MAGGIE VALLEY 2025

[shoresr]

Making a report of our trip to Maggie Valley is like summarizing "Moby Dick" in one hundred words. Tom planned a wonderful trip and everyone had a great time. The roads and the scenery were awesome and the food spectacular. I created a Google photo album and I encouraged everyone to add their pictures to the album. Yes, there were several shots of the same thing, but, oh, some are frameable. Thank you all for contributing. Below are a few. Here is a link to all the pictures that were added to the album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/a8AtwN97vSkpkRTG9

This is the group that started from Lake Frederick, Warren, his brother Scott, Jim, Tom, Dee, Warren's sister, and Steve. Joining the group later, were Jeff, Rob (Roger's friend from Kansas City) and Roger. I had to go down later, because I had a cancer cut off my ear and I couldn't get my helmet on

Warren, Scott, Jim, Tom, Dee, Steve

Our fearless leader Tom and his wife Kathy

Scott

Dee

Jim

Steve

Warren

Warren, Scott and Dee rode the Back of the Dragon

One of the many highlights of the trip was the stop at the Sierra Nevada Brewery where my friend Rob joined the groupl

Rob & Steve

We got the entire group together at one of my favorite places to eat, Haywood Smokehouse

When we left our motel to go to Clingman's Dome it was foggy and brisk. In Tom's typical positive manner he assured us that the Dome would be fogged in and we wouldn't be able to see anything, but we proceeded anyway. Just before we reached the Dome we rode above the cloud to see a most beautiful view. From the parking lot we made the hike to the top of the mountain.

Clingman's Dome at sunset courtesy of JR

There was a Spyder Rally in Maggie Valley at the same time we were there. We enjoyed seeing so many Spyders and visiting with their vendors. One day we visited High Falls and Dry Falls. Of course, you can't go to Maggie Valley without going to the Tail of the Dragon.

How not to park!! courtesy of JR

After a wonderful dinner at Maggie's Galley, where I had the best fried clam strips I have ever had, Tom suggested we go to Waterock Knob and see if we could see the sunset. Did we every see the sunset.

We all had a wonderful time and thank Tom for being the perfect host and guide. I hope you will look at the google album of all the pictures that were sent in. There are some great ones.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/a8AtwN97vSkpkRTG9

After returning from Maggie Valley I received this information about the Blue Ridge Parkway from Jim R.

Roger, on a day I took off by myself I went up to the Folk Art Center just north of Asheville. Even though the government shutdown had started I met a woman at the information section who was incredibly well informed.

I asked for a map, got one, and she asked where I was going. I told her north and she proceeded to mark the map with all the up to date closures. The photos enclosed show the latest closed sections. She stated that they expect all of these sections to be opened by September 2026.

The Google (AI) NPS listing are behind the times as I rode through sections that the Park Service and Google still have listed as closed.

I hope to once again ride all of Skyline and the BRP next fall. If you can use this information in your slides or a post to all members I think it would be helpful for anyone looking to ride south of here. The red slashes at Linn Cove Viaduct and Linville Falls indicates the Visitors Centers are closed. The big bridge at the Viaduct is open and not damaged.

Do not trust the NPS reports on the internet.
JR.