Public Meeting to Discuss Old Rag Parking Lot Project

Date: May 4, 2007
Contact: Karen Beck-Herzog, 540-999-3300

Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright announced today that members of the local community and other interested individuals are invited to a public meeting to renew discussion of visitor parking issues at the Old Rag Mountain Trailhead in Nethers. The meeting will be held in the small conference room at Graves’ Mountain Lodge Wednesday, May 16, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Among the most popular hiking destinations in Virginia, the Old Rag Mountain region attracts more than 50,000 visitors annually to Madison County. For many years, visitors to this area have parked in a small pasture that was leased by the Park for this purpose. The lease on the Nethers lot has been extended for 10 more years, through 2017. However, future long-term use of this site, which is almost a mile from the Trailhead, is not certain. Failure to find a permanent solution may cause significant impact to visitors and the community. After many years of study and management activity a more permanent solution to parking issues for Old Rag must be accomplished.

"This meeting is another important step in involving the public as we work towards finding a more permanent solution," stated Superintendent Cartwright. Park staff expects to host a formal scoping meeting sometime in June.

Click here for directions to Graves Mountain Lodge