shenandoah national park was finally established on december 26, 1935, and soon construction began on the blue ridge parkway that byrd wanted. president franklin delano roosevelt formally opened shenandoah national park on july 3, 1936. eventually, about 40 people (on the "ickes list") were allowed to live out their lives on land that became the park. one of them was george freeman pollock, whose residence killahevlin was later listed on the national register, and whose skyland resort reopened under a concessionaire in 1937. carson also donated significant land; a mountain in the park is now named in his honor and signs acknowledge his contributions. the last grandmothered resident was annie lee bradley shenk. nps employees had watched and cared for her since 1950; she died in 1979 at age 92. most others left quietly. 85-year-old hezekiah lam explained, "i ain't so crazy about leavin' these hills but i never believed in bein' ag'in (against) the government. i signed everythin' they asked me."