Programs & Partnerships

Welcome to a Globally Recognized Nature Preserve

Grandfather Mountain, elevation 5,946 feet, has been a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve for decades.

Grandfather Mountain is owned by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, Inc. and its programs are supported by the sales of tickets and souvenirs. The Foundation’s objective is to steward the property in a way that preserves the natural wonder of Grandfather Mountain, provides the public easy access to its fantastic scenery, and inspires guests through programs and activities that give them a deeper understanding of the natural world.

In order to accomplish all that it does, the organization fosters partnerships with other successful resource managers that help facilitate sharing of knowledge and inspiration.

Grandfather’s stewardship partners include:

North Carolina State Parks & Grandfather Mountain State Park
The Nature Conservancy
United Nations Man & Biosphere Program
N.C. Natural Heritage Program
National Park Service
U.S. Forest Service
N.C. Wildlife Commission
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Appalachian Atmospheric Interdisciplinary Research
Appalachian State University
NC GreenTravel
N.C. Climate Office
Avery County Schools
AmeriCorps

Guests to the attraction can rest assured that the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is diligently working to preserve Grandfather’s natural resources while searching for new ways to present its wonders for the public. These are some examples of the conservation programs in which we participate:

HawkWatch – HawkWatch International
NC Natural Heritage Program Rare Plant Surveys
Bird Point Counts – Audubon Society
NC Candid Critters Project
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Management