It’s an old story: the bond between a man and his animal. For Hugh Morton, the wildlife photographer and conservationist who owned Grandfather Mountain, it didn’t matter that his animal was a fully grown black bear.
As gentle as could be from being raised and bottle-fed by humans at the Atlanta zoo, Mildred the Bear was the unofficial mascot of Grandfather Mountain for 25 years, brought there to help increase western North Carolina’s black bear population. Mildred and Morton became fast friends, going on nature walks and picnics together and eating one of Mildred’s favorite snacks: Fig Newtons with orange soda.
Known as “the bear who didn’t know she was a bear,” Mildred loved people, to the point of causing a little chaos at times. Her first day at Grandfather Mountain in 1968 was full of stops at the snack bar, getting chased by dogs, and unintentionally terrorizing golfers on the green.
When she wasn’t hamming it up for the camera with visitors, Mildred tended to her motherly duties, caring for nine cubs and adopting three others. Through it all, she and Morton remained close pals, companions who knew well the deep comfort of friendship.
Why does this Haywood County town have some of the cleanest water in the state? It’s the result of the community’s efforts to keep the forests in its watershed pristine.
The spectacular views in North Carolina’s High Country aren’t just inspiration for writers, painters, and sculptors. Those landscapes — the rugged gray face of Grandfather Mountain, the vibrant fall leaves, the deep green meadows — are brushstrokes on Earth’s own canvas.
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Nothing lasts forever — and that’s what makes many of our cherished moments so special.
