The event also honored the leaders who have guided the organization since its start in 1997. Past chairs of the board of trustees were inducted into the newly created Abbott-Everhardt Society, named for the Parkway’s original landscape architect, Stanley Abbott, and late Director of the National Park Service and Parkway Superintendent, Gary Everhardt. 

The society’s members are Ken Wilson of Waynesville; Lou Bissette and Bob Shepherd of Asheville; Houck Medford of Blowing Rock; Greg Brown of Fairview; Gary Stewart of Matthews; Harvey Durham of Boone; Alfred Adams, Pat Shore Clark, Linda Combs, Hobie Cawood, and Cynthia Tessien of Winston-Salem; Jack Betts of Meadows of Dan, Va.; Broaddus Fitzpatrick of Roanoke, Va.; and current chair John Mitchell of Hendersonville.

“It was so wonderful to join in celebration with our supporters and champions for the Parkway. Hundreds of projects were made possible over the last 25 years because of the dedication of our community. We look forward to the legacy impacts to come over the next 25 years,” said Carolyn Ward, of the Foundation. 

Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout also addressed the guests, who enjoyed live music from John Herrmann & Friends, a special Anniversary Ale by Highland Brewing Company and hors d’oeuvres. 

First Citizens Bank is the premier sponsor of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary events. Forever Mountain sponsored the Asheville celebration. 

Since 1997, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has provided more than $20 million in support for the Parkway.  A portion of that funding is made possible by sales of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation specialty license plate in North Carolina. The nonprofit is now accepting preorders for a new Parkway license plate in Virginia that will raise additional funds to enhance the national park. More information is available at gettheplate.org.