Hikers find body near campsite at Grandfather Mountain State Park, NC officials say
Three hikers found a body in a North Carolina state park over the weekend, according to state officials.
A small group of hikers called 911 around 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 to report a body found near Storyteller’s Rock campsite in Grandfather Mountain State Park, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources public information officer Michele Walker told McClatchy News in an email. The park is located near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Following an “immediate investigation,” Walker said, no criminal activity was suspected. The family of the individual was contacted about the death, she said.
A Watauga County spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email that the case is still being looked into by the local medical examiner’s office and law enforcement agencies.
Grandfather Mountain is known in part for its “challenging terrain,” according to the state park’s website. Storyteller’s Rock is located in the northeastern part of the park near other campsites such as The Hermitage, Streamside and The Refuge, according to a park map.
The state park is separate from the Grandfather Mountain attraction, which charges admission.
Grandfather Mountain State Park is about 115 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Olivia Lloyd contributed to this report.
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