A retaining wall failed below the Parkway just south of the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center. The repair is expected to take a year, and the Parkway will be closed from the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area all the way to Mount Mitchell State Park for 2008. This means the vastly popular Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle Best Hikes will (technically) be inaccessible during this time. You can get more information in the official release from the National Park Service.
Mitch Cantor
Are the Rhodos in bloom at Craggy Garden. I know it is officially closed but there is access from the picnic area. PLease reply to doshin@bellsouth.net
6/8/08
Chris Bochicchio
Ha! I knew I was right about that spot!
Jordan Mitchell
Yep, you can still access the Gardens from the picnic area. I have a sneaky suspicion that it might be closed *next* rhododendron season, too. Hopefully not. But we’ll see.