Rocky Knob Section 1S: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Blue Ridge Parkway

Regions 1, 2, & 4 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Inventory Unit Description: Parkway Section 1-S, including The Saddle, Rock Castle Gorge, and Twelve o'clock overlooks, is one of four component landscapes that make up the Rocky Knob Recreation Area. Section 1-S is the name for the section of parkway road that runs through Rocky Knob Recreation Area. This parkway section is 8.852 miles long in its entirety; this inventory focuses on the 4 miles associated with the developed area of Rocky Knob Recreation Area. The three overlooks mentioned above are located on the south side of Parkway Section 1-S within the recreation area. Section 1-S is a gently winding roadway that follows a high ridgeline overlooking the Rock Castle Gorge below. The roadway connects the developed areas of the recreation area to one another along its sinuous route, providing an engaging driving experience for users. The asphalt roadway surface is 22 feet wide and consists of two driving lanes separated by a painted centerline. No painted shoulders are present. The Saddle Overlook was one of the first parking overlooks constructed along the Parkway in the 1930s. “The Saddle” is a ridge connecting two high points on Rocky Knob. The NPS built the overlook in the middle of “The Saddle” to take advantage of the spectacular views of the Blue Ridge from both the north and south. Very few overlooks along the Parkway feature views of the surrounding countryside from both directions, making this overlook unique. The Saddle Overlook is located at an elevation of 3,380 feet. The Rock Castle Gorge Overlook was the last overlook built in the Rocky Knob Recreation Area, constructed in 1958. The final layout of the overlook differs slightly from the one proposed on the Parkway Land Use Maps, or PLUMs, though the general location is the same. The overlook provides views of Rock Castle Gorge below and of the piedmont further in the distance. The elevation at this overlook is 3,195 feet. The Twelve O’clock Knob Overlook was constructed in the 1930s during the Pre-War Planning and Construction era. Originally planned to serve as a parking and drop off area for a proposed lodge development that was never built, it now acts as an expanded parking area, overlook, and trailhead. Parking for 41 cars is provided in two parking bays at this location and the elevation here is 3,200 feet. Several attractive rock outcropping are visible here and the designers took great care to incorporate these features into the parking layout

Rocky Knob Section 1S: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Blue Ridge Parkway

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