Did You Know?
There are 26 tunnels and 151 bridges on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo by Hugh Morton
The Rise and Shine Band entertain at the Mountain Heritage Festival in Sparta, NC. Photo by Alleghany Chamber of Commerce
Location
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Bob Bamberg
Alleghany County, North Carolina
800.372.5473
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http://www.sparta-nc.com
Near milepost 229
Between the New River and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the patchwork of farm and field, homes and village, is Alleghany County and Sparta, North Carolina. The New River is a blue ribbon along the County’s western and northern borders with canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, and anglers. At the other end of the County, a 600-foot granite dome – namesake of Stone Mountain State Park – is surrounded by rock climbers, waterfalls, hikers, picnickers, and historic sites. Between them, the granddaddy of scenic drives, the Blue Ridge Parkway, winds along the Continental Divide, offering breathtaking vistas, historic homesteads, trails, camping, and a music center and forms much of the County’s southern border. The small town of Sparta is the center of community life. The Courthouse is surrounded by the shops and stores of old downtown. Whether you plan a weekend or longer visit, the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center is eager to serve.
Alleghany County is proud to be the home of the Cumberland Knob Visitor Center (milepost 217.5), the place where the first shovel hit the ground to begin Blue Ridge Parkway construction September 11, 1935. For the past 75 years, the Parkway has been a part of the daily lives of residents of the County and Sparta, NC – the county seat. Everyone is eager for the summer season and the opening of the Bluff’s Restaurant for a special meal and to greet friends who return to the restaurant each year to work. Today, Sparta is a bustling small town and the hub of this rural community. It is surrounded by the Alleghany countryside, much of it still in pasture, tree fields, and woodland that reflect the same scenic beauty for which the Parkway is so well known.
How We're Doing Our Part
Alleghany County and native son, Congressman Bob Doughton, played a unique role in the establishment of the Blue Ridge Parkway and we are making plans to share our story as part of the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary celebration. Whether visiting the area or making plans to see this beautiful country, check with the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Center for the latest information about these plans and local activities.
