FRIENDS of the
Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc.

P.O. Box 341
Arden, NC 28704

P.O. Box 20986
Roanoke, Va. 24018

800-228-7275 (toll-free)
540-772-2992 (fax)
staff@friendsbrp.org

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a non-profit, volunteer organization that is dedicated to preserving, promoting and enhancing the Blue Ridge Parkway, a national treasure.

FRIENDS programs focus on preservation, protection and education.

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia, whose current principal business address for identification purposes is P.O. Box 20986, Roanoke, Virginia 24018.

FRIENDS of the
Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc.

A National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway approved
partner organization dedicated to preserve, promote
and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway, a national treasure,
for future generations.

Volunteer Join Donate Adopt-A-Trail Adopt-an-Overlook

FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter

The Rocky Knob Chapter is still encouraging folks to adopt a highway in their respective counties. This will help ensure the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway is not compromised.

This chapter has recently invited 10 members of the American Hiking Association to come to our area to help with trail rebuilding at Smart View in June of 2009. How exciting!

They are also partnering with the Jacksonville Art Center in preparations for the annual FloydFest in Floyd, VA. They will share an information table at the festival to help educate festival goers about FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you are interested in helping the Rocky Knob Chapter, please contact Gloria Hilton at gjhilton1@yahoo.com or call 540-593-3081.

Chapter Completes 273 Fence Sections

The Rocky Knob Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway has finished repairing 1355 rails on the split rail fences at Smart View (milepost 155) and is moving on to another site in need of fence repair -- milepost 164.5. They would love to see some new faces turn out to help them spruce up the Parkway this spring. For more information, email Gloria Hilton at gjhilton1@yahoo.com.

FloydFest

The Rocky Knob chapter is partnering with the Jacksonville Center for the Arts in preparations for the annual FloydFest in Floyd, VA. They will share an information table at the festival to help educate festival goers about FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. They also plan to hand out Virginia maps, Parkway maps, trail maps and other interesting informational brochures. If you would like to join in the fun contact Gloria Hilton.

Repairing Split Rail Fences

The Rocky Knob Chapter is repairing split rail fences on the Parkway. The Chapter trained with NPS staff on restoring split rail fences which have deteriorated over the years because of winter weather, age, and farm animals. The Chapter completed all the snake fences around the Smart View entrance at milepost 155, and are moving onto a new site at milepost 164.5.

Be Prepared!

If you would like to help repair the fences, wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, heavy gloves and sturdy shoes or boots. You may want to bring bug spray, sun screen and a bag lunch. If you have wire cutters, please bring them. The Parkway will furnish some wire cutters as well as plenty of the split rails.

FRIENDS will furnish bottled water, juices, drinks and some snacks. The work lasts about six hours depending on how hot it is that day and how tired everyone gets. You may work longer hours or shorter hours depending on your desire. The chapter would like to have about 5 or more teams of 3 but they will work with any number they can get. Some of the folks have already been trained in fence repair 101 and will show everyone else what to do.

Painting Milepost Markers

The Rocky Knob Chapter has completed painting all the milepost markers on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Loaded with paints, brushes, signage, and vests the Chapter worked long hours to make the markers more visible to the Parkway visitors.

If you would like to view the Rocky Knob Recruitment Poster, click here.

First Outdoor Donation Box

FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway joined its Rocky Knob Chapter to unveil the first outdoor Iron Ranger donation box on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lester Wood and Mindy DeCesar from the National Park Service demonstrated the collection method to Rocky Knob Chapter Steering Committee Chairpersons, Gloria and Kerry Hilton. The location of the donation box is just beside the walkway entrance to the gift shop/restaurant at Mabry Mill, Milepost 176.2.

FRIENDS Rocky Knob Chapter volunteers will collect the monies, and 100% will be returned to the Parkway.

With the cost of operating the Parkway increasing much faster than funding, these boxes could generate thousands of dollars annually to help the Parkway with activities ranging from trail construction, viewshed restoration, and volunteer support. And, unlike many national park areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway charges no entrance fee, so they must depend upon private support and volunteer organizations to provide those services that people have come to expect from the Parkway.

Currently FRIENDS collects donation boxes at the Folk Art Center in Asheville, Peaks of Otter (indoor and outdoor donation boxes), Humpback Rocks, Moses Cone Manor, Linville Falls, and at the Mineral Museum in Little Switzerland – all collections are performed by FRIENDS volunteers.

Rocky Knob Chapter Member writes for FRIENDS

Susan Roquemore, longtime FRIENDS and Chapter member, has graciously agreed to share her Blue Ridge Parkway experiences through a series of stories. These stories will be shared here as well as in our monthly enewsletters.

The first installment is The Gorgeous Gorge of the Rock Castle can be read here.

Humpback Rocks

Peaks of Otter

Roanoke Valley

Rocky Knob

West Jefferson

Fisher Peak

ASU

Asheville