Roan Mountain: Gardens Access For 2010 To Be Closed

One of my favorite stops in the mountains will be inaccessible for the next year except for a one month window during the bloom season of 2010.

ROAN MOUNTAIN — Pisgah National Forest’s Roan Mountain Recreational Area will only be open during the rhododendron blooming season, from June 6 to July 7 this year, because of a massive renovation project being funded by federal stimulus money…

To accommodate these projects, the area will be closed to motor and walk-in traffic for safety reasons because of the heavy construction equipment traffic. The nearby Appalachian Trail will not be affected, however the access trail from the Appalachian Trail to the Cloudland parking lot will be closed.

The one-month open season for the area this year will include the annual Rhododendron Festival in June. One change that will benefit the festival-goers is that the normal $3 per vehicle user fee will be dropped while the area is open this year from June 6 to July 7.

According to the article at the link, the money for the improvements are coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds. The total cost of the improvements will be in the range of $700,000. The project includes repaving the road into the Cloudland parking, replacement of the restrooms at the Cloudland parking, replacement of the observation deck and refurbishing the trail system.

Included in the area improvements are funds for habitat restoration on the grassy balds of Roan Mountain. Work being done will include mowing and cutting of trees and shrubs that are encroaching on the sensitive native species…

I look forward to visiting the area once the improvements are made.

Thanks to Mark Peacock at Appalachian Treks for the link to JohnsonCityPress.com – Johnson City, TN.