NPS Blue Ridge Parkway
Location: Virginia through North Carolina
Client: National Park Service
Axias Role: Condition Assessment
The first task order of a major prime contract with the National Park Service for conducting comprehensive condition assessments of concession facilities nationwide addresses the Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans the southern and central Appalachians through Virginia and North Carolina. The 469-mile drive showcases the natural beauty and diversity of the mountain range, including the highest peak in the eastern United States, Mount Mitchell, and the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon, Linville Gorge.
This summer our condition assessment team assessed facilities in the Ridge, Plateau, Highlands, and Pisgah regions of the parkway including the Northwest Trading Post, a historic building in Glendale Springs; a restaurant and gift shop at the historic Mabry Mill; boat docks and restroom facilities at Lake Price; the Folk Art Center in Asheville; and Peaks of Otter Lodge and restaurant in Bedford, Virginia.
The scope of work involved conducting a visual inspection of buildings, structures, systems, roads, parking, trails, landscape features, and campgrounds. Leveraging our extensive cost estimating experience with the NPS, we generated a condition assessment report that delivers accurate and defensible cost estimates for recommended repair and replacement actions, validates budgeting requirements, and supports the evaluation and management of concession contracts and concessionaire stewardship of park assets.
While hard at work, the Axias team also found time to appreciate nature through the parkway’s scenic vistas and even spotted an elusive black bear in their travels. In keeping with NPS sustainability principles, our team left no trace of their presence.