Most of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia will reopen to visitors Friday after being closed due to damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene, the National Park Service said Thursday.
The parkway in North Carolina remains closed, as it sustained more severe damage.
The section from milepost 0 to milepost 198 in Virginia will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday, which includes the 198 miles from Shenandoah National Park to Virginia 685 in Carroll County.
The remainder of the parkway in Virginia — from milepost 198 to milepost 217 at the North Carolina state line — will reopen next week, with an exact date to be announced, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The reopening comes just in time for peak tourism season in the Blue Ridge. Kathryn Lukas, director of public relations for Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the Roanoke-area tourism agency, said the region sees the highest revenue from hotels in September and October, as well as doubled traffic to the agency’s website during these months.
Friday’s reopening includes the following facilities:
- The Humpback Rocks, James River and Peaks of Otter visitor centers.
- Mabry Mill.
- Peaks of Otter and Rocky Knob campgrounds, which will operate on a first-come, first-served basis until Monday, when reservations will resume.
Otter Creek Campground will remain closed for the season, the park service said. Visitors should be cautious on the trails and should expect fewer services than normal as resources are being concentrated in North Carolina.
Updates will be posted at www.nps.gov/blri and on the park’s social media platforms at @BlueRidgeNPS (Facebook, X and Instagram).
