Few builders have ever built a “sky¬
scraper" like this one . . .
Design by Charles C. Hartmann , Jr., of
Charles C. Hartmann — Architects,
Greensboro. N. C.
Genera! Contractor — Brooks I. umber
Company. Greensboro, N. C.
Rock Masonry by Hartley Brothers,
Linville. N. C.
Construction in
North Carolina
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN'S NEW VISITOR FACILITY— This new structure, de¬
signed to withstand 200-mile an hour winds, houses the new visitor facilities at Grandfather
Mountain, N. C., atop the highest peak in the Blue Ridge range. Meeting facilities, snack
bar, gift shop and restrooms are included in the structure. A natural history museum will
be added in the Spring. Famed Mile High Swinging Bridge in the background.
Mile High Meeting Place
For tourist», vacationers and “roup meet¬
ings — a spectacular new facility on Grand¬
father Mountain.
A modern new visitor center rein¬
forced with stone and steel and de¬
signed to withstand winds of 200 miles
per hour has been built on top of 6,000-
foot Grandfather Mountain, highest
peak of the Blue Ridge Range.
Housed within the structure that was
opened last month arc meeting fa¬
cilities, snack bar, gift shop, restrooms,
and storage. A natural history mu¬
seum will be added to the visitor
center next Spring.
The outside of the building is of
Grandfather Mountain stone from a
quarry on the mountain, and native
Hemlock wainedged siding with a
natural finish of mixed stain. A por¬
tion of the roof is built up tar and
gravel, and the balance forms an ob¬
servation deck of emulsified vinyl and
polyester base with patented add mix.
The new visitor center is the largest
single construction project of the de¬
velopment program at Grandfather
Mountain according to owner Hugh
Morton. "We believe it is something
that will be an asset to the whole
region.” he said.
The meeting room facilities will be
made available by reservation to cham¬
bers of commerce, hotels, motels, civic
clubs and business groups in surround¬
ing towns who desire a daytime meet¬
ing place in the midst of a mountain
SKYSCRAPER ROOM — Part of the new
visitor facilities atop Grandfather Mountain,
N. C., includes the " Skyscraper Room"
which will seal 200 people and which will
be made available for meetings of civic, fra¬
ternal and business groups next season.
top setting. The room will seat 200
persons.
The meeting area is to be known as
The Skyscraper Room and covers the
entire second floor of the center. Its
floor is of oak, and the all steel beams
are furred in surfwood. The native
Grandfather stone forms one wall of
both the meeting room and the gift
shop below.
The building has a custom made
flag pole to withstand the elements
that have destroyed three Grandfather
Mountain flag poles in the past four
Winters. The new pole is built to take
125 mile an hour winds, and has a
retractable hinge base that permits the
pole to rest on the roof if higher winds
arc expected.
New heavy duty equipment for the
U. S. Department of Commerce
weather station will be installed near
the flag pole. Weather instruments
have been destroyed each Winter since
the station was established in 1953,
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