The Blue Ridge Tunnel, Crozet, Virginia
As kids, we used to spend hours exploring our surroundings, whether that meant suburban streets, the woods behind the house, or the cow-laden fields of your parents’ farm. No one says that when you grow up, you can’t go on any more adventures, and if you’re the type who loves outdoor exploration with a bit of history thrown in, then we have a fun, local activity for you to enjoy.
You may remember us talking about the Blue Ridge Tunnel in a past blog. (If not, here’s the link for your perusal.) To summarize, the Blue Ridge Tunnel is the product of Claudius Crozet, the Chief Engineer of what was the longest railroad tunnel of its time. Nowadays, the Blue Ridge Tunnel Foundation has plans to open this historic rail tunnel to visitors, offering guided tours of the eastern third of the tunnel, beginning this April.
Let’s talk a bit about the tunnel itself and what you can expect to find on a tour of these subterranean pathways:
- Inside the tunnels, it’s “dark and damp with harsh acoustics, but bearing the marks of the Irishmen who chipped away the defiant rock” (Crozet Gazette).
- Tunnel explorers will be able to from one end to the other once the project has been completed (which should be in 2017).
- “The middle section of the tunnel is accessible by crawling through pipes in the bases of the bulwarks,” which are 10-feet thick (Crozet Gazette).
- The goal of the Crozet Trail Crew is to connect Crozet to the Blue Ridge Tunnel
Stay up-to-date to the latest tunnel information here. If you’re interested in reserving your tour spot for this April, then click here for registration. (And don’t forget to book your room at Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast!)
