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The historic preservation project of the two Civilian Conservation Corps pavilions at the Backbone Rock Recreation Area in the Watauga Ranger District have now been completed. The pavilions are open for first-come first-serve use and reservations are scheduled to open in April 2025.

“For me, it’s important for visitors to have access to these pavilions since they were built in the CCC-era. There are fewer and fewer of these older, historic structures each year and it shows the importance and significance of when and why the CCC was established and what this work represents,” said Chad Ingle, natural resource specialist, Cherokee National Forest. “Even though reservations aren’t being accepted right now, the pavilions are open for first-come first-serve use and the public can park and walk up to use it during daylight hours.”

The two CCC pavilions have been closed since November 2023 for historic preservation. The pavilions were in various stages of degradation causing them to be a risk for public safety. To ensure the longevity of these pavilions, they both needed to be repaired while adhering to the Historic Preservation guidelines.