Peaks of Otter Ribbon Cutting Celebration

It's time to celebrate the work our Community of Stewards made possible at Peaks of Otter. Join the Foundation and Parkway Superintendent Mark Woods for a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., Thursday, October 6, to mark the paving of the Abbott Lake Loop Trail, the rehabilitation of historic Polly Woods Ordinary, and extensive repairs on the barn and outbuildings at Johnson Farm.

Polly Woods Ordinary, one the few remaining features of the 18th century settlement at the Peaks of Otter area, was an early lodge and tavern for tourists. In recent years, the prominent frontier landmark had deteriorated significantly, and its continued use as a site for historical interpretation was in jeopardy. Working with the National Park Service, the Foundation provided funding to replace the shake roof, weathered clapboard siding on the gable ends, deteriorated doors and windows, rotting sill logs, log walls, and re-chink between the logs. The overhaul was extensive and also included replacing damaged floor boards and floor joists, repairing interior wall boards, and repainting the interior.

At Johnson Farm, provides unique insight into Appalachian farm life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The barn had been closed to visitors because of concerns about its stability. Now visitors are free to enter the barn, thanks to new a new roof, ceiling supports, support beams and sill logs to stabilize structure. The spring house, meat house, and corn crib were reroofed and repaired too. For historic accuracy, all the beams are roughhewn and round, and the roofs feature hand split cedar shingles to match the original construction.

In late 2015, the National Park Service finished the repaving of Abbott Loop Trail, making it the first complete ADA trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The one-mile loop wraps around the lake, offering views of Sharp Top and Flat Top mountains and Harkening Hill. Visitors can access the trail from the Peaks of Otter Lodge or Recreation Area. The project piggybacks on trail revamps and construction of a fishing pier funded by the Foundation in 2014.

Total investment for all three projects is $167,000, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is still accepting donations, which will be matched by funding from Congress through the Centennial Challenge Program. The three-year dollar-for-dollar program encourages fundraising for National Park initiatives through partner organizations.

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