Tuggle's Gap relaunches restaurant with old and new favorites
“Our hope is to preserve what people have always loved about Tuggle’s Gap while creating new memories for today's families."
Last Thursday (July 2) marked the grand reopening of Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant since it was acquired by Blue Ridge Escapes in early 2026.
The newest owners of Tuggle’s Gap Roadside Inn, Wallace “Wally” and Liz Andrus, and T.J. and Whitney Beckett, have spent a significant amount of time in the area and are honoring Tuggle’s legacy in Floyd and as a part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in a number of ways, including through their menu.
Wally Andrus said this week that Max Hayes, restaurant manager, “has done a great job putting together a menu that's family-friendly and focused on quality ingredients.” Hayes, who is originally from Texas, has “made a strong commitment to supporting our region by featuring locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, including locally raised beef and other products from area farms and producers.”
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Andrus noted that the beef for the burgers, which have been a favorite, come from his family’s farm in Riner (Copper Ridge Farm). In addition to the Tuggle’s Gap Burger, the Patty Melt, the double-smoked brisket dog, Roadside Breakfast, and the Biscuit and Gravy Plate have also been early customer favorites.
“Even our grits are locally sourced from the grain mill owned by one of our own employees, Flour to the People,” Andrus said. “Those are the kinds of partnerships we hope to build more of as we continue to grow our menu.”
A legendary staple, Tuggle’s Gap Pie has also returned to the restaurant. “We knew it was part of what made Tuggle's Gap special over the years, so bringing it back was one of our first priorities. It's already becoming a favorite with both longtime guests and first-time visitors,” Andrus said.
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Reopening Tuggle's Gap Restaurant and restoring it to its former glory has been both a labor of love and a true family effort. Andrus said there “have been a lot of long days and late nights” for three generations of his family and the team management has hired. Andrus explained that his mom helps care for and clean the motel, and his children have helped with a little bit of everything throughout the summer break.
“It's been special watching three generations of our family work together to help bring this historic place back to life,” he said.
Beyond opening the restaurant and maintaining operation of the motel, the collective of Blue Ridge Escapes has also incorporated a 24/7 AI-powered convenience store stocked with drinks, snacks, and other traveling essentials.
“We want Tuggle's Gap to be more than just a place to eat — we want it to be a place where people enjoy stopping, whether they're local or just passing through,” Andrus said.
“Our hope is to preserve what people have always loved about Tuggle’s Gap while creating new memories for today's families,” Andrus explained. “If someone comes here for breakfast before a hike, stops in for dinner after a drive on the Parkway, or brings their kids here the way their parents once brought them, we'll feel like we've done our job.”
Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant is open from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. It is located at 3351 Parkway Lane S. Learn more and make a reservation at www.tugglesgap.com.
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