Hello Patrick,
It has been a minute since we last talked, and another month has flown by. I have noticed a lot of budding on the trees, and the daffodils are showing their strength. With the change in the weather, spring fever is starting to spread. That said, I want to highlight one of the County’s biggest and most visited areas, the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Parkway is one of the most visited units of the National Park System, hosting 16.7 million visitors along its ridges in 2023. The 469-mile ribbon of road travels through 12 counties in Virginia and 17 counties in North Carolina, connecting rural mountain communities, towns, and cities. The Parkway generates approximately $1.3 billion positive annual economic impact on the adjacent communities. The Parkway is a catalyst for promoting regional tourism and is a significant contributor to regional economic vitality.
We saw a drop in traffic at the entrance of US 58 during December, going from 11,470 visits in 2022 to only 5,046 in 2023. That is a decrease of about 56%. Much of this can be attributed to the construction. But while US 58 and the entire Plateau District saw a decline in December travel, cumulative travel for the whole year has increased considerably for the region. US 58 saw 27.4% more visitors by the end of the calendar year 2023, reaching 161,639 visits. As you can see, the Parkway is vital to us, and we will continue promoting our gateway communities, seeking to get travelers to stop before or to get them to come off the Parkway into those areas.
So, as the weather changes and Spring jumps on board, we are poised for another great season. Meadows of Dan is gearing up; Poor Farmers Market has a big anniversary coming up. Flecia will be celebrating 40 years of service to the community. The Merchants are working on signage, and we are assisting with the marketing so that the entire 58 corridor can benefit from those visitors.
Well, that is enough for now. I will be back soon with some more highlights about our beautiful community. Stay strong, continue showing love for the community, and be blessed. As always, tell everyone to “Come get lost and find yourself here!” All my best,
James Houchins
Director of Tourism
