Foundation asks for support to improve Blue Ridge Parkway (2024)

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is seeking support for over $1.4 million in improvements including a new roof at Mabry Mill.

The most expensive project on the list is $750,000 for repairs and enhancements to Craggy Gardens, a 71-year-old visitor center in need of upgrades and repairs at Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Donations will be used to construct two sets of permanent, fully accessible waterless vault toilets at the visitor center and another set in the parking lot of Craggy Pinnacle Trail.

There are also plans for five new trailhead exhibits, and planning and design toward renovation and improvements to the picnic area and other site features.

Contributions for this project will be matched dollar for dollar by a $750,000 grant from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s new Legacy Investment from Tourism (LIFT) Fund.

The Foundation has a remaining need of $37,216 toward the cost of an $80,000 roof replacement at Mabry Mill.

The weather-worn shake roof needs to be replaced as part of the first phase of improvements at the site deemed to be in dire need of repairs.

“So many people love the Blue Ridge Parkway, whether they have visited all their lives, reside in a neighboring community, or enjoyed just one epic adventure here,” said Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Foundation. “Often they don’t realize they can play a huge part in the care and protection of the national park.”

Critical projects will enhance the 469-mile scenic route with initiatives that include repairing historical structures, rehabilitating trails and overlooks, engaging children in outdoor activities, and showcasing traditional mountain music for visitors.

In 2023, more than 16.5 million people traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it the most-visited national park in the nation. The park does not charge an admission fee.

About $15,000 is needed to provide supplies and training to the hundreds of volunteers who donate time to the Parkway each year. In addition to training, volunteers are provided with uniforms and the tools and gear needed to make improvements.

The Trails & Views Forever Program is in need of $179,300 to fully fund five projects at a total cost of $217,000.

The Restore the Views project clears the roadside and overlooks obscured by overgrown vegetation, particularly near the border with Virginia and North Carolina.

In addition to more than 369 miles of official park trails, the Parkway intersects with the Appalachian Trail and Mountains to Sea Trail. The National Park Service is tasked with keeping the area clear of debris and safe for visitors.

The Linville Gorge Trail, between Boone and Black Mountain in North Carolina, has a number of downed trees that need to be removed, uneven and unstable terrain, and a steep tread eroding into the Linville River that is needing attention.

Work to the Humpback Rocks Trail, just north of Wintergreen Resort near Waynesboro, is fully funded but the work to realign the lower third of the route to protect natural resources and create a safer path is still to be done.

The Trail Management and Oversight project encompasses the entire length of the Parkway and is yet to be funded at a cost of approximately $65,000.

The Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax is in need of $70,000 to cover the costs of existing programs.

The Boost Milepost Music project provides a series of free summer concerts hosted from June through September at locations such as Mabry Mill, Humpback Rocks, Doughton Park, and the Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville. The Foundation is seeking $30,000 to supplement the Sunday afternoon shows with educational programs and address park staffing shortages while helping to support local and regional musicians.

A remaining need of $43,147 toward a total cost of $63,000 is solicited to pay for outdated, high-wattage lamps. Donations to the Light up the Stage project will go to the purchase of LED fixtures and converters that will supply energy-efficient lighting.

Donations are also requested to provide for exhibits at the Luthier Shop and Music Center in Radford, cover funding and labor force shortages for various staff with Visitor Experience Ambassadors, and the repair of solar lighting in the amphitheater parking area at the Music Center.

The Parkway has its own sign production center; responsible for designing, fabricating, repairing, and installing more than 10,000 signs along the Parkway. The Foundation has raised $14,000, but needs $18,000 more to fund an apprenticeship that will pass on the specialized skill set needed for a role in the workshop. The program is conducted in collaboration with the Appalachian Conservation Corps.

Other projects include $174,617 to repair crumbling ceiling plaster at Flat Top Manor near Blowing Rock, North Carolina; $14,230 is needed to fully fund an $80,000 Bass Lake Accessibility Ramp at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park nearby; repairs to the Minerals Museum Facility in Spruce Pine, North Carolina; new programs at the Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park in Traphill, North Carolina; and an interpreter-in-residence at Crabtree Falls between Amherst and Staunton.

The Foundation is also seeking funds to outfit existing trails with family-friendly trail adventures.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway and has provided more than $22 million since 1997 in support of the Parkway. Donations may be made by visiting BRPFoundation.org.