No back way to the twisties anymore. They closed the Dragon at the state line: From the Deals Gap Facebook posting: "Well Gang it is official the TN Governor has closed the Dragon and is unwilling to accept the help of NC for medical and law enforcement. We will probably be forced to close the resort and not sure we will reopen this year. Lots of rumors flying around as to when they will get the mess cleaned up. I have heard 14 week to Aug. I will let you know more when I do." "In the mean time everyone please email, call and write the TN Governor and respectable ask for him to take the help offered by NC so we can continue to enjoy the Dragon."
Here's the thing... 1) it's still six weeks away. no one knows what's going to happen in the next 6 weeks 2) There's TREMENDOUS driving in that area - with or without The Dragon. 3) Same mountain beauty. Fewer nimrods on the road. 4) The local economy will REALLY need our support if this continues. 5) We'd pretty much have the entire length of Hellbender and 129 from Robbinsville to the state line TO OURSELVES. That ain't so shabby. MINIS Near the Dragon - MNTD - would be a thing of legend forever. I guarantee it. Make lemonade, children. Make lemonade. And I'm pretty confident some nighttime Dragon Runs will STILL occur, in spite of what the Gubmint might have to say - not that I'm condoning law breaking or saying that I would. I'm just sayin.
MOTD will still be fun. You can still get to Fontana. I always just drive in, spend the week at the Village and head home. You can still have a blast at MOTD without driving the Dragon. I wouldn't miss MOTD just because the Dragon road is closed. re: midnight runs... as of right now, the barricades are currently manned 24/7