Fall Birding at
Grove Stone Quarry
Swannanoa, NC
October 11, 2020
Register by clicking the ‘book now’ button above, or by contacting the Ventures office. We accept credit cards for an additional fee (2.9% for MC, Visa, Discover; 3.9% for AmEx), but you may also pay by bank transfer, cash, check, or money order. This Venture is limited to 12 participants
Departure: We will carpool at 8 AM from the Folk Art Center Parking Lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Drivers will be given directions from here. If you would like to meet us at the quarry, the directions are as follows: Take I-40 East to Exit 59. Take a left at end of ramp. Go to red light and take a right onto US70. Go approximately 2 to 3 miles. You will see Kearfott Corporation on your left. After crossing railroad tracks, take left at red light onto Grove Stone Road. Go to next red light and take left onto Old US70. Go approximately 300 yards, across bridge, and Grove Stone and Sand will be on your right. Please park in front of the white office at 8 AM. Please let us know where you plan to meet us. Price: $55 Unfortunately, our picnic lunches are not currently included in our day trips (until further notice)
Venture Description: An easy walk through a wide range of habitats- woodland, pond and meadows. Since we will be touring the quarry, please remember to wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers or other walking shoes.
Operated by Hedrick Industries in Swannanoa, NC, the Grove Stone & Sand Quarry was awarded the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association’s 2003 Gold Environmental Eagle Award. The Grove Stone & Sand Quarry has also constructed a nature trail, planted plots of clover and rye to attract deer and wild turkeys and converted an old landfill into a butterfly garden. The North Carolina Wildlife Federation recognized the company’s efforts by designating Grove Stone a Wildlife and Industry Together site. It is one of only 14 such sites in the state and only the second site in Western North Carolina. The quarry property covers about 1,600 acres in Swannanoa. Wildlife is abundant and we hope to see an excellent selection of late summer butterflies and migrant birds. This is a “newly discovered” site and we think you might be impressed with this facility.