Parkway Day

includes

two-wheeled event
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Two local cultural treasures are teaming up to benefit efforts to promote and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This Saturday, Mast General Store plans to donate 10 percent of its retail sales to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. The donation will be used for projects benefiting the parkway, which often include renovations.

The donation applies to purchases made either online or in one of the Mast General Store's physical locations.
In addition, J.D. Dooley, an employee of Mast General Store's support facility in Valle Crucis, and a motorcycle enthusiast, is organizing a motorcycle ride from Old Fort to Valle Crucis to promote shopping on Blue Ridge Parkway Day. Dooley said the ride will be held Saturday, leaving from Old Fort and winding up into the High Country.

“We're trying to drum interest in the motorcycle version of the Blue Ridge Parkway license plate,” Dooley said. “They need at least 300 orders before they manufacture these. Once people see them, they'll want one.”

Ride donations are $20 and those who sign up for the motorcycle tags get a T-shirt and a pin. Money raised will go toward the tags and other foundation efforts.

“I'm involved in a week-long parkway ride called Cruising the Blue and it's hard for people to get away for a week,” Dooley said.

“This gives people the opportunity to get away for one day and get riders together to promote both the parkway and motorcyclists.”

The ride has three different route maps, and will wind up at the original Mast Store in Valle Crucis, with a drawing for door prizes. Motorcyclists will meet at Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort at 8 a.m. and meet in Valle Crucis for the drawing around 1 p.m.

“We are thrilled and awed by the generosity and enthusiasm of the leadership and employees of Mast General Store,” said Houck Medford, foundation director.

“At every turn Mast General Store has demonstrated their commitment to this region by outstanding support for the Blue Ridge Parkway.”

Licensed Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation merchandise is now available in the Mast General stores, which are located in Boone, Valle Crucis, Waynesville, Hendersonville and Asheville — all communities connected by the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the primary fundraising organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway, providing support beyond federal allocations. It also hosts www.virtualblueridge.com and sponsors such projects as Parks as Classrooms, Camp Catawba renovations and a grants program.