Grandfather Mountain Dam
Grandfather Mountain Dam is an earth dam located in Avery County, North Carolina, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Grandfather Mountain Dam
The primary purpose of Grandfather Mountain Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Grandfather Golf & Country Club (private). It impounds the Linville River near Linville.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/22/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Avery |
| Nearest City | Linville |
| River/Stream | Linville River |
| Coordinates | 36.09660, -81.85390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 504 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,384 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Grandfather Golf & Country Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00279 |
| Federal ID | NC00279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |