Lake James
The Lap of Grandfather Mountain
By Harris Realty

Among the highest in the southern Appalachians, Grandfather Mountain's dramatic cliffs and steep slopes create a mosaic of specialized habitats and fantastic scenery.  Standing above the surrounding region of McDowell County land and waterfront Lake James real estate north of Marion, North Carolina, the privately owned Grandfather Mountain is the place to go when you want to see forever.   Grandfather sits as in his rocking chair surveying Calloway Peak, the highest in the Blue Ridge mountain range at 5,964 feet and a globally recognized nature preserve—great for a picnic close to Lake James homes.   

Lakefront Lake James near the lap of Grandfather Mountain is resplendent with vibrant springtime rhododendron to early fall color at Linville Gap.   When the peaks seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway between Blowing Rock and Linville slowly light up with subtle green, yellow, gold, red, burgundy, and brown as seen through the misty blue ridges, families leave their Lake James waterfront homes and snuggle into Grandfather’s lap.

Up there, the courageous venture out onto America’s highest suspension footbridge, the 228-foot-long Mile High Swinging Bridge that spans an 80-foot chasm at an elevation of 5,305 feet.  The original structure built in 1952 was tethered and reinforced with galvanized steel in 1999, but years ago it was hand painted by employees hanging out over the gorge.  For the 40th Anniversary in 1992, Charles Kuralt spoke lovingly of the structure.  “The first winter that the bridge was here, the winter wind came up and blew the bridge around and heaved it like a bedspread being shaken out the back door of the cabin by a mountain woman, and blew a lot of the boards out of the floor and forced the engineers to give the Mile-High Swinging Bridge a second thought.”  He sang praises for owner Hugh Morton “for everything he has done for North Carolina,” ingeniously sharing the exaltation of Grandfather’s domain with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Hikers in the backcountry note some of the most biologically diverse wild places in the Southeast.  Three turns below the bridge parking, a hiker's parking area begins 12 miles of alpine trails.  Eleven trails ranging from gentle to rigorous ones exploring Grandfather’s backcountry are maintained. 

Grandfather Mountain has been a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve for over 100 years.  The mountain is also recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve, one of 507 biosphere reserves in 102 countries.  Grandfather Mountain also works in partnership with The Nature Conservancy that has acquired easements to permanently protect 1,777 acres of Grandfather Mountain ridgeline.  The watershed is the largest single holding in the North Carolina system and the site is an ecological site of global significance, as it provides habitat for more globally rare species than any mountain east of the Rockies. The species include the globally imperiled Spruce Fir Moss Spider, Blue Ridge Goldenrod and Spreading Avens.

Sixteen different classifications of natural communities have developed an enchanting diversity of plant and animal species.  Environmental habitats for black bears, river otters, cougars, bald eagles, golden eagles, and white-tailed deer allow visitors to see animals in natural settings.  Scientific studies are common in the area. 

Additionally, visitors take the quarter-mile long carefully built Blue Ridge Parkway bridge called the Linn Cove Viaduct to participate in several wonderful community events in the area including Peak Beauty of Fall Foliage, The Colors of Grandfather, Naturalist Weekend, National Trails Day Volunteer Project, Nature Photography Weekend, 84th Annual Singing On The Mountain All-Day Gospel Sing, the Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (a Scottish celebration), The Bear: Assault on Grandfather, The Grizzly Bike Ridge, The Grandfather Mountain Marathon (America’s toughest marathon), Grandfather Mountain Amateur & Professional Camera Clinic, Rods in the Park Classic Car, Truck & Vintage Bike Show, Kidfest, 38th Annual American Girl Scout Day, Bridge-To-Bridge Incredible Challenge Bike Ride.

When conservationist John Muir visited Grandfather in 1898 he described the experience as “the face of all Heaven come to earth.”  Harris Realty will use generations of respect for these ecological wonders in western North Carolina to help you find the best lakeside retreat for your family—just this side of heaven."