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Commercial tourism as defined for the purpose of this site is tourism that revolves around an industry in some way. Rock climbing, hang gliding, and cycling are a few of the main examples of the types of commercial draws for tourists on the BRP.

Commercial tourists spent roughly $75.5 million on activities at the BRP in 2016 alone.^[1]

Commercial Sports

1975 marked the BRP’s very first Bike Day–a day when the Parkway shut down sections of the road to motor vehicles and welcomed only cyclists wanting a safe and scenic ride down the Parkway.^[2]This tradition was continued for many years but it is not a practice that happens today. Bikers on the Parkway are common as the BRP is home to so many beautiful trails ranging in difficulty which are perfect for all levels of cyclists. Bicycle tours are still popular on the Parkway today with several companies offering tours of various lengths and difficulties.

Given that the road cuts through a mountain range it is only natural that rock climbers would travel to this destination and head out to trek the terrain. The photo above shows that rock climbing has always been an attraction on the Parkway. Today there are several companies who do rock climbing trips out to spots off of the Parkway. Hang gliding is very popular to this day in towns surrounding the BRP, especially Blowing Rock, NC. Blowing Rock is an aptly named town as it features a cliff which juts out at 4,000ft above sea level. At this cliff the wind flow hits the rock at such an angle that it has the ability to blow objects thrown over right back to the top.^[4]
This unique feature has inspired many legends and is a major attraction for the small town. Further down the BRP is the highest point in North Carolina (and East of the Mississippi), Mount Mitchell.^[5]

Keep going south and you’ll find the next big sport attraction on the BRP–zip-lining. Navitat Zipline is the operator of the zip line that cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the zip line is the longest and highest in the Southeast.^[6]

 

 

 

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Celebrations on the Parkway

When the Parkway was finally completed in 1987 it was a big deal. The National Parks Service coordinated with local counties to host what they called “Dedication ’87.” It was a week of events culminating a three day Parkway Conference which brought scholars from around the world to Roanoke, VA to discuss the impact and purpose of Parkways. Dedication ’87 also included the “Parade Through Time,” a parade of vehicles from every year since the beginning of construction on the BRP.^[16] It was widely reported, as seen in the news articles above, from everywhere across North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Mountains are rich with historical significance and that history is celebrated often on the Parkway. Big events, like the celebration of the Overmountain Victory Trail (pictured above) and celebrations of National Parks milestones (see Golden anniversary and centennial celebration pictures above), are a huge draw for tourists to visit the BRP and surrounding areas.

 

 

 

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Footnotes

1. National Park Service, Visitor Spending Effects-Economic Contributions of National Park Visitor Spending 2016, Raw data, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm, accessed October 31, 2017.

2. Granville B. Liles, Press Release, May, 1975, Record Group 9: Press Releases, Series 14, Folder 3, Box 17, BRPA.

3. Young Life Bicycle Tour on the Parkway, Little Switzerland to Crabtree, photographer Wastveer, July 16 1974, BRPPL.

4. The Blowing Rock, “How Blowing Rock Got Its Name,” 2017, http://www.theblowingrock.com/how-the-blowing-rock-got-its-name/.

5. Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina State Parks, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, 2017, https://www.ncparks.gov/mount-mitchell-state-park.

6. Asheville Citizen-Times, “Navitat Opens ‘highest, longest’ zipline in the Southeast,” Carol Motsinger, April 9 2014, http://www.citizen-times.com/story/carol-motsinger/2014/04/08/navitat-opens-highest-longest-zipline-in-the-southeast/7478361/.

7. Navitat Zip Line, photographer Carol Motsinger, April 9 2014.

8. Mountain Climbing Practice, Bear Den Overlook, photographer C. E. Westveer, July 28 1973, BRPPL.

9. The Mountaineer, Blue Ridge Parkway Special Issue, Boone NC, September 9 1987, Records Group 2: Records of the Public Information Office, Series 11: Dedication ’87 News Clippings 1987, Box 9, Folder 3, Blue Ridge Parkway Archives, Asheville, NC.

10. The Mountaineer, “Blue Ridge Parkway Comes of Age, Finally,” Sally Booth, September 9 1987, BRPA. Records Group 2: Records of the Public Information Office, Series 11: Dedication ’87 News Clippings 1987, Box 9, Folder 3, BRPA, Asheville, NC.

11. Big Wednesday Weekender, “Blue Ridge Parkway, Dedication ’87,” September 9 1987, Records Group 2: Records of the Public Information Office, Series 11: Dedication ’87 News Clippings 1987, Box 9, Folder 3, BRPA, Asheville, NC.

12. Big Wednesday Weekender, “Blue Ridge Parkway, Dedication ’87,” September 9 1987, Records Group 2: Records of the Public Information Office, Series 11: Dedication ’87 News Clippings 1987, Box 9, Folder 3, BRPA, Asheville, NC.

13. Winston-Salem Journal, “Yes, She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain,” Floyd Rodgers, 1987, Records Group 2: Records of the Public Information Office, Series 11: Dedication ’87 News Clippings 1987, Box 9, Folder 3, BRPA, Asheville, NC.

14. National Park Centennial, Doughton Park, BRP, photographer Bruce, 1972, BRPPL.

15. Overmountain Victory Trail, Museum of NC Minerals, photographer C. E. Westveer, September 9 1980, BRPPL.

16. Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent, Superintendent’s Annual Narrative Report, 1987, Asheville, NC, BRPA.