Grandfather Mountain is Open!

The Grandfather Mountain tourist attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway was developed by Hugh Morton, who named it for his grandfather. Morton also was known as a wildlife photographer. A wilderness portion was sold to the state for a state park.

The region has four nearby peaks. The main facility is now operated by a foundation. The area also has 11 public trails, caves, and cliffs. The Linville River flows east, and the Watauga River flows west from the mountain. It also is well known for its mile-high swinging bridge, which I didn’t try. I did navigate the twisting road up the mountain that has no guardrails. Grandfather Mountain also hosted the Highland Games last weekend, which is an annual event based on Scottish traditions.

For many years, the parkway had a break around the mountain. A bridge was built in recent years with supports that keep the roadway off the mountain. The area is rugged and frequently has high winds, sometimes as high as 200 mph. It is second only to Mt. Mitchell in elevation east of the Mississippi River. Mt. Mitchell is still closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.