2025 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games 7/10-13/25

**Appalachia** · 6th July 25, 01:01 PM

The high ground is calling…

https://gmhg.org/

XMarks Meetup - STA (Scottish Tartans Authority) Tent Saturday 12:30 for group meet & greet & pics. Then a dram sharing stroll will be in order. What say ye?

**geomick** · 6th July 25, 02:25 PM

I am planning to attend next year, so I will see y'all then.

**ASinclair** · 7th July 25, 06:36 PM

We'll be taking our Clan Sinclair group photo at Noon Saturday at tent 1/25. I will head straight to the Xmarks meetup after that. If I'm not there right at 12:30, wait a little bit.

**Mael Coluim** · 10th July 25, 09:27 AM

So, at this moment I'm at my local, Park Lane Tavern and I get a notification of past events pics, with this July 10, 2010 of the XMTS Meet Up at GMHG. I'm hearing Mary Hopkin sing, "Those were the Days My Friend".

Click image for larger version.

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**ASinclair** · 16th July 25, 12:11 PM

I was confused and thought the meetup was at Noon. So, here's Meetup Part I -

With me and Appalachia, here is Meetup Part Deux -

**geomick** · 16th July 25, 05:39 PM

Any recommendations on a good place to stay for the games?

**ASinclair** · 18th July 25, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by geomick

Any recommendations on a good place to stay for the games?

There is a Holiday Inn and several other hotels in Boone close to 105. Depending on traffic, that puts you 20 to 30 minutes from Linville, at the foot of Grandfather Mountain. We did this for several years.

You can stay at the Best Western in Banner Elk. It's the host hotel and about 20 minutes from the Games. You have to book way early, and it cost a fortune. We did this once.

The Smoketree Lodge is right on 105 and 15 minutes from the Games. They have different size rooms at different prices. They all have kitchen facilities. Book really early and pay at time of booking. We stayed there once awhile back, and then the last 2 years.

There are condos in the area without air conditioning (owners ski in the winter). I booked once and cancelled when I read the fine print.

There is a Marriot Courtyard under construction at the intersection of 105 and 184 (184 goes to Banner Elk). It should be open by next July. We are going to check it out. This is next to a Lowes grocery store, MacDonalds, and a liquor store, and about 10 minutes from Linville.

**geomick** · 19th July 25, 11:11 AM

Looked at Smoketree Lodge and that seems like it is a good option. I was thinking of booking for a week and having a few days surrounding the games to spend in the area. I used to live in Chapel Hill in the early/mid 90s and camped near that area, but never visited Grandfather Mountain and knew nothing about the Games back then.