May 10-24
Pink-shell Azalea
in Bloom
The world's largest natural population of the
pink-shell azalea is found on the slopes of
Grandfather Mountain, covering the peaks in
pink clouds from mid to late May. One of the
best shows of the year!
May 17-18
Naturalist Weekend
Joins us for two days filled with guided hikes
and presentations on Grandfather's birds, wildflowers
and history with special focus on the 30th anniversary
of the Trails Program.
June 2-15
The Remarkable
Rhododendron Ramble
Don't miss the blooming of the flamboyant Catawba
Rhododendron! Our staff naturalists can't wait
to share their excitement for the showy rose-lavender
blossoms that bloom their way up Grandfather’s
slopes throughout the month of June. Join us
for the "Remarkable Rhododendron Ramble"
and participate in special activities designed
to help you get the most out of this unforgettable
sight.
Not
long after completing the renovation of
the Mile High Swinging Bridge in 2000,
Hugh Morton began meeting with engineers
and architects to get serious about replacing
the weather-beaten 1950s-era Visitor Center
located next to the Swinging Bridge. However
the realities of building on the top of
the most rugged mountain in Eastern America
posed daunting challenges that have taken
years to resolve. 
After
20 years of building and maintaining Grandfather's
backcountry trails and campsites, Steve
Miller's knees have decided it is time
to turn the Trail Manager's duties over
to Luke Appling. Appling will take over
the role of supervising trail rangers
and organizing trail maintenance while
Miller focuses on land management, park
safety and personal interaction with guests
who walk the popular park-in trails.
The
University of North Carolina's blog about
the archiving of Hugh Morton's photo collection
has been selected as the "Best on the
Web" by ArchivesNext.com, a widely-read
web site that focuses on the future of
archives. 
