Is it open? We're planning a trip out there the first week in October and want to make sure we can run it.

 

I rode it the middle of July.

 

it's open...

• Quote:

  U.S. 129/State Route 115 in Blount County Opens Ahead of Schedule
  July 9, 2010 All lanes of U.S. 129/State Route 115 are now open allowing traffic to flow freely from Blount County, Tennessee into North Carolina three weeks earlier than anticipated. Crews finished paving, striping, and installing guard rail and reopened the roadway at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, July 9............ ...More (US 129 Rockslide updates)

http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/

 

Thanks

 

they just had their first rider fatality in that area, though technically not on the dragon. biker went missing last monday and was found this weekend when another biker crashed on the same turn. here's the excerpt from the website

"August 3, 2010: After a fun week-end tragedy strikes the Dragon. Details are sketchy, but apparently the body of a rider missing since Monday was found down the bank at Wheelie Hell corner on the North Carolina side of the Dragon. The body was discovered when another biker wrecked in the same corner and saw the wreckage. This is the first fatality of the year near the Dragon. Technically it was not on the 11-miles of the Dragon. Please ride safe."

 

rode it on the 3rd. open all the way. no issues.

 

Yep it's open. October can be sketchy weather up in the hills so make sure you are prepared for what ya might run into. Could be really hot or really cold, raining or various combo of all of the above. Transition time in the Smokies.
Have fun and ride safe.

 

As stated bring your leathers, you never know that time of year what the weather will be.

 

I rode it today, there is new pavement where the rock slide was by the lake. The road was great and not very crowded.

 

For good up to to date info, try www.tailofthedragon.com they have lots of good info and keep the blog up to date on whats going on.