Day 7 Grandfather Mountain MOTEL Grandfather Mountain. See exit for Highway 221. Motel is in Banner Elk on Highway 194. Linville Falls is a backup scenic area for us.
Welcome to Day 7 Final Day of Our ANPAT 2006 What is Grandfather Mountain? (Information taken from www.grandfather.com) Grandfather Mountain is: The highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain range (elevation 5,964 ft) The Mountain is privately owned and is operated as: a scenic travel attraction a globally recognized nature preserve Main Attractions Beautiful mountain scenery Mile High Swinging Bridge Environmental Habitats for native wildlife Black Bears, Bear cubs, River Otters, Cougars, Eagles and Deer Nature Museum excellent exhibits about the natural history of the region theater that shows nature movies made on the Mountain restaurant and gift shop South's best alpine hiking trails More than 12 miles of regularly maintained trails ranging in difficulty from easy nature walks to strenuous backcountry challenges. Picnicking Over 100 picnic tables and grills are scattered throughout the park. The picnic area located on the right about 1/3 mile up the summit road is equipped with a water fountain and restrooms. Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic. Those who have not planned ahead can purchase fried chicken or sandwiches to go from the Museum restaurant. Naturalist Programs Special activities and programs with the Mountain's naturalists are presented daily from June 1 - August 18 and are included in the price of admission. Guided tours and guided hikes with the Mountain's naturalists are available for an additional fee. Phone 828-733-4326 for reservations.
Mile High Swinging Bridge The Mile High Swinging Bridge was built to give visitors easy access to the breath-taking view from Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak. The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation. Surveys show that the journey to the other side is always considered the highlight of a trip to Grandfather Mountain. Access - requires climbing 50 stairs to reach the level of the Swinging Bridge. Those who choose not to climb the stairs can enjoy similar vistas from the parking area. Name - Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name " Mile High Swinging Bridge" at the Bridge's dedication in 1952. The term "mile high" refers to the structure's elevation above sea level (5,305 feet) The term "swinging" refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway. Built - 1952 Designed by - Charles Hartman, Jr., Greensboro, NC Construction - actually fabricated in Greensboro and then reassembled on top of the Mountain. Erecting the bridge took three weeks, a process slowed by inclement weather created by a hurricane off the North Carolina coast. Cost -$15,000 Dedicated - Sept. 2, 1952 by North Carolina Gov. William B. Umstead. Rebuilt in 1999 using the original towers. The cables, floor boards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel. One of the main advantages of the modern building materials is that they do not have to be painted. Now Grandfather Mountain employees will not have to hang out over the gorge to paint the span. Redesigned - 1999 by Sutton, Kennerly & Associates Engineering of Asheville, N.C. Rebuilt by - Taylor & Murphy Construction Company of Asheville Cost of rebuilding - $300,000
History of the Mountain Grandfather Mountain was created about 742 million years ago when two of the earth's plates slammed together, thrusting great sections of the continent into the sky. A 1962 US Geological Survey reported, however, that some of the rock formations on Grandfather are even older than the mountain itself, dating back 1.1 billion years. The original Cherokee name for the mountain was "Tanawha," meaning "a fabulous hawk or eagle." It was named "Grandfather" by pioneers who recognized the face of an old man in one of the cliffs. Many vantage points reveal different faces, so there is no one official profile of the mountain, but the most popular can be seen from the community of Foscoe, seven miles north of Linville and 10 miles south of Boone on NC 105. The Early Explorers Early explorers included Daniel Boone, who was known to hunt in this area in the 1760's. French botanist Andre Michaux climbed Grandfather in August of 1794 while on an expedition for King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France. He wrote in his journal: "Reached the summit of the highest mountain in all of North America, and with my companion and guide, sang the Marseillaise and shouted 'Long live America and the Republic of France, long live liberty!'" Although Grandfather's Calloway Peak (elv. 5,964 feet) is the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountain range (which runs from Pennsylvania to north Georgia), Michaux was mistaken when he thought he had reached the highest point on the continent, or even in the Carolinas. Grandfather appears taller than its neighbors because of the abrupt way the mountain rises above its surroundings. Mount Mitchell (elv. 6,684 feet), located 40 miles south in the Black Mountain range, is the highest point in Eastern America. Roan Mountain (elv. 6,285 feet), located 20 miles to the west, is the highest peak in the Unaka Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway Grandfather Mountain Viaduct
Harvard botanist Asa Gray came to Grandfather in 1841 in search of Shortia galacifolia, a species lost since the time of Michaux's visit. Although unsuccessful in locating the Shortia, he did discover a rare lily that bears his name. Gray's Lily blooms in high grassy areas on Grandfather Mountain in June and July. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, visited Grandfather in September 1898. Muir had been ill with a bronchial cough for many months, but after climbing Grandfather he wrote to his wife, "the air has healed me. I think I could walk ten miles and not be tired." According to an article in American Museum Journal, he fell into poetic raptures over the view from the top, saying "I couldn't hold in, and began to jump about and sing and glory in it all." Tourism at Grandfather In early times a horseback trail wound its way up the slope of Grandfather to an overlook at "Cliffsides." In the early 1900s, the trail was widened to a one-lane road that could be traveled by automobiles. A wooden platform was constructed and a nominal toll was charged to those who wished to drive up and see the view. In 1952, Hugh MacRae Morton inherited Grandfather Mountain from his grandfather Hugh MacRae. He immediately widened the road to two lanes and extended it to the summit where he built the Mile High Swinging Bridge. In 1968, Morton purchased one male and one female black bear with the intention of letting them loose into the wild. The female bear, named Mildred, refused to revert to the wild and Grandfather Mountain was required to recapture her and keep her enclosed for her own safety. At first, Mildred met the public at a roadside amphitheater four times every day. Then, in 1973, a beautiful Environmental Habitat was built for Mildred and her family. The habitats have since been expanded to include bear cubs, river otters, deer, panthers, bald eagles and golden eagles. In 1989, Grandfather Mountain began working with the North Carolina chapter of the Nature Conservancy to preserve 4,000 acres of the mountain's wilderness backcountry. In 1992, Grandfather was selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognition as a member of the international network of Biosphere Reserves. When Hugh Morton died in June 2006, his heirs vowed to continue his mission of keeping Grandfather Mountain in its natural state. Our Farewell Dinner We will be meeting at the Banner Elk Motel at 8:30 sharp for our final celebratory supper together!