Dragon is closed ... possibly till August

[Currently]

There was a rockslide past the entrance of the Foothills Parkway towards Tabcat bridge on US129.

TDOT sealed off the road at the Tennessee state line right above Deals Gap with a guardrail and a manned booth.

The big problem is the necessary expertise and manpower to clear this up are now working 24x7 on clearing up a much bigger rockslide on I40 next to the Ocoee river.

For those that are planning a Dragon trip, know that there are plenty of other great roads but the Dragon is officially sealed off.

Keep in touch with the Deals Gap Facebook page and of course the ubiquitous Killboy page.

[RandyO]

tailofdragon.com has next week , Mar. 26 as reopening date

[Currently]

Look at the source ... I know you know him and like him. I don't and so do many others down here for good cause.

The problem is TVA will not allow any blasting near their dams. The manpower and expertise is working on the I40 slide that is over a third of a mile long. Only when that gets done will they start working on this one.

There is a significant overhang at this slide that needs to come down with expansion balloons.

Ron is minimizing the issue cause it will hurt him in the pocket ... a great deal. Just one of the many reasons I don't respect and like him.

Deals Gap will be closing down for the year. That is how serious it is.

[hskater26]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

[BMFR6]

[RandyO]

Look at the source ... I know you know him and like him. I don't and so do many others down here for good cause.

The problem is TVA will not allow any blasting near their dams. The manpower and expertise is working on the I40 slide that is over a third of a mile long. Only when that gets done will they start working on this one.

There is a significant overhang at this slide that needs to come down with expansion balloons.

Ron is minimizing the issue cause it will hurt him in the pocket ... a great deal. Just one of the many reasons I don't respect and like him.

Deals Gap will be closing down for the year. That is how serious it is.

isn't there a big slide on 64 as well ... what's going on, jeez, first the old man falls into Franconia notch and now the world is falling apart

[OreoGaborio]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

That looks just like my car.... I should take a screen shot & send it to my parents or something

[hskater26]

That looks just like my car.... I should take a screen shot & send it to my parents or something

haha. i bet they made him walk the line after that one.

[Eric Baker]

OK so it's closed on the TN side, but what about riding up to the look out and back down from the NC side? That's so much tourism and revenue for them I can't imagine it staying closed for half a year.

[whynot]

Any updates on Alabama?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcG9BykcV_8

[Currently]

OK so it's closed on the TN side, but what about riding up to the look out and back down from the NC side? That's so much tourism and revenue for them I can't imagine it staying closed for half a year.

It is closed on both Tennessee sides.

The southern side that borders with NC is only a third of a mile from Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort. Go up Wheely Hill and take a sharp right and after the immediate sharp left is where the NC/TN border is.

There are some pictures floating around with the Welcome to Tennessee sign and the road is barricated with DOT and State Troopers.

From what I can tell, the most accurate information seems to be coming from Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort Facebook page. The owner's name is Brad and he is doing his best to fight this politically. Unfortunately his busisness is located in NC and the illustrious Tennessee Gov. Bredesen does not give a flying fook about the NC side and its respective economy.

[Tagnahoor]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

And we wonder how cagers don't see us. Hey, what about those man-boobs! Goes nicely with the hair. I can imagine him at a bear-bar saying "I never even seen them rocks!"

[RandyO]

I wonder about the possibility of dual sportin in from Parsons Branch ? but iirc, that's one way out from Cades Cove so they prolly got that blocked too

[obsolete]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

Dude, WTF. Was he setting up for a run?

[hskater26]

And we wonder how cagers don't see us. Hey, what about those man-boobs! Goes nicely with the hair. I can imagine him at a bear-bar saying "I never even seen them rocks!"

haha those were some killer man boobs.

[tls25rs]

I guess it is only normal for us to look at the closing of the road from the point of, well we can get there so why can't we ride on it. If you watch the related video that comes up when the idiot drives into the slide they explain why they have closed the entire road so you can't come in from the other direction only.

The explanation, if someone were to crash on the dragon, which they do quite frequently with fairly serious injuries being common, the emergency responders would have to drive an additional 100 miles around to get to the injured rider/riders.

Oddly enough this sounds like a perfectly good reason to close the road to me. I like the dragon as much as the next guy but when people's lives can depend on the emergency responders getting there quickly that 100 miles could mean the difference between life and death for someone.

Just my $0.02

Joel

[RandyO]

emergency responders getting there quickly that 100 miles could mean the difference between life and death for someone.

Just my $0.02

Joel

not really valid, even though most of the dragon is in Tennesee, first responders are usually from North Carolina anyway

[The Snowman]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

Sheeeeeeit.

[R1]

DUUUUUUUUUMB!

Fixed

[gixerhp]

Here is a link for a facebook page of the owners from the Crossroads!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tapoco...7626357?ref=nf

[LowSider]

can we talk about the guy that drove into the rock slide?

http://www.wbir.com/video/default.as...de/71783729001

"Man, I didn't even SEEE it!"



I died laughing watching this.

[Paul_E_D]

That there's funny. I don't care who ya are!