Blue Ridge Parkway

Comet PannSTARRS Above The Blue Ridge Parkway

Over the next week or so Comet PannSTARRS will be visible near the moon after sunset in Asheville and along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Bundle up and head outside at dusk. Although not visible with the naked-eye, it isn’t hard to find with an average pair of binoculars.

Tim Barnwell

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By Randy Johnson - March 14th, 2013 8:25am

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First-Ever Prescribed Burn To Be Conducted On The Blue Ridge Parkway

In a reversal of seventy years of “vigorously suppressed” fires on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Superintendent Phil Francis has announced that 150 acres will be burned near Doughton Park “to return the site to a more natural vegetation type” and “increase the quality of wildlife habitat.”

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By NPT Staff - March 4th, 2013 6:03am

Interior Secretary, National Park Service Director Lament Looming Budget Cuts

Fewer rangers for search-and-rescue missions, closed campgrounds, and possibly more devastating forest fires are facing the National Park Service as a result of the looming budget fiasco, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said Monday.

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By Kurt Repanshek - February 27th, 2013 11:07am

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NPS Cultural Landscapes Explained And Featured On This Website

History buffs and students working on a class report are among potential users of a website that features cultural landscapes in the National Park System. Not with familiar the term "cultural landscapes"? This site can help fill in the gaps.

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By Jim Burnett - January 27th, 2013 3:03am

Blue Ridge Parkway’s First—and Final—General Management Plan/EIS Is Now Available

After more than 75 years—many of them passed as the most visited unit of the National Park System—the Blue Ridge Parkway has announced the release of its very first Final General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

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By NPT Staff - January 23rd, 2013 3:03am

Snowy Blue Ridge Parkway Perch

Winter's been slow coming to the Blue Ridge but its been worth the wait. This family found an empty meadow and built a snowman near Blowing Rock—while hundreds of other folks tackled a nearby sledding hill. Grandfather Mountain rises in the distance. Photo by Randy Johnson.

Photo by Randy Johnson

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By Randy Johnson - January 20th, 2013 8:26am

Welcome Changes Mark Renewal Of Folk Art Center Lease On Blue Ridge Parkway

The Southern Appalachian Handicraft Guild has run the Parkway’s Folk Art Center in Asheville since 1979 and that record continues with the organization gaining another 10-year lease on the property.

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By Randy Johnson - December 21st, 2012 3:42pm

NPS Extends and Revises Concession Prospectus for Blue Ridge Parkway Lodgings

Following an unsuccessful attempt to drum up interest in several commercial properties on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the National Park Service has extended the submission date and issued a revised and scaled-down prospectus.

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By David and Kay Scott - December 15th, 2012 3:03am

Help the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation: Drive a Donation to the 469 Challenge

End the year with one last philanthropic gesture and become one of 469 donors needed to “match the mileposts” on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

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By NPT Staff - December 11th, 2012 3:03am

The Kids Are Alright: Discovering National Parks Through Service

America’s kids are suffering from “nature deficit disorder” and that includes national parks. As the National Park Service closes its first century, park proponents across the country are trying to get young people engaged in parks and their preservation. It’s a big challenge, but not all of the news is bad. One university town in North Carolina is showing how proximity to national parks invites newbies into involvement.

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By Randy Johnson - December 10th, 2012 3:03am

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The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.