October 20, 2009

Shorter days and cooler nights remind us that the autumn travel season will come to an end, and signal the closing of facilities at Shenandoah National Park. Superintendent Martha Bogle announced Monday that facilities will begin closing at the beginning of November.

Visitor centers will be operated as follows: Loft Mountain Information Center which is open on weekends only will close on November 1; Dickey Ridge and Harry F. Byrd Visitor Centers will both remain open until November 29.

Campgrounds will operate on the following schedule: Mathews Arm and Loft Mountain Campgrounds will close on November 1, Lewis Mountain Campground will close on November 8, and Big Meadows Campground will remain open until November 29.

Concessioner-operated restaurants, lodges and associated facilities will operate as follows: Loft Mountain Campstore and Loft Mountain Showers/Laundry will close on November 1; Elkwallow Wayside, Big Meadows Lodge, Lewis Mountain Cabins, and Lewis Mountain Campstore, and Loft Mountain Wayside will close on November 8. Skyland Resort, Big Meadows Wayside, and Big Meadows Showers/Laundry remain open until November 29.

This winter the following picnic grounds will remain open year round, weather permitting: Elkwallow, Pinnacles, South River and Dundo Picnic Grounds. Lewis Mountain Picnic Grounds will close on November 8. The Dickey Ridge and Big Meadows Picnic Grounds will close on November 29. Loft Mountain Picnic Grounds remains closed.

Skyline Drive is open year round; however, the Drive may be temporarily closed on short notice due to winter weather conditions. During weather closures, park staff will work to open the North and Central Districts (from Front Royal to Route 33) first, followed by the South District (from Route 33 to Route 250).