Blog

Beginning Monday, Oct. 23, a contracted crew and volunteers will start reconstruction of the viewing platform atop Mount Pisgah in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407.6. The project is funded through the generosity of our Community of Stewards.

Rick Lotz loves to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, and not just from behind the wheel. His support drives enhancements within the national park. He wants more Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation donors to know about the tax advantages of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Decked out in denim attire, more than 200 guests admired a unique collection of vintage cars as they celebrated the sixth annual Denim Ball on Sept. 7 at the Perry Car Barn in Blowing Rock. The sold-out event raised nearly $200,000 to fund continued improvements at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park through the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. “We are so grateful for a wonderful venue, generous sponsors, and a delightful group of guests who support this iconic and cherished place,” said Jordan Calaway, Chief Development Officer for the Foundation. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is announcing a series of meetings in August to help formulate an action plan for Blue Ridge Rising, the regional planning effort that is uniting the gateway communities of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Members of the public are encouraged to register for and attend any of the seven meetings hosted in North Carolina and Virginia.

Each year, the Foundation works with the National Park Service to determine where donors can make the greatest impact on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our 2023 Parkway Project List below outlines the ways your donation can transform the national park you love.  The national park depends on dedicated donors to provide critical funding through the Foundation. You can choose to give to a specific initiative that you want to see accomplished or provide a gift that supports the highest priority needs. 

National Park Service Release, April 27, 2023

New operator to manage historic establishment at Doughton Park on Blue Ridge Parkway The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park, milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, will reopen for the season on Friday, May 26, with a new team managing operations. Cal Ledbetter of The Bluffs Restaurant, LLC, will manage the restaurant.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has selected Destination by Design of Boone to help create an economic development action plan to benefit the Parkway’s gateway communities in Virginia and North Carolina.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of new officers and members to our organization’s Board of Trustees and Council of Advisors.  The Board of Trustees elected the following officers: