north carolina blue ridge parkway FROM MP 305 | SWINGING BRIDGE GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN shops featuring Mayberry memorabilia. Head to Snappy Lunch for one of the famous pork chop sandwiches. Mount Airy is also the center of the OldTime genre of string music, a precursor to bluegrass. Learn about legendary fiddlers like Tommy Jarrell at the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall at the Earle Theatre on Main Street. 28 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY 261.0-305.9 (US 221) This section of the parkway was near and dear to the heart of Hugh Morton, the former owner of Grandfather Mountain. He's noted as a prolific photographer and someone who worked continuously through his life to protect the precious natural resources, including his work to have the parkway built around the mountain as seen in the Linn Cove Viaduct. Mr. Morton always corrected folks who called him the owner of Grandfather Mountain, however, saying that no one could really own the place. He considered himself simply its steward during his lifetime. He also had the vision to create the famous milehigh swinging bridge at the top of the mountain. The entrance to Grandfather Mountain, now managed by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, is a mile south of MP 305. Box Turtle. Place them on the side of the road they were headed for. VISITNC.COMhttp://www.VISITNC.COM