A contracted crew and volunteers have started reconstructing the viewing platform atop Mount Pisgah in Pisgah National Forest off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407.6.
The project is funded through donations to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
The original viewing platform was constructed by the United States Youth Conservation Corps in 1979. In recent years, repairs to the platform became extensive and warranted reconstruction of large portions of the structure. Volunteers from Carolina Mountain Club will assist with the project.
“This reconstruction project demonstrates the power of partnerships and will allow visitors to continue to enjoy that iconic view atop Mt. Pisgah,” said Jeff Owenby with United States Forest Service.
The Mount Pisgah trailhead is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway and leads hikers into neighboring Pisgah National Forest. The trail will remain open, but hikers are advised to use caution when visiting the summit. The project is expected to take approximately two weeks, and will involve the use of a funicular owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group to transport materials up the 5,721-foot peak.
“Not only will the new platform be attractive, it will provide a safer area for hikers to take in mountain views,” said Kevin Brandt, Project Manager for the Foundation.
This project was inspired by the memory of Lisa Hambrick Hagebak and championed by her family to recognize her love of the North Carolina mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Foundation also recently funded the addition of an interpretive sign installed in the overlook parking area where the Mount Pisgah trailhead is located. The wayside panel features the history of Buck Spring Lodge, George W. Vanderbilt’s former Adirondack-style retreat which was located nearby.
The Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, working to ensure cultural and historical preservation, natural resource protection, educational outreach, and visitor enjoyment in the country’s most visited national park. Since 1997, the Foundation has provided more than $22 million in support for the country’s most visited national park unit. To learn more, visit BRPFoundation.org.