News Release

Electrical Upgrades Scheduled in Shenandoah National Park

Date: April 25, 2025
Contact: Allysah Fox, 540-624-8320

LURAY, VA – Shenandoah National Park is working with utility partners to upgrade infrastructure and complete a project for the Big Meadows area water system. The work will upgrade utility poles to allow installation of communication lines from wells to the reservoir in the Big Meadows area. The work will impact visitor services in the Big Meadows area (mile 51).

There will be intermittent power outages for up to two weeks starting Monday, April 28. The outages will occur Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. During the outages, Big Meadows Wayside, gas station, and Byrd Visitor Center will utilize generators and remain open. Big Meadows bathroom facilities will remain open; however, showers will not be available during the outage window. Ice and wood sales will relocate to Big Meadows Wayside during the outage window and return to the Big Meadows woodyard once the project is complete.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) and Shenandoah National Park previously began a project to upgrade electric equipment, including utility poles. This ongoing work supports efforts to improve the functionality of the recently upgraded water system. REC will replace 11 utility poles on the Big Meadows line, and the work may take up to two weeks to complete.