Forest Keepers
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation presents an exclusive giving program, Grandfather Mountain Forest Keepers. Individuals or companies whose total donations reach or exceed a level of $1,000 will be eligible for membership, wherein they can help assign a permanent name to one or more of the Mountain’s trees for its lifetime – growing legacy.
Each named tree will be photographed, described, located by GPS coordinates and featured in a prominent display located in the Wilson Center. Each “adopted” tree is featured below.
A lasting benefit of naming a feature on Grandfather Mountain is the knowledge that the tree will remain unaltered for its lifetime, in a place where your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren can pause and ponder. See other ways to support our Foundation.
Grandfather Mountain thanks Forest Keepers members for their generous gifts. If you are interested in naming a tree, please contact margaret@grandfather.com.
Meet the Forest Keepers
Butterfly
Andy Hochman and family in memory of Carin Hochman; always in our hearts; Andy, Steven, Stacy, Kyle, Allison & Jersey
Location: Nature Museum
Coordinates: 36.0900889, -81.8353417
Elevation: 4692'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 20'
Description: Located in front, left corner of the Nature Museum, beside the Habitat path.
Eckess' Tree at the trailhead of the best hike in NC
Anne Jones in memory of H. Eckess Jones
Location: Head of Grandfather Trail
Coordinates: 36.0962750, -81.8320833
Elevation: 5271'
Tree species: Fraser fir
Scientific name: Abies fraseri
Tree Height: 30'
Description: Located in a cluster of trees, on left, at the head of the Grandfather Trail, just past the steps.
SKANDAMATA (means "goddess of motherhood" in Sanskrit)
Balaji Sankaranarayanan, Sabitha Raghuraman, and Skanda Balaji in honor of Mr. Raghuraman Krishnamurthy and in memory of Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Raghuraman
Location: Forest Gump Picnic Area
Coordinates: 36.091649, -81.835123
Elevation: 4,795’
Tree species: Red Spruce
Tree Height: 26’
Description: Located right at the edge of the Forrest Gump Picnic Area in the transition zone of the Spruce-fir and Northern Hardwood ecological communities. Growing on top of a rock, the roots of this tree are exposed, allowing viewers to see underneath. This tree is surrounded by spiderwort and goldenrod, which serves as an important pollen source for many different pollinators.
The Whitton Tree
Barbara Whitton in honor of Jim Whitton
Location: Split Rock Area
Coordinates: 36.0895417, -81.8373028
Elevation: 4659'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 58'
Description: This tall spruce is found in the Split Rock area on the west side of the park road. Split Rock and Sphinx Rock are massive boulders split by erosional forces of nature.
Windsor
Bill and Sonya Allin in memory of Our Loyal and Faithful Schnauzer
Location: Woods Walk Picnic Area
Coordinates: 36.0875, -81.84175
Elevation: 4499'
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 30'
Description: This tall tree is located in the Woods Walk Picnic Area. This area is host to a 0.4 mile trail and numerous picnic tables.
The Burton Tree
Carmen Burton in honor of The Burton Family
Location: Cliffside Overlook
Coordinates: 36.0927583, -81.8361750
Elevation: 4875'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 36'
Description: This mature Red Spruce is well-designed for enduring the park's extreme weather. Grandfather Mountain's elevations create a climate similar to those found in the northerastern states where this tree is more commonly found. Its pyramidal shape allows it to shed snow more easily.
Kent Barley Memorial Tree
Chris and Gail Barley in memory of Kent Barley
Location: MacRae Meadows
Coordinates: 36.086389, -81.849722
Elevation: 4290'
Tree species: Red Oak
Scientific name: Quercus rubra
Tree Height: 60'
Description: This majestic red oak tree stands on the western corner of the track in MacRae Meadows. It is the largest tree in the stand of oaks and has picnic tables resting in its shade. The tree looks out over the meadows and beyond to Linville Peak. Kent’s family would like to thank all those who contributed in his memory. Kent was deeply loved and will be forever missed.
The McKim (Kim) Barley Tree
Chris and Gail Barley
Location: MacRae Meadows – on the hill to the east of the staging platform, overlooking the track
Coordinates: 36.0866667, -81.8491667
Elevation: 4310’
Tree species: Sugar Maple
Scientific name: Acer saccharum
Tree Height: 36 feet
Description: A three-trunk Sugar Maple on the hill to the East of the staging platform overlooking the track at MacRae Meadow. It has a commanding view of activities during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games with MacRae Peak visible in the background. Nearby picnic tables provide a quiet place to gather.
David and Cathy Thompson’s Mountain Oak
David and Cathy Thompson
Location: Elk Overlook
Coordinates: 36.0893167, -81.8354306
Elevation: 4668'
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 25'
Description: Multi-trunk maple located in the Elk Overlook Area.
The Magruder Tree
Dr. C. Herbert and Anne Magruder
Location: Evergreen, near Naturalist Office
Coordinates: 36.0897694, -81.8357222
Elevation: 4693'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 30'
Description: Located on the path to the entrance of the Naturalist Office.
Noe Tree
Dr. H. Norman and Diane Noe in honor of The Noe grandchildren: Lauren, Caroline, Justin, Matthew, Sarah, Madelyn, Max
Location: Woods Walk
Coordinates: 36.0873333, -81.8403333
Elevation: 4420'
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 27'
Description: Large tree with a huge hole in the center where the heart-wood has rotted out. The hole is large enough for a person to fit through. The only live part of the tree is a large branch that is now the trunk of the tree. (This tree is no longer standing.)
Anam Cara
Gayle Culbreath in honor of Those who find peace on this mountain
Location: Cliffside Overlook
Coordinates: 36.0927750, -81.8363556
Elevation: 4972'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 27'
Description: This stately Red Spruce is positioned at the Cliffside Overlook. It produces an abundance of cones that are used by red squirrels, red crossbills and other park inhabitants.
Harmony
Ginny Burton and Karen Walker
Location: Eagle Habitat Area
Coordinates: 36.0895833, -81.8349833
Elevation: 4685'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 30'
Description: Bordering the path beside the eagle habitat and above the bear habitat, this red spruce is growing on top of a boulder.
Gail Hathcock Memorial Tree
Given in loving memory by Ronnie, Michelle, Julie, Justin & Family
Location: Bridge Trail
Coordinates: 36.095278, -81.832222
Elevation: 5260'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 47'
Description: The Red Spruce to the left in the photo is one of two evergreens that sit beneath the Mile High Swinging Bridge along the Bridge Trail. The trees sit among some of the large boulders located at the top of the trail and provide a wonderful view upward towards the bridge.
The Provider
Given in loving memory of Steve Gaines by his admiring friends
Location: Wilson Center
Coordinates: 36.090550, -81.836298
Tree species: Northern red oak
Tree Height: About 40’
Description: A tree whose main trunk has split into 4 main trunks with many branches growing outward. There are several species of lichens that are growing on the trunk. Each year it produces a nice crop of acorns that serves as a food resource to many different animal species.
Survivor
Harold and Pat Miller in honor of Our Grandchildren, Preston and Kennedy Weronski
Location: Bridge Trail
Coordinates: 36.0944, -81.8311
Elevation: 5130'
Tree species: Yellow Birch
Scientific name: Betula alleghaniensis
Tree Height: 25'
Description: This yellow birch tree is found towards the beginning of the Bridge Trail. It is a great example of a tree with a root system that has dug into cracks and crevices to securely anchor the tree. This is vital for the tree’s growth and ability to withstand high wind speeds.
The Teague Family Tree
In memory of Bryan Teague
Location: Cliffside Overlook
Coordinates: 36.092778, -81.836389
Elevation: 4870'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 4.5'
Description: A resilient red spruce tree, nestled amongst boulders, facing southwest at the Cliffside Overlook.
Spencer's Spindly Spruce
Jesse, Michelle, Trevor and Lily Pope in honor of Spencer Pope
Location: Mile High Swinging Bridge
Coordinates: 36.0954972, -81.8318861
Elevation: 5282'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 12'
Description: This spindly Red Spruce appears as a young tree though core dating has shown this tree and trees like it are much older than they appear. Some are dated over 100 years of age.
Spruce Bringsteen
Jim Morton in honor of Romeo
Location: Linville Bluffs
Coordinates: 36.0907028, -81.8385194
Elevation: 4828'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 75'
Description: This historic tree, located at the base of Linville Bluffs, was chosen by Charles Kuralt as the site of his well-known portrait taken by Hugh Morton. Kuralt spent time on Grandfather Mountain writing Charles Kuralt's America which recommended Grandfather Mountain as the perfect place to be in May.
Mama's Mountain View
Judi Sawyer in memory of Edie Sawyer
Location: MacRae Meadows
Coordinates: 36.0858611, -81.8501667
Elevation: 4,315
Tree species: Sugar Maple
Scientific name: (Acer saccharum)
Tree Height: 40'-45'
Description: Looking west from the track at MacRae Meadows stands a small grove of sugar maples. Mama's Mountain View Tree is the farthest on the left of the grove and provides shade to picnickers who want a beautiful view of Grandfather Mountain.
Barksdale, "The Rebel Hiker"
Lesley Platek in memory of Bill Barksdale
Location: Above the Grandfather Trail trailhead
Coordinates: 36.0965, -81.831867
Elevation: 5227'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 30'
Description: "The Mountains are calling and I must go" - John Muir
Kilby
Monty and Brenda Combs in memory of Bernice & Floyd Kilby
Location: Near Half-Moon Overlook
Coordinates: 36.0887444, -81.843475
Elevation: 4380’
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 65'
Description: Standing beside a slightly taller red spruce, this tree is a focal point of Half Moon Overlook. This evergreen tree provides a great contrast to the mainly deciduous trees surrounding it.
The Combs
Monty and Brenda Combs in memory of Ida Mae and Paul "Pee Wee" Combs
Location: Near Half-Moon Overlook
Coordinates: 36.0887444, -81.843475
Elevation: 4380’
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 75’
Description: The tallest evergreen tree at Half Moon Overlook. At its base, it is blanketed by Catawba rhododendron and pink shell azalea.
Aspen's Tree
Monty and Brenda Combs in honor of Monty and Brenda Combs
Location: Cougar Habitat
Coordinates: 36.0892333, -81.8351833
Elevation: 4660'
Tree species: Alleghany Serviceberry
Scientific name: Amelanchier laevis
Tree Height: 25'
Description: This tree has a profusion of flowers in the early spring and produces fruit that black bears feed on in the summer.
Shoemaker-Law-Jones Tree
Raleigh and Katy Shoemaker in honor of Jimmy Law, Xan Law, Samuel Jones
Location: Elk Habitat
Coordinates: 36.0892778, -81.8356528
Elevation: 4644'
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 20'
Description: Located in the Elk Habitat, close to the overlook, wall and waterfall.
Treebeard
Robin, Bill, Kit and Carson Pribble in memory of Nathan Pribble
Location: The Patio, Grandfather Trail
Coordinates: 36.0976083, -81.8287889
Elevation: 5386'
Tree species: Fraser fir
Scientific name: Abies fraseri
Tree Height: 14'
Description: This Fraser fir stands just below the Patio which overlooks MacRae Peak. This peak is accessible along the Grandfather trail and its summit is reached after ascending 8 ladders, a challenge that the Pribble family takes on annually.
The Provider
The Weinsier Family
Given in loving memory of Roland L. Weinsier, a great man beloved by all
Location: Near Nature Museum Outdoor Deck
Coordinates: 36.0899333, -81.8354306
Elevation: 4697’
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 40’
Description: This tree overlooks the deck of the Nature Museum. Red squirrels and many bird species love to perch on this tree while visiting the bird feeders that extend under its branches.
Jeanette
Tony and Lee Patterson Seaton in memory of Jeanette B. Patterson
Location: Conservation Campus
Coordinates: 36.0896667, -81.8354722
Elevation: 4657’
Tree species: Red Maple
Scientific name: Acer rubrum
Tree Height: 35’
Description: This red maple tree stands nearby the butterfly garden. Its small red flowers carpet the area below in the spring.
Jack's Tree
Walker and Suzanne Lockett in memory of John L. Crist, Jr.
Location: Overlook by the Swinging Bridge
Coordinates: 36.0953889, -81.8318889
Elevation: 5287'
Tree species: Red Spruce
Scientific name: Picea rubens
Tree Height: 15'
Description: This wind-shaped red spruce stands near the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Alleghany Sand Myrtle and Deer Grass grow beneath its canopy.