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Operator Sought For Iconic Bluffs Restaurant Along Blue Ridge Parkway

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Published Date

October 2, 2019
The historic Bluffs Restaurant, seen here with a new roof, is looking for an operator/BRPF

The historic Bluffs Restaurant, seen here with a new roof, is looking for an operator/BRPF

The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway is ready for the next big step on its path to revitalization. Renovations to the restaurant will begin this fall, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is seeking an operator for the iconic restaurant, which is slated to reopen in 2020.

The Bluffs is located at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“The new operator of The Bluffs will have the honor of carrying on the legacy created by this place that meant so much to so many people,” said Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Foundation. “We are looking for a visionary partner to bring the restaurant back to life.”

Potential operators are encouraged to review the Request for Proposals (RFP) and submit their concepts by November 15, 2019. The Foundation is in the process of securing a historic lease from the National Park Service to oversee the facility, which is located at milepost 241 on the parkway. The RFP can be found at BRPFoundation.org/BluffsOperator.

Completed in 1949, Bluffs Restaurant was the first concession facility to provide meals on the parkway. For 60 years, Bluffs Coffee Shop remained a favorite destination for travelers as well as community members who came for the pan-fried chicken, ham biscuits, and friendly service. The restaurant served as an economic engine for Alleghany County, North Carolina, and nearby towns, including Sparta, N.C.

The interior of the Bluffs Restaurant, shown here from decades ago, has been restored/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

The interior of the Bluffs Restaurant, shown here from decades ago, has been restored/Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

In 2010, the operator, Forever Resorts, decided not to renew its concession contract with the National Park Service. Due to the high cost of repairs needed at the facility, a new concessionaire did not come forward and the building was shuttered. 

Working with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, members of the community began fundraising in 2017 to rehabilitate and reopen the restaurant. With support from individuals, a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, and funding from the North Carolina General Assembly and National Park Service, almost $1 million has been invested in restoring the facility and outfitting the restaurant with new equipment. 

"It will be a beautiful and fresh gathering place ready for new memories," said Julie Hettiger, one of the community volunteers leading the fundraising efforts.

Once reopened, the operation will be one of only four food service locations on the parkway. The scenic route welcomed more than 14 million visitors in 2018. 

The Bluffs Restaurant is located in Doughton Park Recreation Area, and is 20 minutes from Sparta, one hour from Boone, N.C., 90 minutes from Winston-Salem, N.C., and 75 minutes from Wytheville, V.A. The recreation area offers a visitor center and park store (adjacent to the restaurant), campground, picnic area, hiking and horseback riding trails, and interpretive site at Brinegar Cabin. 

For additional information, contact Carolyn Ward at [email protected] or (866)-308-2773, ext. 385. To view the RFP, visit BRPFoundation.org/BluffsOperator. 

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