Grandfather Mountain
Thank you North Carolina and Hugh Morton heirs. One of the best decisions to be made this year and possibly one of the best decisions of the decade, was the sale of Grandfather Mountain located between Boone and Banner Elk, back to the State. Grandfather Mountain was previously privately owned by the famed photographer and preservationist Hugh Morton. In 1952, when he inherited the Grandfather Mountain property consisting of the 5,946′ peak and the 2,600 surrounding wild acres, he pledged, despite outside pressure to develop the land, to never allow the property to become a residential hot bed. Over the past 60 years, Grandfather Mountain has become the top tourist destination in North Carolina and one of the best places to visit anywhere in the country. The heirs of Morton surely could have made hundreds of millions of dollars by plotting off privately gated communities all over the mountain, but they chose to preserve the beauty of the land, and they sold it to the state for a measly (and by measly I mean they gave the state a deal!) $12 million.
I have personally looked at properties surrounding Grandfather Mountain (and these properties were bare lots that seemed unbuildable none the less) that were selling for $40,000-$60,000 an acre. This is not uncommon for the area. By selling the property to the state, the Morton’s also sacrificed great gross returns. Annually, Grandfather Mountain attracts well over 250,000 visitors, and at $14 for an adult ticket, well, you do the math. Sacrifice for the preservation of a mountain that from this point on will be enjoyed by many generations to come. The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina are being sold off for record profits everywhere you look, and it brings great joy to my heart knowing that Grandfather did not follow suit. Grandfater Mountain is one of my favorite places on earth. It is where I had my first date with my wife. It is where I proposed to my wife. It is one of my favorite camping destinations, and it’s where I have had some of my greatest prayers and conversations with God and friends, developing friendships that will last a lifetime. So enjoy the trails, enjoy the changing colors of Fall, enjoy the mile-high swinging bridge, enjoy the Highland Games, enjoy the Grandfather Mountain Marathon, enjoy the camping and enjoy the rare species of animals; and know that some day you’ll be able to bring your kids back to Grandfather to enjoy them as well. Once again, a huge thanks to Hugh Morton and his heirs and the state of North Carolina.
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