LINVILLE, N.C. — Grandfather Mountain, the popular tourist attraction located in Linville, is set to reopen Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m., according to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.
The park in western North Carolina has been closed since Sept. 26 because of the devastation Hurricane Helene caused to the surrounding area. In a press release, the foundation said the Grandfather Mountain nature park was "extremely fortunate" to only sustain minor damage.
They also said all staff and habitat animals were accounted for after the storm. The park dealt with electricity and internet outages, as well as downed trees and some minor landslides.
“The decision to reopen Grandfather Mountain following the regional impacts of Hurricane Helene is not a responsibility that we take lightly,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “As some nearby towns open their doors to tourists, our intention is to help the community by giving these visitors an additional place to go and to not put a strain on those areas that can’t accommodate outside travelers at this time.”
Starting Wednesday, the park will be open seven days a week, weather permitting. Park entry hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Trails close at 5 p.m. and the park closes at 6 p.m., according to the foundation.
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