News

’Tis the Season at Grandfather Mountain: Holidays bring discounts, shopping and more

November 29, 2021

With winter on the way, Grandfather Mountain is decking its halls and hills for the holidays. Guests are invited to celebrate the season from a mile high, where they’ll encounter idyllic winter scenery, invigorating outdoor...

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Grandfather Mountain’s Wilson Center for Nature Discovery nears completion

November 22, 2021

Grandfather Mountain’s forthcoming Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is officially under roof and is expected to open in spring 2022. Photo by Frank Ruggiero | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Grandfather Mountain is widely known for...

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Grandfather Mountain Fudge Shop cooks up donations for capital campaign

November 22, 2021

How sweet it is to give to Grandfather Mountain. Guests who have frequented the Grandfather Mountain Fudge Shop over the past three years have become privy to the assortment of delicious fudge and seasonal flavors...

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Grandfather Mountain raising funds for first-responder equipment on #GivingTuesday

November 19, 2021

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday dominating the retail holiday forefront, Grandfather Mountain is encouraging folks to make a slight altitude adjustment. On Tuesday, Nov. 30, the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation will celebrate #GivingTuesday, a...

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Mountains of foliage: What does Grandfather Mountain do with its fallen leaves?

November 9, 2021

Autumn at Grandfather Mountain draws visitors from across the country to witness the vibrant changing of the leaves, as hues of yellow, orange and red cascade down the mountain. Many of these visitors take vacation...

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Grandfather Mountain October 2021 Weather Report

November 2, 2021

Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated a rainy October at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The warmest day recorded last month was 71°...

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Insider Tips for Visiting Grandfather Mountain in the Fall

October 21, 2021

While there's nothing quite like fall in the WNC High Country, autumn on Grandfather Mountain is beyond compare! Here are some insider tips for getting the most out of your mile-high excursion to Grandfather. Photos...

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From the Ground Up: Grandfather Mountain’s Conservation Campus in Progress

October 20, 2021

September 2 is an auspicious date for Grandfather Mountain. Sixty-eight years ago, it marked the opening of the world-famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. In 2019, it saw the nonprofit nature park break ground on its...

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Grandfather Mountain Wild Watch program provides educational enrichment to first-grade students

October 14, 2021

For the second academic year in a row, educators from the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are collaborating with Avery County Schools to provide significant educational enrichment opportunities for students through a program called Wild Watch....

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Citizen science soars at Grandfather Mountain’s annual Hawk Watch

October 12, 2021

The month of September has flown by, just like the many migrating raptors that passed over Grandfather Mountain during their annual journey to warmer climates. Throughout the month, dozens of volunteers participated in a vast...

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Fall Color Rambles ramble on

October 11, 2021

As fall color continues to grace Grandfather Mountain, the nonprofit nature park has extended its Fall Color Ramble guided walks. Fall Color Rambles are brief, easygoing, guided strolls through the mountain’s most colorful locations. Led...

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Grandfather Mountain September 2021 Weather Report

October 1, 2021

Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average September weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The warmest day recorded last month was 74°...

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Deep Mountain Roots and Love of Family

September 30, 2021

Barry Cook’s father was born on Joe White’s Mountain. And so were several of his aunts and uncles. You can see it from Grandfather Mountain. It’s one of the reasons he feels so connected to...

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COVID-19 Procedures

September 21, 2021

Following a two-month closure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Grandfather Mountain reopened in May 2020, with ticket sales moving online. Effective Sept. 16, 2021, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease...

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Sicard named superintendent of Grandfather Mountain State Park

September 20, 2021

Andy Sicard is the new superintendent of Grandfather Mountain State Park, according to a media release form the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Grandfather Mountain State Park comprises 2,700 acres of the mountain’s backcountry...

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Fall Color Rambles return to Grandfather Mountain

September 15, 2021

As the Blue Ridge Mountains begin to burst with fall color, Grandfather Mountain invites leaf-lookers to see the brilliant change from one of the best leaf-looking destinations in the South. Grandfather Mountain is home to...

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Grandfather Mountain staff expects uptick in hikers this fall, shares hiking tips

September 15, 2021

The call of the wild has been loud and clear during the pandemic with many people looking for a way to escape, get outdoors and connect more with their loved ones and nature. That trend...

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Creatures of the Night return to Grandfather Mountain Oct. 2

September 3, 2021

People are familiar with Grandfather Mountain’s resident animals, including black bears, bald eagles, cougars, river otters and elk. But what do they do after dark? Guests can find out Saturday, Oct. 2, at Grandfather Mountain’s...

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Grandfather Mountain August 2021 Weather Report

September 1, 2021

Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated a rainy August at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The warmest day recorded in August 2021 was...

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Hawk Watch returns to Grandfather Mountain in September

August 13, 2021

Being a mile high has its advantages. From atop Grandfather Mountain, visitors can grab a front-row seat to one of nature’s most stunning spectacles — thousands of raptors migrating over the mountains and heading south...

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Grandfather Mountain celebrates peregrine falcon nesting

August 10, 2021

Officials from the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently confirmed the successful nesting of two peregrine falcons — the first on Grandfather Mountain since 2008. Photo by Clifton Avery | N.C....

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Grandfather Mountain welcomes new faces to its leadership team

August 2, 2021

From left, Landis Taylor, assistant vice president of marketing and communications; Lesley Platek, vice president; Jesse Pope, president and executive director; and Tommy Oakley, operations manager, comprise the new leadership team of the Grandfather Mountain...

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Grandfather Mountain July 2021 Weather Report

August 2, 2021

Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average July weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The warmest day recorded in July 2021 was...

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2021 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Photo Highlights

July 14, 2021

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans took place July 8-11 at MacRae Meadows at the base of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, N.C. The four-day weekend was brimming with bagpipes, astounding athletics,...

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Grandfather Mountain June Weather Report

July 13, 2021

Data recorded at the official National Weather Service reporting station at Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge indicated average June weather at the Linville, N.C., nature park. The lowest temperature observed in June 2021 was...

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John ‘The Mountain’ Van Deusen rises above competition at Highland Games

July 13, 2021

John Van Deusen claimed first overall during the professional men’s heavy athletics division at the 2021 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Photos by Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games has...

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GMHG women’s heavy athletics bolstered by tough competition

July 13, 2021

Competitors in the elite women’s heavy athletics division stand in the winner’s circle after competing in the 2021 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. From left, Hannah Linzay claimed second place, Elissa Van Vleck won first overall...

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App State students take top honors in Highland Games Track & Field

July 12, 2021

Appalachian State University senior Casey Meinert pole vaults into the title of Outstanding Athlete in Track and Field at the 2021 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Photo by Skip Sickler | Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation Two...

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Boone running coach finishes first in 53rd annual Grandfather Mountain Marathon

July 11, 2021

Maggie Fortney and Caleb Masland make their victory lap at MacRae Meadows, site of the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, after completing the 53rd Grandfather Mountain Marathon Saturday, July 10. Masland finished first with a...

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Locals claim top spots in return of race up Grandfather Mountain

July 9, 2021

The 26th annual running of The Bear, a five-mile uphill foot-race to the top of Grandfather Mountain, saw 653 runners reach the finish line near the mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge. Photo by Jim Magruder...

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