Spanning 469 miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the nation's most treasured — and controversial — byways. Read the series, hear regional music and watch video of the parkway in this special section from The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com.

Stories   Multimedia Part 1 Parkway’s past haunts its future Part 2 The myth of the hillbilly ‘Isolated’ farmers with a resort hotel in their back yard ‘A little too modern’ Cultural preservation or a picturesque tourist attraction? Part 3 Where ecosystems and visitors collide Parkway ‘a museum of managed American countryside’ Part 4 Vanishing views For some whose land was taken, bitterness still festers Bucolic site for homeowners, unsightly view for visitors Part 5 A tale of two cities Cultural shifts have changed the ways people use the parkway   See video, hear music and get the full Parkway experience in this interactive feature. (Requires Flash) Resources Learn more about the Blue Ridge Parkway by going to the Destinations section of roanoke.com.