Portion of Blue Ridge Parkway in NC reopens near Blowing Rock

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — The first section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina has reopened near Blowing Rock.

The National Park Service has been working for weeks to clear trees and mudslides along the parkway. The park service said Helene brought down tens of thousands of trees along the parkway.

Crews have been working hard to get the section open because it was important for businesses in Blowing Rock. Now, the gates are open near town.

The fall leaf season is the most important time of the year in Blowing Rock and owners told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty that business after the storm was off as much as 80%. And that’s during fall leaf season, which is the busiest time of year.

“It holds folks through the slower months of winter and spring and it was very slow,” said Tracy Ashley at Sunset Tee and Hattery. “I’ve never seen it this slow in October.”

After the storm hit, the National Park Service brought in 275 employees from 37 states to help with the recovery efforts. Much of the debris in places like Avery County is now gone.

“The parkway reopening is a huge deal for us because Blowing Rock — I think I’m telling you right — is the only town that literally sits on the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Dean Bullis at Carriage Trade Living.

The roadway and overlooks are back open but some of the nearby trails and the Price Park Campground remain closed because of damage.

One boat rental business reopened Thursday morning after being flooded.

“I’m impressed that the maintenance staff was able to do as much as they could do as quickly as they did,” said Addison Williams at Price Lake Boat Rentals.

Paula Little, like many visitors, is excited to have a portion of the parkway back.

“This is my favorite stretch of the parkway,” she said. “It is obviously late October but it’s worth coming up to see.”

Grandfather Mountain, which can be accessed from the parkway, reopened Wednesday, and Appalachian State University will host its first home game this weekend since the storm hit.

(WATCH BELOW: Many western North Carolina roads closed due to flooding)

Many western North Carolina roads closed due to flooding

©2024 Cox Media Group