LINVILLE, N.C. — Since 1952, visitors to Grandfather Mountain have been treated to 360-degree panoramic views from the Mile High Swinging Bridge — the highest suspension footbridge in America.
On Sept. 2, Grandfather Mountain will celebrate seven decades of its mile-high wonder with a day full of festivities from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Staff will honor the bridge’s anniversary with family-friendly activities, including guided walks and talks with educators about the history of the bridge. Activities are included with admission.
“The Mile High Swinging Bridge is the crown jewel of Grandfather Mountain,” Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, said in a news release. “For 70 years, the bridge has provided a wonderful and exciting experience for all our guests and has put Grandfather Mountain on the map as one of North Carolina’s top destinations.”
Grandfather Mountain founder Hugh Morton had the bridge built in 1952, which marked the establishment of the park as it is known today. His youngest daughter, Catherine Morton, said the bridge is a testament to her father’s vision.
“There were not many economic drivers in the mountains of Western North Carolina at the time, and he perceived tourism as a growing industry that could create jobs for the people in the mountains,” Morton said.
More facts about the bridge:
— Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name “Mile High Swinging Bridge” at the bridge’s dedication in 1952, a nod to the structure’s elevation above sea level.
— The bridge is 228 feet long and spans an 80-foot chasm at more than a mile high.
— The term “swinging” refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway.
— Charles Hartmann Jr. of Greensboro designed the original bridge. It was fabricated in Greensboro and then reassembled on top of Grandfather Mountain.
— Erecting the bridge took three weeks. Bad weather caused by a hurricane off the North Carolina coast slowed down the construction process.
— The cost to design and construct the bridge was $15,000.
— North Carolina Gov. William B. Umstead dedicated the bridge on Sept. 2, 1952.
— In 1999, the bridge was rebuilt using the original towers. The cables, floorboards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel.
Tickets to Grandfather Mountain must be purchased online. Admission costs $24 for adults, $22 for seniors ages 60 and older, and $10 for children ages 4-12.
For more information on the event, click here.
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