06/06/2026
HANGING ROCK TOWER PROJECT: UPDATE – JUNE 2026
BACKGROUND
The Hanging Rock Tower was closed in 2025 by the U.S. Forest Service due to concerns about the stability of its foundation. Fortunately, while the actual tower may be closed, the spectacular mountaintop area on which the tower is located is open to the public and remains a popular hiking destination for visitors from across the country. In addition, Hanging Rock continues to function as an official raptor migration observatory, a role it has fulfilled continuously since 1952.
CURRENT STATUS – EARLY SUMMER 2026
Following the tower’s closure, the Monroe County Commission appointed a volunteer working group in fall 2025 to collaborate with the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest on planning for the tower’s repair and eventual reopening. Over the past ten months, the volunteer working group has met regularly with Forest Service staff both on-site and at district offices in Blacksburg, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg. They have also coordinated site visits with engineering and architectural professionals who are now conducting a formal structural assessment of the tower.
The evaluation is examining two primary paths:
• Major repairs that could allow the tower to reopen as early as this fall, and
• A full replacement of the 30yearold structure with a modern design and updated materials.
While this assessment is underway, the Forest Service—working closely with the volunteer group—recently authorized construction of an emergency access lane connecting the tower area to an old Forest Service road on the south slope of Peters Mountain. That gated access lane will not only facilitate the repair activities for the tower but will be left in place to provide emergency access to the tower site and to that section of the popular Allegheny Trail.
The working group is deeply appreciative of the Eastern Divide District Office of the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest for its swift action in establishing this emergency access route. It reflects the Forest Service’s recognition of the tower’s legacy and its commitment to reopening the site as soon as it can be done safely.
NEXT STEPS
The next major milestone will be using the engineering assessment to develop a contract for professional repair work. If the Forest Service ultimately determines that a full replacement of the tower is necessary, the required review and approval process could extend well into 2027 or beyond. Given that timeline, the hope is that essential repairs to the existing structure can be completed in time to safely reopen the tower ahead of this fall’s hawk migration season.
It is anticipated that just those shortterm repair costs could still exceed $100,000. In order to raise that amount of money, the grassroots fundraising of the past year will need to be expanded and organized under a more formal structure.
In response to that need—and to provide longterm coordination and oversight for the tower beyond the repair phase—the working group has decided to establish a new nonprofit organization that will be dedicated exclusively to Hanging Rock. Once decisions are finalized regarding the scope of repairs and the balance between short and longterm work on the tower, the new nonprofit will release a detailed fundraising plan and timeline. A public campaign launch is anticipated later this summer.
LOOKING AHEAD
A tremendous amount of work has already gone into this effort, but in many ways we are just getting started. Those directly involved know how many supporters are watching, waiting, and ready to help—whether through financial contributions, volunteer labor, or other forms of assistance. When the moment comes, we will not hesitate to ask for that support.
Stay tuned.
