Last Updated on October 22, 2024 2:40 pm
LINVILLE, N.C. – Grandfather Mountain, the private attraction run by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, has announced that it will reopen to guests on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. The Western North Carolina nonprofit nature park has been closed since Sept. 26, the day before Hurricane Helene tore through the southeastern part of the country, leaving behind unimaginable effects on the communities surrounding Grandfather Mountain.
Towns were flooded; roads and bridges washed away; landslides have forever changed the landscape of the region; many people have lost their homes and livelihoods; and, tragically, people are still missing and lives were lost.
The Grandfather Mountain nature park was extremely fortunate to receive only minor damage. A small number of trees fell during the storm, and only a few washouts or small landslides have been discovered. The mountain was impacted by the electricity, internet and cell signal outages that were widespread across the region in the weeks following the storm. A few days after Helene, the park was able to confirm that all staff and the mountain’s resident habitat animals were safe.
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation immediately turned its focus from park operations to humanitarian efforts in Avery County. Since the storm hit, the organization has worked with dozens of nonprofits (local to international), regional businesses, tourism colleagues, good Samaritans and many others in an effort to bring relief to the mountain’s surrounding communities. A few examples of this work include purchasing generators and gas grills for community members in need, feeding local rescue crews, helping with grading repairs so flood-damaged businesses could get closer to reopening, assisting in flood cleanup at a local affordable housing complex, volunteering in donation distribution centers and coordinating the installation of Starlink kits where needed.
Throughout the last few weeks, Grandfather Mountain’s leadership team has kept in close regular contact with county administrators, North Carolina Department of Transportation representatives, Blue Ridge Parkway officials, Grandfather Mountain State Park rangers, local community leaders and regional and state tourism representatives concerning a thoughtful reopening plan for the park.
Though the nature preserve suffered minimal impacts from the storm, the organization fully understood, agreed with and supported the restrictions placed on travel to the area immediately after the hurricane and over these past few weeks.
As time has passed, electricity and communications are back up for the majority of the county, most major roads in the area have been stabilized or cleaned up and local businesses are opening back up as they are able.
“The decision to reopen Grandfather Mountain following the regional impacts of Hurricane Helene is not a responsibility that we take lightly,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “As some nearby towns open their doors to tourists, our intention is to help the community by giving these visitors an additional place to go and to not put a strain on those areas that can’t accommodate outside travelers at this time.”
Some parts of Avery County, such as Banner Elk and the south end of the county, are not in a place to welcome visitors currently. The regional visitor center operated by High Country Host is updating a local map regularly with road openings. They are also maintaining a list of businesses that are open and closed in the area. Those resources can be accessed at www.highcountryhost.com.
Grandfather Mountain will reopen Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. From there, the park will be open seven days a week, weather permitting, with park entry being from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., trails closing at 5 p.m. and the park closing at 6 p.m.
“We look forward to welcoming guests back to Grandfather Mountain,” said Pope. “Our reopening will enable us to keep our entire staff employed this season and will benefit Avery County by way of tax dollars paid on admission tickets to the park. Our staff have worked tirelessly since the storm to help out the community, and I couldn’t be more proud of, and thankful for, them.”
As always, booking tickets and a reservation time online in advance is highly recommended. In this first phase of reopening, the park will sell a limited number of tickets. Booking online in advance is the only way to receive available discounts on admission and guarantee that you will be able to enter the park. There is a chance that some days and time slots may sell out. Now more than ever, it will be important to plan your visit to the High Country in advance. To see Grandfather’s list of tips for visiting the mountain and the surrounding region thoughtfully in the wake of Helene, please visit www.grandfather.com/thoughtful-travel.
Guests purchasing admission tickets online will have the option to make a donation toward the park’s ongoing Hurricane Helene disaster relief fund. The ability to add a donation to a sales transaction will also be available in the park at the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, Top Shop and Mildred’s Grill. Though it is now more than three weeks after the storm, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation plans to continue partnerships and long-term support for community members directly impacted by Helene for the foreseeable future.
In addition to the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats, Top Shop and Mile High Swinging Bridge, access to the Woods Walk, Bridge Trail, Black Rock Trail and Grandfather Loop will be open.
Please note that Grandfather Mountain State Park is a separate entity from the Grandfather Mountain nature park and preserve operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has announced that all North Carolina State Parks west of I-77 are closed through at least the end of October.
When Grandfather reopens on Oct. 23, the park’s education and habitat staff will resume their daily programs scheduled through Nov. 3. The park will also hold its Beary Scary Halloween event slated for this Saturday, Oct. 26.
“A lot of thought and consideration was put into this decision, and we hope that Grandfather Mountain’s reopening will provide a sense of hope for our surrounding communities and local businesses,” added Pope. “We know firsthand through our Helene relief work that our entire region still has a long road to recovery ahead of them and that there will be a delicate balance to strike throughout this process.”
To learn more about Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s Hurricane Helene disaster relief efforts, please visit www.grandfather.com/helene.
To book an upcoming visit to Grandfather Mountain, go to www.grandfather.com.
The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.
