Latest news stories from around the Great Smoky Mountains.
A new National Park Service report shows that the 9.3 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2013 spent $734 million in communities near the park, which helped support 10,734 jobs. The 2013 economic benefit figures are slightly lower than the 2012 results, which reported that visitors spent $741 million in local communities.
A 64-year-old Michigan man injured in a fall while hiking on Mount LeConte was recovering at an area hospital Monday evening after a nearly 24-hour rescue operation. The rescue effort was launched about 2:10 p.m. Sunday after rangers received word that the hiker had sustained a back injury from a tumble down the popular Alum
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Historic Preservation Crew announced an updated timeline for repairs to the Hiram Caldwell House in Cataloochee in addition to upcoming closures for the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and partial closures along the flagstone walkways at Newfound Gap. >> Read Complete Article
It seems the western North Carolina amusement park, Ghost Town in the Sky will no longer be a ‘ghost town’ as owners promise new attractions in the coming months. “The museum, the walking trails, all the shops on the mountain,” Alaska Presley explained some of the features of the park — located 4,400 feet above
Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have closed a couple of trails after two women reported an encounter with a bear. The park has closed Twin Creeks Trail, the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin and the Noah Bud Ogle Nature Trail until further notice, according to a news release from the park. According to
With the death of Lee Roberson Jr., Blount County has lost an acclaimed artist and a powerful advocate for Cades Cove. Roberson, 79, of Townsend, died at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the family home. No cause of death was announced. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Smith Funeral and Cremation Service.
Snake are out in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and rangers say there are a few things you should know before your next hike or camping trip. Bill and Erika Gerth said they saw several snakes during several days of hiking in the national park. >> Read Complete Article
Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers overnight camping opportunities galore. “There are a lot of good choices,” Park spokeswoman Caitlin Worth said. “I feel one of my favorites is doable as a one-night trip, but a lot of people do it as two nights — the loop out of Big Creek going up Baxter Creek
The man arrested earlier this year for a 2012 stabbing and sexual assault in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entered a guilty plea Monday afternoon.
Executive Director Terry Maddox with Great Smoky Mountains Association announced this past week that an anonymous donor has named the non-profit organization as the recipient of one of the largest cash donations given in support of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. “I have unprecedented news to share with you,” Maddox wrote in an email to
