Grandfather Mountain's "Top Shop" opens in June

Grandfather Mountain, US 221 and Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville North Carolina. Neither rain nor sleet nor gloom of the 2010 mountain snowstorms stopped Grandfather Mountain's stalwart construction and staff crews from completing their mission! The challenges of the weather may have added to the construction time, but the much anticipated opening of the Top Shop is now scheduled on or before June 12. Read more...

Chimney Rock Park Planning Session

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has announced the public planning session for Chimney Rock State Park will be held Wednesday, May 26 at the Lake Lure Town Hall. Citizens are invited to visit the drop-in session anytime from 10am until 7pm.

The drop-in planning session will involve a workstation format allowing citizens to attend at any time during the day and spend as much time as necessary to review and discuss design alternatives. Proposed designs will also be available beginning May 26 at www.greenways.com/chimneyrock. Written comments may be submitted through June 23 either by using an online comment sheet or by mail to:
General Management Plan Coordinator
NC Division of Parks and Recreation
1615 MSC
Raleigh NC 27699-1615

April Dollar Days at Grandfather Mountain

April, Grandfather Mountain, US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway - Linville North Carolina. Residents of the High Country  six counties, along with guests traveling in the same vehicle, are invited to visit Grandfather Mountain for $1 during the month of April with proof of local employment or residency. The discount is also extended to students attending colleges and universities in the High Country. Read more...

A Special Gift: Adopt an Animal For Christmas

The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, with the special help of our Habitat staff, is launching a new "Adopt an Animal" program just in time for the holidays. Your love for Grandfather Mountain's animals can now be expressed with a simple donation ranging from $25 to $1,000. Your tax-deductible gift will enhance the lives of our otters, bears, eagles, deer and cougars in many ways, from providing new enrichment toys and treats to upgrading habitat facilities. Read more...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fall Color Report

Every trail in the park is perfect for hiking right now.  Fall foliage surprises and abundant late wildflowers await around every bend.  The last week this month, lower elevation trails such as Deep Creek, Little River, Boogerman Loop, Old Settlers, Smokemont Loop, Old Sugarlands, Kephart Prong, and Abrams Falls will be preferable.  Bears, chipmunks, squirrels, and other wildlife are busily gathering aacorns, walnuts, and other mast where it is concentrated. Thanks to the unusually abundant rainfall, streams and waterfalls are swift and sparkling. Read more...

The Call of the Wild- Elk Watching

To do: Listen to the bull elk bugle during mating season
When/Where: Now in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fall rut is in full swing and there has been plenty of excitement within GSMNP herd so far! The attraction of watching, and listening to, the elk has brought more visitors into the park, says the ranger. While there are elk both in the Cataloochee Valley, and the Oconaluftee areas, it sounds like Cataloochee is the place to head if elk are on your wildlife checklist. The Elk were re-introduced into the park in 2001 and with 16 surviving calves this year the herd total now is 110 with 55 female and 45 male. There is potential for elk-human conflicts that could result in serious injury to humans or contribute to the demise of an elk so visits to the area should always follow Park guidelines.

Grandfather Mountain Habitats Restored

In order to keep the animals and park visitors safe, habitat enclosures must be properly maintained. This summer Dwight Holland, former Director of the North Carolina Zoo, returned to Grandfather Mountain once again to perform a few maintenance and beautification projects on the wildlife exhibits. Holland has become an expert of sorts at making habitats look like they would in the wild. He is especially crafty when it comes to making artificial rocks and most people don't know which rocks are fake and which ones are real, making the habitats look very natural. The primary reason for the upgrades on the Mountain is to ensure safety while maintaining the beauty of the surroundings.

Website:  http://www.grandfather.com

PBS Documentary on GSM National Park Airs Tomorrow

"National Parks:America's Best Idea" Highlights the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Time/Place: Sept 30, 8PM & 10PM, PBS
The fourth installment in the series, titled “Going Home,” highlights the involvement of the men who were strong champions for the creation of the park. George Mesa was a photographer and Horace Kepheart authored “Our Southern Highlanders”. Together they were unrelenting advocates for the creation of the Park. Their efforts brought forth the national treasure which we all now enjoy.
Website: http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

Park Update: Skyline Trail in Chimney Rock Park Re-opens

Improvements have been completed after a lot of hard work from the Trails Crew and The Skyline trail to Exclamation Point is now open. With a big helping hand provided by state parks staff, contractors and the great crew from Isothermal Community College's Summer Youth Work program Park visitors can again enjoy the hike and incredible view from Exclamation Point.

Contact: 1-800-277-9611

Website:http://www.ChimneyRockPark.com

New Bird-Friendly Grandfather Mountain House Blend Coffee

How do you have a great cup of coffee and support the protection of migratory bird habitats at the same time? Have your java at Grandfather Mountain's Restaurant or Fudge Shop and savor their new brew made from SMBC certified bird-friendly Peruvian beans. Th beans are grown in the shade of a natural high tree canopy which helps maintain soil and water quality, provide fruit, nuts and other food sources, offer shelter, and promote the balanced ecosystems that the migratory birds need to thrive.

Grandfather Mountain teamed with Bald Guy Brew in Boone to develop its own house blend of bird-friendly coffee - which has been described as "Fabulous". In addition to being served in the restaurant and fudge shop, Grandfather Mountain Blend is available by the pound from the Nature Museum gift shop and on-line fromBald Guy Brew (http://www.baldguybrew.com). A pound of whole bean coffee sells for $12.95 and delivers all the satisfaction a cup can hold.

To read more about Grandfather Mountain Blend visit: http://www.grandfather.com/newsletter/july09/coffee.php

Biological Diversity abundant in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its biological diversity with over 10,000 documented species of plants and animals. The Smokies have such a great diversity because of the range in altitude, the abundant rainfall and glaciers that invaded the continent over 10,000 years ago. These glaciers didn’t reach as far south as the Smoky Mountains, and many species from farther north found refuge here.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations

Smoky Mountain national Park Visitation Up For 2009 Season

Visitation Up with June Park visitation up 11.1%. Year-to-date an increase of 6.2 % - which comes out to 228,000 visits YTD. July-October are expected to be the same if not higher.

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY WEBSITE LAUNCH

Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc., the organization tasked with planning and producing the various projects related to the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary in 2010, has launched the official 75th Anniversary Web site: http:www.blueridgeparkway75.org

Lake James to Remain Low in July

Water levels will be low through early July 2009, due to the Duke Energy dam construction project. Boat access is closed during this time. Also if there is a lack of rainfall, the swim area will be closed on short notice.
Visit http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/alerts/main.php for more info.

Update at Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain - Guests get a glimpse of what the finished Top Shop will look like. The look of the Top Shop changed a lot in May as the walls are beginning to go up and the floors are in on all three levels. Masons have begun putting the rock face on one small section of the first floor as a sample of things to come, and the entire site is buzzing with a sense of progress being made after a long, cold winter.
Stay tuned!

Rock climbing at Chimney Rock State Park

Tyler Parker, CR Park new director of climbing operations, has been busy teaching folks from age 6 to 76 the basics of rock climbing. Most every weekend, and many weekdays (weather permitting), you'll find Tyler at the base of Chimney Rock ready to show you the ropes, literally.
We're one, if not the only, place in North Carolina where you can walk up, saddle up (that's get in a harness) and be climbing real rock in a matter of minutes. Tasters, a 15-minute "give it a go," are available most days and no equipment or experience is necessary. You can also book a half- or full-day clinic with Tyler for a more in-depth lesson.
Hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm (Daylight Saving Time) weekdays and weekends
8:30am – 4:30pm (Eastern Standard Time) weekdays and weekends
Contact: 828-625-9611 or toll-free 800-277-9611

Blue Ridge Parkway History for the curious!

This summer's Parkway educational stops.
A number of historic homes, Revolutionary War sites, and interpreted natural sites can enrich the traveler's journey. Among them are: Brinegar Cabin, milepost 238.5.  Ben Long frescoes at Glendale Springs, milepost 258-259.  Moses Cone Manor and Memorial Park, milepost 292.7.  Historic Flat Top Manor House and Parkway Craft Center, milepost 294.  Museum of North Carolina Minerals, milepost 331.  Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, milepost 331.  Mt. Mitchell State Park, milepost 355.4.  Folk Art Center, milepost 382.

Chimney Rock Park News

We hosted more than 1,300 of you at our 54th Annual Easter Sunrise Service, over 800 kids for our Earth Day programs and nearly 150 dogs (and their well-behaved people) at our 5th Annual Bark in the Park.

The climbing tower in the Meadows provided some fun and exhilarating exercise in the fresh air during our recent Spring Boy Scout Day. This weekend we will be hosting a special day for the Girl Scouts which also includes climbs up the 32-foot tower.

Early spring rains have made Hickory Nut Falls a sight to see. The wildflowers and trees are blooming and budding and the animals are out and about. Come on out to the Park and see for yourself!

Our trails crew, in partnership with crews from NC State Parks, continues to make progress along the Skyline trail leading to Exclamation Point. So far, they've got about 1/3 of the gravel in place and have completed some of the necessary retaining walls.

We hope to have the section of the trail from Devil's Head to Exclamation Point open sometime early this summer.