Deal's Gap is closed again!

[warredon]

Click Here

[greenwald]

Fortunately, only for about a week while TN DOT shores up that embankment.

[warredon]

Fortunately, only for about a week while TN DOT shores up that embankment.

Here in Tennessee though, one week equals one month!

[racer7]

Not much of a surprise and apparently won't inhibit folks coming from the NC side (eg Robbinsville) who want to do it "both ways"

As local riders are aware, late winter and spring slides on the few roads going through the mountains in that part of the world are very common. These are very old rocks in one of the oldest and most weathered mountain chains on the planet so when that soil gets wet and heavy at the thaw or spring rains, slides can happen in many locations- far too many for the highway guys to simply reinforce every ossible slide area. This is at least a fairly small one- the one a couple yers ago blocked it for far longer and w've even had "nearby" I-40 shut down for long periods.

Other parts of the country have their own localized equivalents- the CA guys can get some pretty nasty mudslides, for example. Its just part of the "price" for living where riding the fun stuff is possible. Beats the flatlands, any day.

[Artiee]

U.S. 129 (The Dragon) is closed. Deal's Gap (the resort) is still open.

[greenwald]

U.S. 129 (The Dragon) is closed. Deal's Gap (the resort) is still open.

Excellent point - thanks for the clarification.

Too often many of us (myself included) use "The Dragon" and "Deal's Gap" interchangably, and we shouldn't.

While the 11 mile stretch of HWY 129 know as "The Tail of the Dragon" currently has blockage issues, the motorcycle resort "Deal's Gap" is still open and worth a visit.

With plenty of parking, stuff to buy, decent food, cabins, fuel and just generally good comraderie, it's always worth a visit. And when you head south out of Deal's Gap, you can ride HWY 28 to the southeast (a favorite of mine), or head off towards the Blue Ridge Parkway, or drop down to Robbinsville, and take the Cherohala Skyway to Tenico Plains (I stop there for a great lunch at a little restaurant right next to the river).

Point is, lots to see and ride while still making Deal's Gap your HQ. Enjoy!

[warredon]

U.S. 129 (The Dragon) is closed. Deal's Gap (the resort) is still open.

Actually Deal's Gap is a local community and area that U.S. 129 runs through. Deal's Gap (The resort and store) was named after said area. "The Dragon" is just a nickname recently given to U.S. 129. I didn't begin seeing see "The Dragon" associated with that road until the late 80s or early 90s. Click Here

Two days ago I saw a report on the local ABC affiliate (where my son works) that cleanup is about halfway finished.

[rschulte]

It's open. I just rode through it a few days ago. I now have both the T-shirt AND the sticker!!!

[greenwald]

It's open. I just rode through it a few days ago. I now have both the T-shirt AND the sticker!!!

Thanks for the update, and "Congrats" on "slaying the Dragon!"

[runnr548]

Having lived in East Tennessee for almost 48 years, and having been riding for close to 37 of them, I can attest to the fun on the Dragon, but it's too busy for me now to enjoy it like I once did. It's good that we have a lot of awesome rides regardless! Also Northern Georgia, North Carolina, too many to list in the South!