Blue Ridge Parkway/ Skyline Drive

[Lannis]

Originally Posted by Ricky Mullen

You will find the Parkway closed from Bent Mountain in Roanoke County to where it crosses 460. It has been closed for quite a while. I don’t know why. So plan on passing through Roanoke. Roanoke area is probably the least attractive section of the parkway, anyway. I am in Roanoke, and can help you if you get into a bind. My number is (540) 493-8756. I am notoriously bad about carrying my phone, so leave a message. My uncle was the administrator of the Parkway his last few years in the service. Call if you need anything.

The section around Roanoke from US460 down to Adney Gap at US221 has been closed for a year or more due to landslides dumping huge amounts of mud and rock across the road, requiring a complete re-engineering of some sections.

A lot of people (including me) use that section of Parkway as a Roanoke bypass when heading south from Central Virginia down toward Hillsville/Galax/Floyd areas. For whatever reason, the National Park Service allowed condominium and apartment construction backing right up to the Parkway, so it's not in fact a very scenic section unless you like swingsets, barbeque grills, and trash cans.

The Parkway would be a wonderful ride in a Model A. I've done it end to end on antique motorcycles with a 45 MPH top speed and there's nothing dangerous about it.

Lannis