US government shuts down; Blue Ridge Parkway stays open for now
The U.S. government has shut down after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement by Wednesday’s deadline.
2019: Blue Ridge Parkway affected by federal government shutdown
The Blue Ridge Parkway was still open on Wednesday, Channel 9’s Dave Faherty reported.
The Interior Department posted a contingency plan hours before the shutdown.
He drove through Watauga and Avery counties along the parkway and didn’t have any problems.
Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors Joyce Collins and her husband were enjoying the views.
The couple, from Indiana, were driving the entire parkway through North Carolina and Virginia.
However, they may have to deal the government shutdown.
“Kind of worried when you get out on a place like this when there’s nowhere to stop or if you get sick use a bathroom or anything,” Collins said.
Open air sites will stay open, but visitor centers will close, officials said.
Blowing Rock Mayor Charlie Sellers said the town is prepared to help with trash pickup.
Blowing Rock relies heavily on tourism, and he doesn’t want to see any sections of the parkway impacted.
“16 million people travel the parkway every year,” Sellers said. “That’s the main artery for the communities like Blowing Rock, Boone, Newland and Banner Elk.”
Faherty visited the campground at Price Park, which recently reopened after damage from Helene. For now, it remains open for visitors.
Restrooms will remain open, and trash will be picked up, the Interior Department said.
Blowing Rock business owner Bill Brooks had a message for politicians in Washington.
“They need to get the government going again, so people will not lose their jobs so that businesses will be able to flourish,” said Brooks, owner of Carriage Trade Living.
The contingency plan specifies that park roads and trails will stay open but emergency services will be limited.
The plan says 64% of the park service workforce is set to be furloughed.
According to BRP staff, the Blue Ridge Parkway will remain open “as long as funds are available.”
Confirmed details:
The motor road, overlooks, hiking trails and picnic areas will remain open.
The Moses Cone Manor will not have a ranger at the visitor desk, leading tours of the Manor or providing programming.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild will continue to operate regular hours at the Manor and porch demonstrations will continue as scheduled.
Both Price Lake and Doughton Park campgrounds will remain open to walk-up reservations and (as of now) online reservations at Doughton Park.
Private concessionaires (Bluffs Restaurant, Price Lake Boat Rentals) will stay open regular hours.
Approximately 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, with some potentially being fired as part of the administration’s response, the Associated Press reported.
Many government offices will be shuttered, possibly permanently, as Trump has indicated plans to take “irreversible” actions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
VIDEO: Blue Ridge Parkway shows sharp drop in visitors post-Helene