Highland Games 'channel' Scottish roots

It only makes sense that the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games would've been founded by a guy named Donald MacDonald.

When Donald MacDonald began planning the first Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 1956, he had no idea what a success they would be [according to the Winston-Salem Journal].

MacDonald said he created the games with Agnes MacRae Morton because of his interest in his Scottish heritage and his desire to bring together Scottish clans.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the games that first year, which lasted a day and featured just one bagpipe band. The games are now a four-day festival that attracts about 30,000 people each year.

"It was flabbergasting," MacDonald said about the growth.

This year's games began yesterday. Organizers are also celebrating the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games by honoring all past presidents of the games and commemorating the contributions of Hugh Morton, who died on June 1. Morton, whose mother co-founded the Highland Games with MacDonald, owned Grandfather Mountain and hosted the games for years.

"It's going to be something lacking, not having Mr. Morton here taking pictures," said Thomas Taylor, assistant general manager of the games. "He's a great deal responsible for the games being what they are today."