Friends of Smokies Helping Finance Reopening Great Smoky Mountains National Park

By LARRY VAUGHT

The federal government shutdown has impacted the services of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along with every other national park. However, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a terrific Plan B.

The nonprofit Friends of the Smokies announced Friday it would help pay to fully reopen Great Smoky Mountains National Park for one week during the ongoing federal government shutdown starting today. The park will be fully open and operational through Friday.

Earlier this week, the park announced shutdowns for Cades Cove Loop Road, two visitor centers at Sugarlands and Cades Cove, and two picnic areas at Chimneys and Cades Cove. Now all are back open.

Friends of the Smokies joins the State of Tennessee, Sevier County, Blount County, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville to fund the resumption of full operations by park staff.

“Importantly, this funding ensures that staff are on duty for servicing restrooms, responding to visitors in need, and providing essential services to protect wildlife during this peak visitor season,” said Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies, in a news release Friday.

The State of Tennessee has agreed to provide $80,00,0, with all other entities contributing more than $45,500 each for the week. Some of the costs of operating the park are also offset by recreation fees from parking tags and campgrounds in the park.

Friends of the Smokies is a nonprofit partner of the national park that helps pay for projects, programs, equipment, and staffing the national park cannot afford.

Most roads, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms in the park have been accessible, with welcome and visitor centers open at Oconaluftee, Kuwohi, Swain County, Gatlinburg, and Townsend.