Year Round | Open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m./6:00 p.m. |
| 384.5 | Asheville Visitor Center | Open Year Round | Open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 451.2 | Waterrock Knob Visitor Center | 29-Apr | Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| * Please note, schedule subject to change. Check nps.gov/blri for updates and other park information. | |||
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