READ THE FOUR-PART SERIES
Part 1: A road out of time. "America's Scenic Highway," sculpted out of deforested and eroded land in the '30s, is traversed by 19 million visitors a year. Now it faces both environmental and human-created threats.
Part 2: Buried history. Parkway officials are trying to fix pieces of ignored or overlooked culture.
Part 3: Fighting for life. Plants fight for existence amid poachers and invasive species.
Part 4: Diminished views. Subdivisions and big-box stores are coming into sight
BRING A BLUE RIDGE PHOTO HOME
Order high-quality prints of the photos in this series in the Virginian-Pilot photo store.
Do you have memories of the Blue Ridge Parkway? Share them in the comments section below.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Leave the spoiled views
In recent years I have been upset because some of the overlooks were allowed to become overgrown and I was not able to "get the big picture". Now I may have a reason why. But the park system is doing themselves a dis service by blocking these views so I cannot be abhorred by the encroachment on the parkway. They should leave the views as they are, spoiled, with photos of how they used to be, and why it's important to stop development along the parkway.
Look Out, Virginian-Pilot, . . .
the National Geographic Society might want to steal your talented Mr. Chesley for their narratives!
Blue Ridge Parkway
I've driven the parkway several times from Waynesboro to the Great Smokey Mountains. It is both peaceful and beautiful. If you haven't driven the Blue Ridge Parkway, or Skyline Drive, you've missed something very special.
Can't wait
This is a wonderful idea/subject for story coverage. I'll be looking forward to the segments. Thank you Virginia Pilot!