1994 Map of Grandfather Mountain

About this map

Grandfather Mountain dominates this mid-1990s survey, marking a complex intersection of the Blue Ridge crest and the headwaters of the Watauga River. The landscape is defined by the sweeping Parkway Boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which winds past prominent landmarks like The Sphinx Rock, Beacon Heights, and Black Rock Cliffs. Away from the tourist thoroughfare, the map reveals the scattered community life of the High Country. The settlement of Linville sits to the west, while smaller locales like Gragg and Edgemont are found tucked along the drainage of Wilson Creek. Genealogists will find several sites of interest, including the Hopkins Chapel Cemetery near Ned Mountain and the Cary Flat Cemetery further east. This map provides a detailed view of the terrain within the Pisgah National Forest just before the turn of the century, documenting the network of mountain branches and gaps that have shaped local travel and settlement for generations.