![]() ![]() New Naturalist-led Programs, Campfire Stories + Animal Enrichment Day.Behind-the-Scenes Tours and Meet-the-Bears Tours are additional special habitat experiences offered. This is sure to be a popular new experience, so booking in advance is recommended. The experience takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m., May through October. Participants pick their color choices from a selection of nontoxic paint and then watch as one of Grandfather Mountain’s black bears creates a work of art with its paws. This unique experience includes a guided visit behind-the-scenes to the bear habitat. “Random Acts of Science,” a new daily program this summer, is also great for kids and families and focuses on native plants and animals using weather instruments to record data and investigating minerals, skulls or other organisms under a microscope. Junior Naturalist activity (weekends in spring and fall and daily in the summer) geared toward 5- to 10-year-olds. Park Naturalists also offer an 11:30 a.m. ![]() Grandfather’s revamped Junior Naturalist program has kicked off this summer with an updated activity book that invites children to explore the mountain, new wooden collectible badges and a seasonal e-newsletter for participants. ![]() Fanny is slowly being introduced to guests and will be placed in the on-display habitats sporadically throughout the year. Fanny has spent the last year getting acclimated to her new home and diet and showing a fun fascination for the toys and enrichments the habitat curators share with her. Fanny May arrived in the spring of 2021 after the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission approached the nonprofit nature preserve about a bear that needed placement. Grandfather Mountain has welcomed a new member to its family of beloved animals in the Mildred the Bear Animal Habitats: Fanny May, a 5-year-old black bear with a big personality. New exhibits include a 3D interactive map of the mountain, flora and fauna walls with field guide touch screens, a fun (for all ages) hands-on demonstration of wind speeds and other exhibits focusing on the mountain’s natural history and geology. (Check out the largest amethyst ever found in North America via spin-able turntable, and see minerals that glow in the Mineral Cavern!) Outside the center, guests will enjoy new learning spaces, including an amphitheater with terraced seating and a pavilion, as well as a new botanical garden. Open to the public since late June, the Wilson Center nearly doubles the size of the original museum’s public space with 10,000 square feet of new education space, including state-of-the-art museum exhibits, three classrooms, an ADA-accessible theater (coming soon!) and expanded capacity for hosting events and programs. ![]() Get Hands-on in the NEW Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.Now’s the time to plan one last summer getaway, perfect for past visitors looking to experience something new and for first-time guests to see what wonders await them at Grandfather Mountain. The Linville, N.C., nature preserve, operated by the nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is known for its Mile High Swinging Bridge, animal habitats, 360-degree views and immersive programming meant to inspire exploration and conservation of the natural world. Looking for one more summer adventure with the family before the school year begins? There’s still time to visit the brand-new Wilson Center for Nature Discovery at Grandfather Mountain and enjoy a list of new programs and events perfect for all generations. 5 new reasons to visit the Linville, NC, nature preserve before summer ends ![]()
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