MEADOWS OF DAN, Va. (WDBJ) – Mabry Mill is one of the most photographed sites in America. People who live near it and visit say it’s losing its touch and they want something done about it immediately.
A rotting roof, a pond that needs dredging, broken fences, and full grown grass is the current sight of the historical Mabry Mill.
“It’s something we love and we’re very proud of and we feel very emotional about losing this… we feel that it’s under threat of falling,” explained Felicia Shelor, the owner of Poor Farmer’s Market and longtime resident of Meadows of Dan.
A spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Parkway says planning for this project is underway with a movement to secure funding, and says, “The Parkway’s philanthropic partner, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, is actively raising funds for the mill building roof replacement.”
“At some point we’re going to need to see some action,” said Shelor.
People who live here, like Shelor, are unhappy with how long it’s taking. They say the area has been in a steady decline for over 10 years.
“It hurts my heart to see it this way,” explained Trinity Goade, President of the Meadows of Dan Community Association. He says this is causing people to not visit the area as much anymore.
Goade has also lived in Meadows of Dan all his life.
“It should be lively here, we should have families here, we should have people doing tours,” explained Goade.
Both Shelor and Goade pointed out the historical Puckett Cabin on the parkway needing a roof and fence repair. Also, the Rocky Knob Cabins and Pilot Mountain overlook are blocked by trees.
“It’s still beautiful and one of the best things in America, but we want those in charge to make sure they take care of it,” explained Shelor.
The Blue Ridge Parkway said in a statement:
“The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway has one of the largest maintenance backlogs in the entire National Park Service. The park is prioritizing projects that support high quality visitor experiences, visitor and park staff safety, and protect the natural and cultural resources within the Parkway’s boundary- but the number of important projects exceeds the available funding. The Mabry Mill area remains one of the most popular tourist destinations, and as such will be a place for long-term NPS investment in the area. Blue Ridge Parkway staff at all levels share the community’s concern for the long-term care and conservation of Parkway resources at Mabry Mill and in the Rocky Knob area.”
Until then, people who appreciate this part of the parkway will be waiting to see it come back to life.
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