Blue Ridge Parkway Welcomes Record Autumn Foliage Crowds to Western N.C.
Cool mountain temperatures and vibrant hickory, oak, and sourwood canopies draw an estimated 3.2 million travelers through Asheville, Boone, and Blowing Rock.
Park rangers along North Carolina’s 252-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway recorded unprecedented visitor counts over the past two weekends, as optimal weather conditions produced the most vivid autumn leaf display across Western North Carolina in over a decade.
Local hospitality revenues across Buncombe, Watauga, and Jackson counties surged by 19 percent compared to the prior year, providing a critical economic boost to family-run inns, apple orchards, and pottery studios throughout the high country.
The North Carolina day, before it begins. In one email.
Every weekday at 6:30 a.m. we deliver the stories shaping the Old North State: General Assembly action, Research Triangle and Charlotte business, ACC scores, and deep investigative accountability. Written by reporters, edited by humans.
Search NewsToToday
Type at least two characters to search the archive…
