198 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway are now reopened

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – After the impacts of Hurricane Helene forced its closure, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia will reopen on October 11th.

“Thanks to the hard work of the Blue Ridge Parkway teams, we are able to open nearly 200 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, an important and scenic route that embodies both the natural beauty and cultural heritage of our region plays an important role “We play an important role in the local economy through tourism and community engagement,” said Tracy Swartout, Blue Ridge Parkway superintendent. “As we celebrate this success, we also recognize that there is still significant and, in some areas, long-term work being done in North Carolina. We are committed to restoring all sections of the parkway to the highest standards of safety and accessibility for our visitors.”

Thursday's announcement said reopening will occur at 8 a.m. Friday from Milestone 0 to Milestone 198.

This includes Shenandoah National Park south of Virginia Route 685 – Skyview Drive/Turkey Ridge Road near Fancy Gap.

• The Humpback Rocks, James River and Peaks of Otter Visitor Centers are reopening as power and water are restored to all facilities where they existed before the storm.

• The Mabry Mill Cultural Site is open and the Eastern National/America's National Parks Sales Office is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

• Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob campgrounds will operate on a first come, first served basis through October 14th. From this point on, existing reservations will be taken into account again. Otter Creek Campground was closed for the season prior to the storm and will remain closed.

• Peaks of Otter Lodge continues to operate (it did not close following the storm).

The Virginia Department of Forestry updates the fall foliage report

The National Park Service wants visitors to be aware that trail assessment is ongoing and that fewer park services are available due to many employees supporting operations in North Carolina. Visitors are advised to exercise caution while hiking and be aware that areas closed for construction prior to the storm will remain closed.

“Virginia is pleased to announce that the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited park in the country, has reopened for business. This is fantastic news for our communities, especially the small businesses that rely on Parkway drivers for their livelihoods. The extended closure due to Hurricane Helene had a significant impact on the fall foliage season, and this reopening will provide a much-needed boost to our local economy,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, especially the National Park Service, who worked tirelessly during this challenging time to make this opening a reality. As we continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, we look forward to welcoming visitors again from all 50 states and around the world, and I encourage all visitors to support our local businesses that celebrate and highlight the beauty of Virginia's Blue Ridge “So we can help them rebuild and thrive again.”

The remainder of the parkway is expected to reopen within the next two weeks, according to the National Park Service.

The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remains closed along its entire length as crews continue emergency stabilization and damage assessments following Hurricane Helene. Updates will be posted on the Blue Ridge Parkway website at www.nps.gov/blri and on the park's social media platforms at @BlueRidgeNPS (Facebook, X and Instagram).

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