Latest news stories from around the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have recently been receiving unusual reports of erratically flying bats diving down towards people in the park. It’s uncommon because during the winter the bats should be hibernating. As a result, officials are urging visitors to be cautious as bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases. Any
Visitation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park increased by a half-million over 2011 and was the highest since 2000. According to the National Park Service nearly 9,686,000 visitors entered the park in 2012. In 2011, around 9,009,000 journeyed to the Great Smokies. The mild weather during the winter and spring of 2012 was considered
It was Friday night, and I was feeling pretty lucky. Normally at 7 p.m. I would be watching a movie or eating dinner with a friend or cleaning my room at a glacial pace. Those are all worthy pursuits, but they simply aren’t night skiing. >> Read Complete Article
When you walk into the Titanic Pigeon Forge museum, you know there will be nothing else like it. In January 2013, for several days, the museum will close in order to bring in new exhibits and make the best, better. >> Read Complete Article
East Tennessee is blessed with a number of attractions, and at this time of year, Ober Gatlinburg’s snowy slopes are favorites of both local residents and tourists. >> Read Complete Article
Gatlinburg held its 25th annual New Year’s Eve ball drop and fireworks show near the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail next to the base of the Space Needle. Attendees from as far away as Great Britain were shopping and listening to live music as midnight approached. >> Read Complete Article
(From WDEF.com) – Barring freezing weather or heavy rain, forestry technicians in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will spray for pests in Cades Cove on Monday. That means the Loop Road through the scenic cove will be closed that day and part of the loop will be closed on Tuesday as well. Technicians will
The first backcountry emerald ash borer infestation has been confirmed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An off-duty park employee discovered the backcountry infestation on Injun Creek Trail in the Greenbrier area on the Tennessee-side of the park earlier this month. >> Read Complete Article
As Don Casada veered off-trail and began bushwhacking his way over fallen logs and through overgrown shrubs along the shore of Lake Fontana, he barely glanced at the trusty GPS unit in his hand. >> Read Complete Article
The timing of Hurricane Isaac is especially tough for travelers who planned one last summer vacation at the beach this Labor Day. The pain along the Gulf Coast could mean some gain for tourist destinations high in the mountains of Tennessee. >> Read Complete Article
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