News Releases

BLOWING ROCK, NC – On Friday, April 18, 2025, at approximately 2:57 p.m., the Blue Ridge Parkway Communications Center received a report of a hiker who had fallen into waters adjacent to the Boone Fork Trail, near milepost 297, on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

NC/VA— During the week of April 19 to 27, 2025, the Blue Ridge Parkway will host over one-dozen ranger-led programs to celebrate National Park Week and encourage park neighbors and visitors to get out into the park prior to the 2025 visitor season. 

ROANOKE, Va. – The Blue Ridge Parkway is implementing a full road closure and detour along the park’s corridor in Roanoke, Virginia, from milepost 95.9 at Montvale Overlook (south of Peaks of Otter) to milepost 106, near U.S. Route 460, beginning April 14, 2025. This nine-mile closure is the next phase in the previously announced repaving and rehabilitation, Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Funded project.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. –  As a result of Hurricane Helene’s path through the southern Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina sustained significant damage. In addition to widespread damage to National Park Service facilities and resources, the park has identified at least 57 landslides of varying complexity impacting the Parkway itself across nearly 200 miles in North Carolina.

MONTEBELLO, VA – On Sunday, March 23, 2025, at approximately 12:51 p.m., Blue Ridge Parkway dispatchers received a report of a single motor vehicle accident near milepost 11, in Nelson County, Virginia.

James River, VA – On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Blue Ridge Parkway dispatchers received a report of a deceased male on the side of the road near milepost 58, in Amherst County, Virginia. 

BLOWING ROCK, NC – On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., the Blue Ridge Parkway Communications Center received a report of a lost hiker at Price Lake Trail, near milepost 296 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Explor Peaks of Otter, LLC, a subsidiary of ExplorUS, to operate visitor services at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway under a 10-year concession contract. The existing lodging, food service, retail, and shuttle bus services at Peaks of Otter will transition to the new concessioner in early 2025.

Montebello, VA – On Monday, November 11, 2024, at approximately 3:22 p.m., Blue Ridge Parkway dispatchers received a report of a park visitor in cardiac arrest while hiking on the Humpback Rocks trail.

On November 6, 2024, the National Park Service restored access to approximately 11 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, within the Asheville corridor, from milepost 382.5 to milepost 393.6 after its closure following Hurricane Helene.