Some Great Smoky Mountain National Park Facilities Open Despite Government Shutdown

Some Great Smoky Mountain National Park Facilities Open Despite Government Shutdown. Beginning Sunday January 13, 2019 some basic services to visitors will reopen using revenue generated by recreational fees. Limited visitor services including  restrooms and campgrounds will be available for park visitors.

The use of Federal Land and Recreation Enhancement Act funds will bring maintenance crews back to work to maintaining roads. Crews will reopen and maintain restrooms at Cades Cove campground, Smokemont Campground and the Deep Creek picnic area. Crews will also be dispatched to clear and reopen Litlle River Road between Metcalf Bottoms and the Townsend Wye. The Section of road has been closed for over two weeks due to reported downed trees and a rock slide. The restrooms at Newfound Gap and Cades Cove will remain open after emergency funds provided by Friends of the Smokies are depleted. The Great Smoky Mountain Association is also donating services to reopen the Cable Mill Visitor Center in Cades Cove. Thanks to a preexisting contract prior to the shutdown the dumpsters will continue to emptied. Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitors Centers will remain closed.

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Smoky Mountain Park Facilities Close With Government Shutdown

Smoky Mountain Park Facilities Close With Government Shutdown.

Visitors are going to be on their own until the shutdown ends,” said Laurel Rematore, Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), CEO. “We are encouraging people visiting the park to prepare for a lack of public use facilities such as restrooms, trash pickup and visitor center staffing.

GSMA (a nonprofit partner of the Smokies) had been providing short term funding to the park which ended January 1st. The association provided a $51,000.00 donation which kept 15 rangers on the job and the Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove visitors centers open through the holidays.

One park visitor told HeySmokies, “It feels like that moment in the Chevy Chase comedy favorite “Vacation” where the  entire family has driven across county in the family truckster to Wally World only to find the park closed. This time it is no joke though.”

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Remains Open During Government Shutdown

Great Smoky Mountains Remains Open During Government Shutdown.

Great Smoky Mountains Remains Open During Government Shutdown.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Remains Open During Government Shutdown. During the partial shutdown of the federal government due to the lapse of appropriations, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. Roads and trails that are seasonally open will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited. The park will not be operating campgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, or providing trash collection services.

Great Smoky Mountains Association has entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to fund Sugarlands, Oconaluftee, and Cades Cove visitor center operations and associated restroom facilities from Saturday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 1. In addition, the concessionaire for the Cades Cove Campground Store, Tsiyahi, LLC, has entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to fund store operations and associated restroom facilities on December 22-23 and December 26-30. This holiday period is traditionally one of the busiest weeks in the park.

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Romantic Smoky Mountain New Years Activities

Romantic Smoky Mountain New Years Activities. There is no place more romantic to be on New Years than the Great Smoky Mountains! Lovers have long know that the Smokies can inspire the most modest among us to do a little smooching. With so many things to share with your honey you will have no trouble feeling the love.

New Years at The Island

The Island is a great place to visit year round but you will not believe the fun planned for this holiday. Take a stroll through the shops and find that special something that Santa forgot to put in your stocking. Take a spin on The Wheel for a romantic vantage point of the Smoky Mountains. As the sun goes down grab a bite and enjoy some live music by the amazing dancing fountains. After dinner get in the mood to celebrate with a jar of moonshine or a craft beer and wait for the show to begin. The fun kicks off at 9:00 p.m. with a concert featuring Jackie Lee, The Young Fables. At midnight the ball will drop and the fireworks will soar.

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HeySmokies.com donation box program helps rescue orphaned bear cubs

HeySmokies.com donation box program benefits Appalachian Bear Rescue! Give us a hand rescuing orphaned bear cubs!

HeySmokies.com donation box program benefits Appalachian Bear Rescue! Give us a hand rescuing orphaned bear cubs!

HeySmokies.com donation box program helps rescue orphaned bear cubs. HeySmokies.com, a travel blog showcasing events in the Smoky Mountain region, and Appalachian Bear Rescue announce their “HeySmokies Sticker Donation Box” partnership to raise much needed funds for the local non-profit organization.

HeySmokies began its donation box program in the summer of 2015 and raised more than $11,000.00 for Pets Without Parents, a local no-kill animal rehab clinic. After the demise of Pets Without Parents in 2018 the search began for a new beneficiary. Appalachian Bear Rescue, which has worked tirelessly for decades to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned black bears, proved a perfect fit for the HeySmokies fund raising program.

“We are thrilled to partner with HeySmokies.com for their donation box program,” said Dana Dodd Appalachian Bear Rescue executive director. “The funds we receive will give cubs a second chance at life in the wild!”

The donation boxes are distributed to local businesses in Smoky Mountain communities, and HeySmokies.com provides its colorful, round logo decals free in each box to encourage contributions. To date, more than 100,000 HeySmokies stickers have been shared with generous fans and visitors.

“We were sad to learn Pets Without Parents was closing their doors earlier this year but were proud that we were able to help many great pets find loving homes.,” said HeySmokies owner Brad Knight. “The response from business owners and the public has been overwhelmingly positive allowing further expansion of the program. We are excited to continue the program and thrilled to partner with ABR’s work rehabilitating orphaned black bears. The black bear is an iconic symbol of the Smoky Mountains and catching a glimpse of one in the wild is always magical.”

If your business would like to display a donation box contact HeySmokies.com.