This Land, Your Land

Heavy snow and ice accumulation, and downed trees have caused the state to close Grandfather Mountain State Park "indefinitely," the Division of Parks and Recreation said Tuesday. Mount Mitchell State Park "and some other, high-elevation state park areas in western North Carolina" have also closed because of icy roads.

The Linville area, where Grandfather Mountain is located, experienced snowfall of up to two feet December 18 to 20 followed by a severe ice storm on December 24. Additional snow has fallen sporadically in the past week.

The National Park Service announced the closing of "most sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway" earlier, adding that "due to heavy snowfall along the entire length of the Parkway, travel is not advisable on the recreational road." The Park Info Line at 828-298-0398 provides updated road closure information for the Parkway.