Blue Ridge Parkway visitor centers reopen in Buncombe County area

The Blue Ridge Parkway’s spring reopening brought two key stops back into service for Buncombe County travelers and businesses: Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at milepost 364 and Waterrock Knob Visitor Center at milepost 451.2 both reopened Friday, April 17, and are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That matters now because the parkway is drawing more weekend traffic even as recovery work and construction continue to shape where people can stop, drive, and spend.

For Asheville-area businesses that rely on mountain traffic, visitor centers are more than restrooms and maps. They help direct people to overlooks, trails, and nearby communities, and they keep visitors on the road longer, which can translate into more spring spending on gas, meals, lodging, and outdoor supplies. In a county where the outdoor economy is tied closely to the Parkway, every reopened facility is a signal that the season is picking up, even if the road is still not fully routine.

Waterrock Knob gives travelers one of the Parkway’s highest-elevation experiences. The National Park Service says the seasonal facility sits at 5,820 feet, the highest visitor center on the Parkway, with long-range views, a summit trail, restrooms, picnic tables, and a setting known for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing. Craggy Gardens, about 20 miles north of Asheville and around 5,500 feet in elevation, brings a different draw: 360-degree views, strong winds, fog, twisted trees, and rhododendron. The Park Service says Catawba rhododendron there typically blooms from early to mid-June, with peak bloom often in mid to late June.

The reopening comes with a clear warning for drivers. The National Park Service said on March 31 that hurricane recovery repairs were expected to continue through late 2026 and that heavy construction equipment would keep moving on open sections between Asheville, at U.S. 70 and milepost 382.5, and Mount Mitchell State Park, at N.C. 128 and milepost 355.3. Travelers should expect delays and stay alert for crews and machinery on the road.

The recovery has been extensive. Park Service updates said Hurricane Helene brought up to 30 inches of localized rainfall, winds up to 60 mph, thousands of downed trees, and multiple landslides along the Parkway. Even after reopening more than 310 miles, the road remains a work in progress. A March 2025 update said at least 57 landslides of varying complexity had been identified, underscoring why a cheerful spring reopening also doubles as a practical travel advisory for Buncombe County and beyond.