The Bluffs Coffee Shop in 1995
The Bluffs Restaurant in 1995. Photo courtesy of Bill Harrison
Ten years after The Bluffs Restaurant closed, interior renovations will begin in preparation for an opening day this summer! Thanks to your support, the work will soon get underway at this beloved Doughton Park gathering place at milepost 240.

One of the many people who have been waiting for The Bluffs to come back to life is Ellen Woodruff Smith, who worked at the restaurant from the day it opened on May 31, 1949, to the day it closed on November 1, 2010. For so many people who enjoy fond memories of Bluffs Coffee Shop, the stories go beyond the ham biscuits, pan-fried chicken, and berry cobbler. A big part of the charm was the welcoming staff.

“I never met a stranger,” says Ellen, who greeted tourists from all 50 states, loyal locals, and visitors from around the globe. ( Read about Ellen’s time at The Bluffs )

We’re so close to welcoming customers back for delicious food and good times, but we still must raise $60,000 to cover the remaining costs of the renovations. If you can’t wait to visit The Bluffs again, please give today .
A Valentine’s Day gift with heart
Does your sweetie really want another heart-shaped trinket … or do they want to spend time together on the Parkway enjoying adventurous hikes, comfortable campgrounds, beautiful spots for romantic picnics, and sweeping views? For this Valentine’s Day make a gift to the Trails & Views Forever Fund in honor of your loved one. Your donation will protect the places where you love to make memories on the Parkway. Now that is a truly heartfelt gift.
When you give, you’ll have your choice of two cards you can download and print at home to announce your gift.
The Parkway was the second most visited national park unit in 2019 with nearly 15 million visitors
For the second year in a row, the Blue Ridge Parkway was the second most visited national park unit in the country. The Parkway and Golden Gate regularly swap out for the No. 1 spot. The Parkway once again recorded more visitors than Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon national parks combined in a year.

Our neighbors at Great Smoky Mountains National Park welcomed 12,547,743 visitors and Shenandoah National Park saw 1,425,507 visitors.
The personalized Blue Ridge Parkway license plate 4IST (forest) is a perfect fit for Penelope Reed, who is a certified Blue Ridge Naturalist and serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network. “The hiking trails along the Parkway are endless,” Penelope says. “Craggy Gardens Pinnacle is the first place I take visitors because it is an easy, quick walk to the top with views that show them what Western North Carolina is all about.”

If you live in North Carolina, purchasing the Blue Ridge Parkway license plate for your vehicle is a great way to show your support for the park. $20 from each new or renewed plate supports the Foundation, with the remaining $10 going to the N.C. Wildflower Program. To order yours, visit GetThePlate.org .

If you already have a Parkway plate, sign up for our giveaway !
Old Crow Medicine Show plays May 23 at the Blue Ridge Music Center
The Blue Ridge Music Center just announced three stellar concerts in its upcoming summer concert series hosted on Saturday evenings starting Memorial Day weekend. Three fan favorite groups will return to the amphitheater at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.


Tickets are on sale now , and if you plan to attend more than one show, check out the selection of season passes available .
 
To get the next big announcement, sign up for Music Center e-newsletter

Since 2013, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has supported musical programming at the Blue Ridge Music Center to help preserve the cultural heritage of the mountains.
Create a Parkway legacy
Do you want to create an enduring legacy that protects the Blue Ridge Parkway for generations to come? You can do it today by including the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation in your estate plans. Learn more at BRPFoundation.org/plannedgiving or call Willa Mays at (866) 308-2773, ext. 305.
As the primary fundraising partner, 501(c)(3), and a trusted steward of the  Blue Ridge Parkway , the Foundation is forever committed to preserving the past, enhancing the present, and safeguarding the future of America's Favorite Journey . BRPFoundation.org