The State of North Carolina purchased Grandfather
Mountain for $12 million dollars today.
The Morton family will continue to operate the nature center, wildlife
habitat and swinging bridge through a new nonprofit group, but 2600
acres of undeveloped land, along with a 600 acre conservation easement
will become a new state park.
http://www.newsobserver.com/print/sunday/city_state/story/1235214.html
The $12 million deal also gives the state a conservation easement on
the 600-acre park area, popular with visitors for its Mile High
Swinging Bridge, nature museum and animal habitat that includes the
mountain's beloved bears. The deal, to be announced Monday, is meant
to protect the land and its abundant wildlife and vegetation from
development.
That was a lifelong mission of Hugh Morton, who inherited the
mountain in 1952 and transformed the state's distinctive peak into a
leading tourist attraction while preserving its wild beauty. The
family will continue operating the park through a new nonprofit group
that could further enhance conservation efforts, his grandson, Crae
Morton, said Saturday.
"Grandfather Mountain is protected for good, over and done, period,"
said the younger Morton, who is president of Grandfather Mountain
Inc. "That's the way it should be. Grandfather Mountain is too
significant to have any potential for anyone ever to ruin it."
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