Date: March 12, 2008

Visitor facilities along the Blue Ridge Parkway will be opening for the season beginning in April. A new Park Service building near Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center, has been open to the public since December. There will be a grand opening ceremony on Monday, April 14.

The concession at Mt. Pisgah will open on Thursday, March 27, weather permitting; and the Parkway Craft Center at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park near the town of Blowing Rock will begin operations on Saturday, March 15.

In an announcement today, Superintendent Phil Francis noted that the picnic areas at Peaks of Otter, Humpback Rocks and Linville Falls will begin operation on Friday, April 4. These are in addition to the picnic area at Price Park, which is open year-round. All other Parkway Picnic Areas will be open on May 9. Linville Falls Campground will open on Friday, April 4, (the fishing season begins that date) while all other Parkway campgrounds will open Friday, May 16. Some sites at Mt. Pisgah, Linville Falls and Price Park Campgrounds can be reserved (for arrival dates beginning May 23 or later in the season). For more information, visit www.recreation.gov on the Internet or call toll-free (877) 444-6777. To reserve your camping space via www.recreation.gov, the fee is $19.00. A number of individual sites at these campgrounds and all sites at the remaining six Parkway campgrounds will still be available as first-come, first-served. The daily camping fee for 2008 for all “first-come” campers is $16.

Seasonal openings announced today are in addition to year-round operations at the Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant near Bedford, VA., the Folk Art Center, the new Destination Center at Asheville, N.C., and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals near Spruce Pine, N.C. A schedule for all visitor centers follows. Some begin with weekends or a 5-day-a-week schedule through late May. As an exception, the Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent and Eastern National decided that the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center be closed for the 2008 season. That section of the motor road (at Milepost 364.5) will be closed for repair due to a slide. The area closest to the slide is particularly unstable and is closed even for hikers, bicyclists and other activities.

From Asheville, a visitor driving north on the Parkway can travel as far as the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area, which is found at Milepost 367.6. That picnic area will open on Friday, May 9. At the present time in North Carolina, MP 355 (the entrance of Mt. Mitchell State Park) to MP 375 at Bull Gap is closed due to ice in the tunnels and debris on the roadway. After the debris is cleared from the section north of Bull Gap and there is no ice on the road, the closure will be the section from Craggy Gardens just north of the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area (MP 367.6) to the south side of Mt. Mitchell (MP 355). Access to Mt. Mitchell State Park will continue to be from the north only, meaning visitors will have access to the Blue Ridge Parkway at Highway 80, Highway 226A, or Highway 226 (the most used detour route). The Parkway is subject to springtime snow and ice, and temporary closures are still possible. For information on current road conditions, call (828) 298-0398.

Beginning in June, Ranger-led campfire programs, nature walks and other interpretive services will be offered at campgrounds, visitor centers and selected locations along the Parkway. Weekly schedules will be posted. In addition, the summer concert series at the Blue Ridge Music Center will be offered on Saturday evenings June to early autumn. The series is provided through the partnering organization, the National Council for the Traditional Arts. For information about specific performances, visit www.ncta.net on the Internet. Additional information about the Parkway is also available at www.nps.gov/blri.

Rangers are continuing to emphasize traffic patrols, especially on weekends, to reduce accidents. Motorcyclists are urged to exercise special caution.

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS SPRING 2008

CAMPGROUNDS

Linville Falls 04/04/08, all other campgrounds open 5/16/08. All Parkway campgrounds close 11/03/08.

PICNIC AREAS

Price Park Open Year-round (Full Service Restrooms and Water Fountains open April 30). Peaks of Otter 04/04/08-11/17/08 (Lower loop only. Upper loop closed for dam project construction.) Humpback Rocks 04/04/08 -11/17/08 (Port-a-Johns will be used April 4 to May 9 and November 3 to November 17 at Humpback Rocks and Peaks of Otter Picnic Grounds). Linville Falls 04/04/08-11/03/08. All Other Parkway Picnic Areas 05/09/08-11/03/08.

VISITOR CENTERS

Humpback Rocks- April 25 - May 23, 7 Days a Week - Closed for Lunch (12-1). Open daily from May 24-November 2.

James River - May 24-November 2.

Peaks of Otter April 25 – May 23, 5 Days a Week, Closed Wed & Thurs. Open daily May 24 – November 2.

Explore Park Visitor Center (operated by Roanoke County) open daily April 1 – October 31.

Rocky Knob - Open weekends May 10,11,17, and 18. Open daily May 24-November 2.

Blue Ridge Music Center - May 3 – May 23, 5 Days a Week, Closed Mon & Tues. Open daily May 24-November 2.

Moses Cone - National Park Service information desk and bookstore open weekends April 11,12,13,18,19, and 20. Open daily April 25-November 2. Craft Center open March 15-November 30.

Linn Cove - Open daily April 25 – Nov. 2.

Linville Falls -  Open weekends April 5,6,12,13,19, and 20. Open daily April 25 - November 2.

Museum of North Carolina Minerals - Open Year Round (Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day).

Craggy Gardens closed for the 2008 season due to rock slide and road failure.

Folk Art Center -  Open Year Round (Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day).

Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center Open Year Round (Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day).

Waterrock Knob - Open daily April 25 - October 31.

CONCESSIONS FACILITIES

Otter Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop –Open May 7 – October 26

Peaks of Otter Lodge/Restaurant/Lounge/Gift Shop - Lodge, Restaurant and Gift Shop open year-round.  Peaks Country Store and Sharp Top Bus open weekends May 9,10,11,16, 17,18,23,24, and 25. Open daily May 30-October 26. 30 - October 26.

Rocky Knob Cabins–Open April 26–November 3.

Mabry Mill Restaurant/Gift Shop - Open April 26 – November 3.

Bluffs Lodge/Restaurant/Gift Shop – Open April 26-November 3.

Price Park Lake Boat Rentals – Open weekends May 17-18, daily May 24-September 1, and weekends between September 6 and October 26.

Crabtree Meadows Snack Bar/Gift Shop/Camp Store – Open daily April 26 – October 26.

Northwest Trading Post Gift and Craft Shop – Open April 26 – November 30 (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Parkway Craft Center at Moses Cone Manor House – Open March 15 – November 30 (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Folk Art Center – Open year-round except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas

Pisgah Inn/Restaurant/Gift Shop/Country Store – Open March 27 – November 3.