The Dragon Closed Until August?

[jtlong]

Looks like the rockslide on the Dragon is more serious than initially reported. The story below says it could be closed until the end of July. That might kill alot of businesses.

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=12207635

[stevepage1]

Where exactly is the rock slide? Is it blocked between Foothills Parkway and Deals Gap - Crossroads in Time (NC-28) on the North side - the Tennesse side? And if so, how far up from Foothills Parklway? Are they roadblocking you from going down from Deals Gap coming in from the south - the Robbinsville side?

[jtlong]

The Knoxville paper reported the slide being near the junction with Foothills Parkway. Fontana Village Resort's website says the Dragon is closed at the TN-NC state line on the south end, so you can get to Deals Gap from the south.

In addition, the Cades Cove loop road is closed until late May for repaving. That means access to the one-way Parson's Branch Road that empties onto the Dragon is also closed.

[stevepage1]

The Dragon is now open from the South (Robbinsville, NC side) You can ride it down (north) to the bridge and then turn around and ride back up hill to Crossroads in Time. See the TDOT news release at http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/4893.