Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 020 November 2012 | Page 26

Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina
Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain is on U.S 221 North
one mile south of the intersection with
the Blue Ridge Parkway and two miles
north of Linville It is open daily year-round
except for Christmas and Thanksgiving,
weather permitting in winter. The hours
are 8 A.m. until dusk. An admission fee is
charged. For information, call 800-4687325 or visit www.grandfather.com

G

randfather Mountain is “the
face of all Heaven come to
earth,” according to no less an
authority than John Muir, the noted
conservationist and naturalist.
Can’t get much more cinematic
than that! Many filmmakers have
climbed the mountain over the
years to capture the beauty and
traditions of the highest peak in
the Blue Ridge, considered the
most biologically diverse mountain
in eastern North America. Also, a
certain Best Picture starring Tom
Hanks did a brief “run-through”
scene at Grandfather.

Visitors enjoy Grandfather Mountain’s hiking, wildlife, and famous
Mile High Swinging Bridge. Grandfather hosts the annual Highland
Games and the “Singing on the
Mountain” gospel gathering each
summer. Over a hundred Scottish
clans and societies celebrate their
traditional dance, music, and athletics during the Highland Games,
which are featured in This Time
Each Year, a documentary narrated
by celebrated Tar Heel singer/ songwriter Mike Cross. Singing on the
Mountain is a free, all day gospel

sing, church bazaar, and dinner
held in MacRae Meadows. Almost
every well-known preacher, gospel
singer, and group has appeared,
as have Johnny Cash, Roy Clark,
and Doc Watson. People still talk
about the 1963 message delivered
by western North Carolina’s own
Billy Graham. A surprising number
of non-gospel celebrities have also
appeared over the years, including
Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis. This
event has also been featured in
several documentaries.
At the park’s Museum Theater, a lifesized statue of Mildred the Bear greets
visitors. Mildred was named during
a segment of Arthur Smith’s popular
regional television series. The theatre
shows short films made primarily
at Grandfather Mountain by the
“Grandfather” of tourism Hugh

26 Dashboards and Saddlebags •The Destination Magazine