History of the Mountain
Grandfather Mountain was created about 730 million years ago when two of the earth's plates slammed together, thrusting great sections of the continent into the sky. A 1962 US Geological Survey reported, however, that some of the rock formations on Grandfather are even older than the mountain itself, dating back 1.1 billion years.
The original Cherokee name for the mountain was "Tanawha," meaning "a fabulous hawk or eagle." It was named "Grandfather" by pioneers who recognized the face of an old man in one of the cliffs. Many vantage points reveal different faces, so there is no one official profile of the mountain, but the most popular can be seen from the community of Foscoe, seven miles north of Linville and 10 miles south of Boone on NC 105.
The Early Explorers
Early explorers included Daniel Boone, who was known to hunt in this area in the 1760's.
French botanist Andre Michaux climbed Grandfather in August of 1794. He wrote in his journal: "Reached the summit of the highest mountain in all of North America, and with my companion and guide, sang the Marseillaise and shouted 'Long live America and the Republic of France, long live liberty!'"
Although Grandfather's Calloway Peak (elv. 5,946 feet) is the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountain range (which runs from Pennsylvania to north Georgia), Michaux was mistaken when he thought he had reached the highest point on the continent, or even in the Carolinas. Grandfather appears taller than its neighbors because of the abrupt way the mountain rises above its surroundings.
Mount Mitchell (elv. 6,684 feet), located 40 miles south in the Black Mountain range, is the highest point in Eastern America. Roan Mountain (elv. 6,285 feet), located 20 miles to the west, is the highest peak in the Unaka Mountains.
Harvard botanist Asa Gray came to Grandfather in 1841 in search of Shortia galacifolia, a species lost since the time of Michaux's visit. Although unsuccessful in locating the Shortia, he did discover a rare lily that bears his name. Gray's Lily blooms in high grassy areas on Grandfather Mountain in June and July.
John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, visited Grandfather in September 1898. Muir had been ill with a bronchial cough for many months, but after climbing Grandfather he wrote to his wife, "the air has healed me. I think I could walk ten miles and not be tired." According to an article in American Museum Journal, he fell into poetic raptures over the view from the top, saying "I couldn't hold in, and began to jump about and sing and glory in it all."
Linville Improvement Company
Samuel T. Kelsey, who founded the resort town of Highlands to the south, approached Donald MacRae of Wilmington, N.C., in 1885 about developing a town in the Linville River Valley. Kelsey had bought options on 16,000 acres that included Grandfather, Sugar and Flattop Mountains (now Linville Ridge). Most of the tracts that encompass Grandfather Mountain were purchased from William Waighstill Lenoir, grandson of General William Lenoir, for whom the Caldwell County town is named.
The MacRae family eventually acquired controlling interest in the project and Donald's son Hugh was elected to head the Linville Improvement Company. He built the Yonahlossee Road from Blowing Rock to Linville in 1892 (now US 221) and developed North Carolina's first mountain golf resort at Linville.
Tourism at Grandfather
In early times a horseback trail wound its way up the slope of Grandfather to an overlook at "Cliffsides." In the early 1900s, the trail was widened to a one-lane road that could be traveled by automobiles. A wooden platform was constructed and a nominal toll was charged to those who wished to drive up and see the view.
After the dissolution of the Inveigle Company in 1952, Hugh MacRae Morton became the sole owner of Grandfather Mountain. He immediately widened the road to two lanes and extended it to the summit where he built the Mile High Swinging Bridge.
In 1968, Morton purchased one male and one female black bear with the intention of letting them loose into the wild. The female bear, named Mildred, refused to revert to the wild and Grandfather Mountain was required to recapture her and keep her enclosed for her own safety. At first, Mildred met the public at a roadside amphitheater four times every day. Then, in 1973, a beautiful Environmental Habitat was built for Mildred and her family. The habitats have since been expanded to include bear cubs, river otters, deer, panthers, bald eagles and golden eagles.
In 1989, Grandfather Mountain began working with the North Carolina chapter of the Nature Conservancy to preserve 4,000 acres of the mountain's wilderness backcountry. In 1992, Grandfather was selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognition as a member of the international network of Biosphere Reserves.
When Hugh Morton died in June 2006, his heirs vowed to continue his mission to preserve and protect Grandfather Mountain in its natural state.
"It was a blast getting to go there on my birthday! I was realy scared. It realy does take your breath away. I wish that my grandpa could have seen it before he died. It was the best place anyone would want to vist on a special day like mine." Cassie Clinton, NC |
Mile High Swinging BridgeWildlife HabitatsNature Walks & Hiking TrailsConservation & InterpretationPlanning Your VisitCalendar of Events
HomeAbout Grandfather MountainGetting HerePress RoomLink to UsContact UsSite MapTerms of UsePrivacy & Security
P.O. Box 129 - US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville, NC - 28646
Phone 800-468-7325 Fax: 828-733-2608 Email: nature@grandfather.com
Copyright 2006 Grandfather Mountain. All Rights Reserved.
Designed by