Grandfather Mountain Set For ‘Limited’ Reopening
Reservations must be made online for specific dates and times
LINVILLE-Only a few people will be allowed in when Grandfather Mountain reopens this weekend. Since North Carolina is still in Phase I of reopening, as we explain here, there are certain rules that have to be followed. In a statement to media, officials from the park explained why it’ll be a different park than the one people are used to.
“The safety of our guests and staff comes first and foremost,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature preserve. “We will continue to follow the situation closely, while implementing a phased reopening plan closely correlated with Gov. Cooper’s.”
The park’s plan involves several changes. First off, you won’t be able to go up and buy tickets at the gate. Until North Carolina is fully reopened, all ticket sales will be done online at grandfather.com. Also, you can’t just come whenever you want. Tickets will be more like a reservation, giving a set date and time for you to enter the park.
Even inside the park, there will be restrictions on what you can do and when. For example, some buildings, including the Nature Museum and the Fudge Shop, will be closed. Mildred’s Grill will be open, but only for curbside pickup. You can however take your meal and eat at any of the more than 100 picnic sites in the park.
Mile High Bridge Swings One Way
Under the new rules, there will be a 10-person limit at each animal habitat and the Mile High Swinging Bridge. You’ll also have a time limit for how long you can stay at the “high traffic” portions of the park. The reason for that, Pope explained, was to make sure everyone has a chance to experience the different attractions.
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“It’s going to be a different experience for our Grandfather Mountain friends and family — almost like a guided tour, in a sense,” Pope said. “But guests will still be able to share the mountain’s many wonders, and in a quieter, less crowded setting. When we get to Phase 2, there will be more facilities open and more people allowed to come to the park, and the same with Phase 3.”
Now when you get to the bridge or the animal habitats, you’ll also be directed on a specific path to take. The reason is that all of those areas are now only allowing one-way traffic. In other words, if one group is walking across the bridge on the right, your family will have to wait until they get off to walk back on the left. That’s to make sure nobody comes within six feet of each other, Pope explained, as the park will follow federal guidelines.
As a further precaution, Pope said Grandfather staff will “enhance” cleaning procedures and have put additional sanitization stations across the park. They’ve also increased the number of staff on hand to help direct traffic.
What About My Pass?
One of the frustrations in a situation like this involves season passes. If tickets are only given out for certain dates and times, what about those already bought and paid for? If you have a season pass, you still have to make reservations. Admission will be free, but you’ll need to go online to pick a date and time for your visit. If you purchased a pass before the COVID-19 shutdown, then Pope said it would be extended by the full length of the closure.
This is also not a full reopening. The park will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before shutting down again after the final guests leave Sunday night. It’ll be closed Monday through Thursday of next week, before opening again May 21. Further plans haven’t been announced, as the governor is expected to announce North Carolina will move to Phase II of the reopening plan on May 22.
“We’ve missed our guests tremendously and have been thinking about them and their families during this challenging time,” Pope said. “We look forward to having them back on the mountain, and we’re working hard to make sure the park will be safe for them when that happens.”
Brian Carlton is the editor of NWNC Magazine. He can be reached at brian.carlton38@gmail.com.
