7:55 a.m. - The Watauga County Tourism Development Authority will help Blue Ridge Parkway officials reopen the Tanawa Trail after last winter’s storm damage.

Wright Tilley of the Watauga TDA said portions of the trail are impassable from Grandfather Mountain to Price Park.

Crews and volunteers will drag smaller brush from the trail and remove sections of fallen trees and branches.

The National Park Service is planning two separate volunteer trail workdays on May 15 and May 22.  If you’d like to volunteer to work with the Watauga County TDA, contact the TDA’s Eric Woolridge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at (828) 266-1345.