Grandfather Mountain gets OK as state park
Legislature gives go-ahead for longtime tourist attraction
RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - Grandfather Mountain, known for its rugged hiking trails, its annual Highland Games and its iconic mile-high bridge, will become North Carolina's newest state park.
The General Assembly gave final approval yesterday to a bill that allows the mountain to become part of the state-parks system.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of North Carolina to add to the state-parks system a piece of property that is a treasure both for North Carolina and for the nation," said state Rep. Cullie Tarleton, D-Watauga.
The state is buying 2,456 acres, consisting mostly of the higher elevations and backcountry areas of Grandfather Mountain in Avery, Caldwell and Watauga counties.
The state is paying $12 million, but no budget appropriations were necessary, because the money is coming from two trust funds -- the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund.
The agreement also contains a conservation easement on 749 acres that includes the mountain's main tourist attractions, such as the nature museum and the mile-high swinging bridge. That part of the property will still be owned by the family of the late Hugh Morton.
Grandfather Mountain will be North Carolina's 34th state park.
The deal was announced last year by former Gov. Mike Easley, and it was approved by the Council of State, a panel of top executive-branch officials.
The final step was approval by the General Assembly. The House passed the bill unanimously yesterday, 21/2 weeks after the Senate approved it.
The bill now goes to Gov. Bev Perdue, who is expected to sign it.
RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - Grandfather Mountain, known for its rugged hiking trails, its annual Highland Games and its iconic mile-high bridge, will become North Carolina's newest state park.
The General Assembly gave final approval yesterday to a bill that allows the mountain to become part of the state-parks system.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of North Carolina to add to the state-parks system a piece of property that is a treasure both for North Carolina and for the nation," said state Rep. Cullie Tarleton, D-Watauga.
The state is buying 2,456 acres, consisting mostly of the higher elevations and backcountry areas of Grandfather Mountain in Avery, Caldwell and Watauga counties.
The state is paying $12 million, but no budget appropriations were necessary, because the money is coming from two trust funds -- the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund.
The agreement also contains a conservation easement on 749 acres that includes the mountain's main tourist attractions, such as the nature museum and the mile-high swinging bridge. That part of the property will still be owned by the family of the late Hugh Morton.
Grandfather Mountain will be North Carolina's 34th state park.
The deal was announced last year by former Gov. Mike Easley, and it was approved by the Council of State, a panel of top executive-branch officials.
The final step was approval by the General Assembly. The House passed the bill unanimously yesterday, 21/2 weeks after the Senate approved it.
The bill now goes to Gov. Bev Perdue, who is expected to sign it.
posted by BP News Bureau | 10:00 AM
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