RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which had been closed indefinitely since Sept. 29, when Hurricane Helene significantly damaged it, will be officially reopening to the public tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 10.
"Virginia is excited to announce that the Blue Ridge Parkway, the nation’s most-visited park, is once again open for business," Youngkin said in his announcement. "This is fantastic news for our communities, especially for the small businesses that rely on parkway travelers for their livelihoods."
Youngkin added, "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved, particularly the National Park Service, who have worked tirelessly during this challenging time to make this opening a reality. As we continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, we look forward to once again welcoming visitors from all 50 states and around the world."
Milepost 1 in Afton, VA to milepost 198 had its "soft opening" today, the governor's office said, with a formal reopening set for tomorrow. The next segment, milepost 198 to milepost 217, at the North Carolina border, will reopen next week, with a specific date to come.
Additionally, the governor's office wanted to remind people that the National Park Service campgrounds will operate on a first-come first-served basis until Oct. 14, when existing reservations will begin to be honored.
People should also be aware that some services may be reduced while NPS crews are working to survey damage along the North Carolina segment of the parkway. Trail assessments have also not been completed on all of the trails, so they warn people to exercise caution when hiking.
There is still no date planned for the full reopening of the North Carolina segment of the parkway, which received "significant, and in some cases catastrophic" damage. It currently remains closed.
