Shopping

There are many options to buy unique items and support the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation – either in the gifts shops during your visit or online options from home. All of the Foundation’s funding is derived from park admission, souvenir sales, food and beverage sales and donations.

Two Gift Shops
Located in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and Top Shop by the Mile High Swinging Bridge, Grandfather Mountain’s gift shops carry a variety of local artisan crafts and goods, as well as signature Grandfather Mountain souvenirs, from hoodies to hiking gear to drinkware and all things in between. Find plenty of gift items for kids. Find our homemade fudge at Mildred’s Grill.

Animal Art
One of the most popular items in our gift shops is something truly unique. Our animal art is painted by Grandfather Mountain’s habitat animals! Find many designs from paw prints to abstract bursts of color. The animal artists of Grandfather Mountain use only non-toxic, washable paint. They happily paint in exchange for treats as part of their training routine – able to leave at any point if they don’t feel inspired. With each painting, you’ll receive a photo and facts about the artist.

Shop & Support From Home (Perfect for Holidays, Birthdays & more!)

For gifts that give two-ways, here are additional ways to support the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain.

Adopt-an-Animal
Looking for an gift that’s warm and fuzzy? While Grandfather Mountain’s resident animals are not for sale, the Adopt-an-Animal program is the next best thing. The program allows participants to symbolically adopt any of Grandfather Mountain’s furry or feathered residents, including black bears, river otters, cougars, bald eagles, elk and more.

By adopting an animal, individually or on behalf of a loved one, the recipient will get a special gift package. Gifts vary, depending on the donation level, and can include photographs, plush toys, footprint paintings, day passes and more. Read more and pick an animal to adopt!

Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Treat your favorite animal lover to an up-close and personal experience with Grandfather’s resident animals. Hosted by Grandfather’s knowledgeable and experienced keepers, Behind-the-Scenes Tours show guests where the park’s resident animals sleep overnight while sharing the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round. Behind-the-Scenes Tours are offered April through October and can be booked in advance.

To give a Behind-the-Scenes Tour as a gift, please call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 and purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That would need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership. Read more about Behind-the Scenes Tours.

Paint With a Bear
This one-of-a-kind activity will lead to lifelong memories. Watch one of the resident bears playfully create a painting by walking through nontoxic paint, in an assortment of colors chosen by the group, and onto sheets of paper for each participant to take home. Paint With an Otter is available Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m., April through October.

Those wanting to give this experience as a gift should call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 to purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That would need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership. Get more information about Painting with a Bear.

Meet-the-Bears Tours
With Grandfather’s Meet-the-Bears Tours, go behind the scenes to meet some of the mountain’s resident black bears and learn all about them, including their names, daily routines, care, histories and more. This offering is available weekends, at 11 a.m., April through October.

To give a Meet-the-Bears Tour as a gift, please call the Wilson Center Gift Shop at 828-733-1059 and purchase over the phone. The gift recipient will be responsible for contacting the habitat staff and scheduling their tour. Please note, a gift of a tour or experience does not include park admission. That would need to be purchased separately or covered by a Bridge Club membership. Read more about Meet-the-Bears Tours.

Animal Wish List
Make the season merry and bright for the creatures that call Grandfather home by treating them to gift items and enrichment treats. To see what the animals want this holiday season, see the current Animal Enrichment Wishlists. For more information, email habitats@grandfather.com.

Fudge
Think the views are sweet? Try Grandfather Mountain’s fudge. The park offers homemade fudge and it’s only a phone call away. To place an order for pickup or shipment, call 828-733-1058.

Season Passes
For a gift that keeps on giving, shoppers can purchase an annual membership to Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club. Bridge Club membership offers unlimited free admission to Grandfather Mountain for a year, exclusive discounts on and off the mountain, a Bridge Club car decal and more. Group passes are also available. Learn more.

Donate
Grandfather Mountain is owned and operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example. The park’s funding is entirely derived from admission, souvenir sales, food and beverage sales and donations, 100% of which goes right back into the mountain, ensuring its pristine beauty is preserved for generations to come.

Charitable giving also benefits the park’s many educational programs and initiatives. Those hoping to contribute in their or someone else’s name may do so by donating online now, which allows them to sponsor a particular project or donate to a cause of their choosing.