check out the pics at the end.

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/st ... -id-014593

Long overdue. Wife and I actually commented a couple weeks ago that it needed replacing and mother nature helped us out. It was looking really bad before it fell.

Is it true that the State of NC bought GMt. The link wouldn't open for me.

JCline0429 wrote:Is it true that the State of NC bought GMt. The link wouldn't open for me.

Not entirely. After the death of Hugh Morton in 2006 the undeveloped "back country" section was assimilated into the State parks system, while the travel attraction (swinging bridge, animal habitats, nature museum etc) is now run by a non profit corporation called the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

Wow, if they are non-profit, I wonder who gets that almost $40 a pop that enters their gates ?

MDaniels84 wrote:Wow, if they are non-profit, I wonder who gets that almost $40 a pop that enters their gates ?

It's $18 a pop and it goes to maintaining the museum, bridge, trails, and animal habitats. I assure you no one is getting rich off the operation.

Sorry Gonz, as it could definitely have changed over the years but I worked up there part time while I was attending APP in the 80's and they were throwing around Christmas bonuses like they were nothing. I am sure that Mildred , the otters, cougars, and the rest are being well taken care of.

MDaniels84 wrote:Sorry Gonz, as it could definitely have changed over the years but I worked up there part time while I was attending APP in the 80's and they were throwing around Christmas bonuses like they were nothing. I am sure that Mildred , the otters, cougars, and the rest are being well taken care of.

It was a different animal under Hugh, who operated it at a loss, but was still well-off enough to spare no expense. It's a constant struggle to stay out of the red, now-a-days. I did PR/Marketing/Comm work for GFM for a couple of years after finishing undergrad in 2011. Part of the reason I left were the slave wages. A lot has changed since the 80's at GFM.

MDaniels84 wrote:Wow, if they are non-profit, I wonder who gets that almost $40 a pop that enters their gates ?

Plus April is Dollar days. Any resident in a most mountain counties can get in for 1$ all of April. I think they do this in December as well but with much worse turnout.

ASUPATCH wrote:

MDaniels84 wrote:Wow, if they are non-profit, I wonder who gets that almost $40 a pop that enters their gates ?

Plus April is Dollar days. Any resident in a most mountain counties can get in for 1$ all of April. I think they do this in December as well but with much worse turnout.

Yep. April and December are dollar days, which are $2 a person now-a-days.

Here's a beautifully written presser.
http://www.grandfather.com/april-at-gra ... residents/

Gonzo wrote:

JCline0429 wrote:Is it true that the State of NC bought GMt. The link wouldn't open for me.

Not entirely. After the death of Hugh Morton in 2006 the undeveloped "back country" section was assimilated into the State parks system, while the travel attraction (swinging bridge, animal habitats, nature museum etc) is now run by a non profit corporation called the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

Thanks, Gonzo.

JCline0429 wrote:

Gonzo wrote:

JCline0429 wrote:Is it true that the State of NC bought GMt. The link wouldn't open for me.

Not entirely. After the death of Hugh Morton in 2006 the undeveloped "back country" section was assimilated into the State parks system, while the travel attraction (swinging bridge, animal habitats, nature museum etc) is now run by a non profit corporation called the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

Thanks, Gonzo.

Anything for you, Cline.

http://www.grandfather.com/dollar-days- ... n-in-april

They actually went up on the price again. Website says fee is a whopping $3 for residents this year.

Must need some money for a new sign!

Caldwell not on the list but Wilkes is. Something wrong with that since part of GF is in Caldwell Co.

A2534 wrote:http://www.grandfather.com/dollar-days- ... n-in-april

They actually went up on the price again. Website says fee is a whopping $3 for residents this year.

Must need some money for a new sign!

Was $1 two years ago.
Went up to $2.
Now $3.

It's not going to break anyone but continually adding money will not make them any richer either.
My family always take advantage of this and will continue to do so.
It's supposed to get the GFM community involved in the off months. If the price continues to creep up my support will go down.
My wife and I many times bought lunch and paid the $2 just to go have a picnic lunch up there and then just drive out and leave. Starting to rethink this now.

AppGrad1 wrote:

A2534 wrote:http://www.grandfather.com/dollar-days- ... n-in-april

They actually went up on the price again. Website says fee is a whopping $3 for residents this year.

Must need some money for a new sign!

Was $1 two years ago.
Went up to $2.
Now $3.

It's not going to break anyone but continually adding money will not make them any richer either.
My family always take advantage of this and will continue to do so.
It's supposed to get the GFM community involved in the off months. If the price continues to creep up my support will go down.
My wife and I many times bought lunch and paid the $2 just to go have a picnic lunch up there and then just drive out and leave. Starting to rethink this now.

Used to be free when I was a young buck growing up in Avery County! Still a pretty good deal eh?

Actually we never paid anyway because we went to school with the boys at the gate. Oh the shame!

fjblair wrote:

AppGrad1 wrote:

A2534 wrote:http://www.grandfather.com/dollar-days- ... n-in-april

They actually went up on the price again. Website says fee is a whopping $3 for residents this year.

Must need some money for a new sign!

Was $1 two years ago.
Went up to $2.
Now $3.

It's not going to break anyone but continually adding money will not make them any richer either.
My family always take advantage of this and will continue to do so.
It's supposed to get the GFM community involved in the off months. If the price continues to creep up my support will go down.
My wife and I many times bought lunch and paid the $2 just to go have a picnic lunch up there and then just drive out and leave. Starting to rethink this now.

Used to be free when I was a young buck growing up in Avery County! Still a pretty good deal eh?

Actually we never paid anyway because we went to school with the boys at the gate. Oh the shame!

Yep.
Was a great deal.
Now it's just a good deal.
Most of the locals have been there numerous times and now won't pay the $18 per fee. That is why this $1 thing was so good for the locals. To get them up there and maybe spend money in the gift shop or fudge shop.
Even though It's only $3 it will start to seem to the locals that the fee is creeping up and they will stay home.