MARCH 26, 2009 ISSUE
Grandfather Mountain Offers Dollar Days to High Country Residents in April
All High Country residents, along with their accompanying guests, are invited to visit Grandfather Mountain for $1 during the month of April with proof of local residency.
The special April Dollar Days $1 admission is offered to residents in the six counties represented by the NC High Country Host regional travel promotion organization: Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes. The discount is also extended to students of colleges and universities in the High Country and to guests traveling in the same vehicle with those eligible for the April discount. Please present a driver’s license, college ID or local utility bill as proof of High Country residency.
“Grandfather Mountain is blessed with wonderful goodwill from its neighbors and Dollar Days is one small way we like to express our appreciation,” said Mountain President Crae Morton. “It really starts to get pretty on the Mountain in April and we take pleasure in having local residents enjoy the park as the leaves and the flowers are returning.”
April is a great time to visit Grandfather to enjoy the initial signs of warmer weather. The first wildflowers have just been spotted on the Mountain’s Profile Trail and thousands more are on their way.
The bears in the Wildlife Habitats have emerged but could possibly be in and out of their dens if cold weather comes along. Five other animal habitats contain cougars, river otters, a bald eagle, a golden eagle and white-tailed deer that can be photographed from close range in their natural surroundings.
This season of the year also provides a great opportunity to pick up some food from Mildred’s Grill, located in the Nature Museum, and take it to one of the Mountain’s 100 picnic tables.
Construction continues on Grandfather’s new Top Shop building located next to the Mile High Swinging Bridge. Scheduled for completion in late summer 2009, the new building will no longer be visible from Highway 105. The new structure provides elevator access to the Swinging Bridge area, houses a gift shop and restrooms and includes educational and interpretive elements.
At this time, a temporary top shop is in place to provide a small retail area and to house the Mountain’s communications equipment.
Grandfather’s trails cannot be accessed from the Swinging Bridge parking lot because of the construction. All hikers need to park at the Black Rock parking area, below the switchbacks to the summit, and hike out from there.
One good way to get some fresh air during a visit to Grandfather is to walk on the Black Rock Nature Trail that runs out a mile and back through northern hardwood and spruce forests. This trail is marked with interpretive signs that give hikers a better idea of the significance of the nature around them.
People looking for a greater outdoor challenge can hike across the high peaks on the Grandfather Trail. Surveys show that visitors to the mountain who choose to venture out across the ridge tops on the Grandfather Trail report that the hike was the highlight of their visit.
The $1 admission price also extends to the trails, with permit outlets selling hiking permits to High Country residents for $1 in April. Grandfather Mountain Hiking Permits can be purchased at the park’s entrance gate and at Footsloggers in both Boone and Blowing Rock. Hikers are encouraged to take care on Grandfather’s rugged ridge trails and to be prepared for severe weather changes before setting out.
The Mountain is open every day in April, weather permitting. The hours of operation April 1 through April 3 are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with ticket sales ending at 5:00 p.m. Starting April 4, hours extend from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with ticket sales ending at 6:00 p.m. For current conditions, call the Grandfather Mountain entrance gate at 828-733-4337.
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