Blue Ridge Parkway: Rocky Knob Area Visitor Survey

OMB Number: XXXX (NPS #XX-XXX)
Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Floyd and Patrick Counties, Virginia
Visitor Survey
National Park Service

Rocky Knob Area of the
Blue Ridge Parkway

ID______

Date ________ Survey Location ____________

[This first page is for the surveyor to complete before giving the survey to the respondent.]

You have been selected to participate in this survey because you are visiting Floyd and Patrick counties in
the Commonwealth of Virginia. The map on the first page of this survey shows the location of these
counties and of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Please answer all questions in this survey based only on
your visit to Floyd and Patrick counties, including the Blue Ridge Parkway around Rocky Knob. If
you are uncertain if a particular place is within these counties, please ask the survey administrator now.
Thank you for your help with completing this survey!
1. Have you visited Floyd or Patrick counties before today? (Please check one) (Topic Area 1 –
Individual Characteristics) [1.VISHIS1]
Yes → including this time, how many times have you visited Floyd or Patrick counties in the
past 2 years? ________________
No → Go to question 2.
2. On this visit, how long will you stay in Floyd and Patrick counties? Please list partial hours as 1/4,

1/2, or 3/4. (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [3.TRIPC11]
_________

Number of hours, if less than 24 hours
OR

_________

Number of days, if 24 hours or more

3. How many people are in your party today, including you? (Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics)
[VARIATION OF 1.GR3]
Party size: __________
4. What things did you like most about your visit to Floyd and Patrick counties? (List up to 3.) (Topic
Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences) [6.EVALSERV25]
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
5. What things did you like least about your visit to Floyd and Patrick counties? (List up to 3.) (Topic
Area 6 - Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences) [6.EVALSERV24]
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
6. a. Are there places in Floyd and Patrick counties that are special enough you would tell your friends
about them? (If yes, list up to 3. If no, leave bank and go to Question 7.) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit
Characteristics)
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________

b. How did you find these places? (Please check all that apply) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit
Characteristics)
Recommendation from another
Internet
Printed materials
Road signs
Happened across them
Television or radio
Other (Please specify) _____________________________________________________________
7. Were Floyd and Patrick counties (including the Blue Ridge Parkway) the primary destination of your
trip from home? (Please check one ) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [VARIATION OF
2.TPLAN4]
Yes
No → what was your primary destination?_______________________________
8. What was the main reason for your trip to Floyd and Patrick counties? (Please check one) (Topic
Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [VARIATION OF 3.TRIPC1]
Outdoor recreation
Visit friends and relatives
Shopping
Passing through
Attend festival/special event
Visit second home/camp
Business related
Vacation
Visit attractions
Sightseeing
Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway
Other (Please specify) ____________________________________________________________
9. Please check the following activities in which you participated while visiting Floyd and Patrick
counties, including the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then for each activity checked, please indicate how
important that activity was to your visit by circling one number. (Topic Area 3 – Individual Activities
and Uses of Park Resources) [VARIATION OF 3.ACT22]

Did you participate in…
hiking
walking
biking
wildlife viewing
visiting with family/friends
observing scenery/views
swimming
picnicking
hunting/fishing
camping
festivals
golfing
dining out
driving a motorcycle for pleasure
driving for pleasure in a vehicle other
than a motorcycle on the Blue Ridge
Parkway
driving for pleasure on other roads in
Floyd and Patrick Counties
sampling local foods
shopping

Not
Important
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Importance
Somewhat
Moderately
Important
Important
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3

Very
Important
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

wine tasting
visiting historical or cultural sites
learning about Native American heritage
visiting Mabry Mill
visiting art/craft studios or centers
observing/talking with local artists and
craft persons
visiting farms/gardens
visiting covered bridges
listening to local musicians
visiting natural sites (e.g., parks,
preserves, etc.)
others: (please specify)
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

10. How likely would you or the members of your household be to visit an attraction in Floyd and Patrick
counties that showcases the following themes? Each theme would be based on events, people, or
products from Floyd and Patrick counties. (Please circle one number for each theme) (Topic Area 3 –
Individual Activities and Uses of Park Resources) [VARIATION OF 3.LEARN5]

Showcased Theme
Changes in mountain/rural life over
the last 100 years
Traditional skills for mountain and
outdoor living
Nature and natural history
Native American heritage
Local artistry or crafts
Local products
Agriculture and farming
Organic farming and sustainable
living
Local foods
Theatre and performances
Mountain people
Mountain history and folklore
Genealogy (i.e., exploring family
connections)
Mountain and bluegrass music
Civil war history
Wine and winemaking
Others: (please specify)
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

Definitely
would not
visit

Probably
would not
visit

Probably
would visit

Definitely
would visit

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

11. What type of accommodations, if any, did you use on this trip to Floyd and Patrick counties? (Please
check all that apply) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [VARIATION OF 3.TRIPC15]
Rented cabin/cottage/home
Motel/Hotel
Resort
Bed & Breakfast
Friends/Relatives house
Other (Please specify)________________________________

Campgrounds/RV
Personal vacation home

12. Prior to this visit, how did you obtain information about Floyd and Patrick counties? (Please check
all that apply) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [2.TPLAN11]
Did not obtain information prior to my visit - Go to Question 13
Recommendation from friend/relative
Road signs
Floyd County Website
Recommendation from travel agent
Billboards
Patrick County Website
Business advertisement
Newspaper article
Travel guidebook
Regional tourism office
Newspaper advertisement
E-mail advertisement
State tourism office
Magazine article
Television
Visitor center
Magazine advertisement
My past experience
Other (Please specify) _____________________________________________________________
13. For what purpose, if any, did you use the Internet when planning this trip? (Please check all that
apply) (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics)
None, I did not use Internet
Price information
Reservations
Researching the area
Purchasing tour package(s)
Images of area
Phone numbers and addresses
Personal recommendations
Determining when to travel
Other (please describe) ____________________________________________________________
14. How many hours did you spend planning your trip to Floyd and Patrick counties? Please list partial
hours as 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4. (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) [VARIATION OF

3.TRIPC11]
Hours spent planning: _______________________
15. How important were the following factors to your visit to Floyd and Patrick counties, including the
Blue Ridge Parkway? (Please circle one number for each item) (Topic Area 6 - Individual
Perceptions of their Park Experiences)

Following a planned itinerary
Exploring the area
Accidentally discovering places not
on your planned itinerary
Keeping to your plans
Not having enough time
Being able to wander
Being able to take an organized tour
Being able to find your way around
Being able to get from place to place

Not
Important
1
1

Importance
Somewhat
Moderately
Important
Important
2
3
2
3

Very
Important
4
4

1

2

3

4

1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3
3

4
4
4
4
4
4

quickly
Being able to escape crowds
Visiting specific sites or attractions
(please specify)
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Others: (please specify)
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

1

2

3

4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

16. Do you live in the United States? (Please check one and fill in the appropriate blank.) (Topic Area 1
– Individual Characteristics) [1.RES3]
Yes (What is your zip code? ____________)
No (What country do you live in? __________________________________)
17. What is the highest level of formal schooling you have completed? (Please check one) (Topic Area 1
– Individual Characteristics) [1ED2]
Less than high school
Some high school
High school graduate
Some college
Two-year college degree
Four-year college degree
Graduate or professional degree
18. In what year were you born? (Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics) [1AGE1]
Year born: __________
19. What is your gender? (Please check one) (Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics) [1GEN2]
Male
Female
20. Which category best describes your total household income in 2007 before taxes? (Please check one)
(Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics) [1INCOM1]
Less than $24,999
$25,000 to $34,999
$35,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $74,999
$75,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $199,999
$200,000 or more
Do not wish to answer

Thank you for your help with this survey! Please return it by
placing it in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided and
then in the mail.
PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement:
16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorizes collection of this information. This information will be used by park managers to better serve the
public. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information
requested. Permanent data will be anonymous. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
BURDEN ESTIMATE STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to:
Mr. Gary W. Johnson
Blue Ridge Parkway
199 Hemphill Knob Road
Asheville, NC 28804
[email protected]