News Release

Blue Ridge Parkway seeks Expressions of Interest regarding future business opportunities at three historic park concession locations

Exterior photos of the three properties included in the RFEI, from L to R – Otter Creek Restaurant, Rocky Knob Cabins, Bluffs Lodge.

NPS Images

News Release Date: February 6, 2024

Contact: BLRI Public Affairs

NC/VA –The National Park Service announces a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking responses from individuals, educational institutions, government agencies or entities, and non-profit or for-profit organizations, interested in the preservation and re-use of one or more historic facilities on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The facilities in this RFEI are all former concession operations, and include:

Milepost	Facility	Square Footage	Description	Near
60.8	Otter Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop	3,190	57-seat restaurant and gift shop	James River/Lynchburg, VA
165	Rocky Knob Cabins	4,678	7 rustic cabins, managers house, and shower house	Floyd and Meadows of Dan, VA
241.1	Bluffs Lodge (Units A & B)	7,953	24 rooms for guests, plus additional room in basement	Sparta, NC

The RFEI process encourages individuals and/or organizations to submit business concepts regarding the future use of these facilities, considering the park’s purpose. This RFEI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.

The locations offered in this RFEI are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. All have been unoccupied for some time and will require maintenance and repair to varying degrees. 

Virtual Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions will be held on the following dates to allow interested parties to ask questions of park staff about any one of the properties included in this RFEI.

• Session One, focused on Otter Creek, is February 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
• Session Two, focused on Rocky Knob Cabins, is February 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET
• Session Three, focused on Bluffs Lodge, is February 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET

To receive a link to join one or more Q&A virtual session, email Rachel Stasny at e-mail us. In-person site visits will be scheduled at each facility by late March.

The National Park Service will evaluate responses to the RFEI to inform the next stage in planning for these business opportunities. Interested commercial entities can e-mail us to request a full copy of the RFEI, including submission criteria. The RFEI is also available on the “Doing Business With Us” page of the Parkway’s website. Responses to the RFEI are due by April 30, 2024.