Sunrise at the Swinging Bridge

Celebrate the beginning of 2025 from a mile high! The New Year’s “Sunrise at the Swinging Bridge” event will provide guests with the rare opportunity to be in the park before regular operating hours and to hopefully witness a captivating sunrise from the Mile High Swinging Bridge – the first of 2025!

Sunrise is at 7:38 a.m., and park gates open at 6:30 a.m. Due to safety regulations, participants may only visit the Mile High Swinging Bridge area during the event. To help warm up on a likely cold winter’s morning, the mountain will offer a complimentary hot beverage bar and doughnuts for sunrise guests in the Top Shop building. The restrooms in the Top Shop will also be accessible.

Participants are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear heavy winter jackets, hats, gloves and rubber-soled shoes.

Tickets
Tickets go on sale below at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11. Event tickets include an entire day’s access to Grandfather. As the remainder of the park doesn’t open until 9 a.m., participants are welcome to leave the mountain following sunrise and return later in the day for no additional cost.

This event costs $50 for general admission, $35 for children (ages 4-12) and $25 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Limited to 150 participants.

Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase tickets.
You will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase.

Non-Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase tickets.

Cancellations and Refunds
To receive a full refund, guests must cancel prior to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23. Cancellations following that date are not eligible for a refund. To cancel, email judi@grandfather.com or call 828-733-2013. In addition, the event may be canceled on short notice in case of inclement weather, and tickets will be refunded if that is the case. A picture-perfect sunrise, unfortunately, cannot be guaranteed.