The Smoky Mountain Opry Theater recently donated $50,000 to Creative Theater in Pigeon Forge, making the largest individual gift in Creative Theater’s two-year history. The gift will be used to further the creative process of the theater to produce new work. David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group said, “We were able to donate to ...

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, ...

The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group in Pigeon Forge will be giving each of its 500 employees a large end of the year bonus, in addition to a fully paid 5-day company cruise to the Bahamas, as a thank you to their employees for all of their hard work. The bonus amounts to a total company payout of more than $5 ...

The Sevier County Health Department is offering free flu shots to the community during a special FightFluTN vaccination event. “Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family and others from the flu and help keep our community healthy,” said Sevier County Health Department Director Jana Chambers. ”The flu can make you very sick, keep you ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials were joined by Senator Lamar Alexander, Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr, Congressman Phil Roe, Governor Bill Haslam, and NPS Southeast Regional Director Bob Vogel to dedicate the long-awaited section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley, TN before the public opening. The public may now experience this new section of roadway for ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its non-profit partner, Discover Life in America (DLIA), recently celebrated the 20th year of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) with the announcement of a major milestone of the project – 1,000 new species to science! Over the last 20 years, many species have been documented in the park for the first time, but ...

Celebrate the season with a bowl of fall’s favorite dish at the Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff presented by Bush’s® Chili Beans on Wednesday. The Gatlinburg Chili Cookoff presented by Bush’s® Chili Beans will be held 5–8 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2018. Festival-goers can enjoy chili samplings from Gatlinburg’s top area restaurants, live performances from the Petty Hearts, activities, Hot Chili Eating ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials plan to open the long-awaited section of the Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. The public will be able to experience the entire 16-mile roadway for the first time since construction began in 1966, including the 1.65-mile section known as the ‘Missing Link’ which is now connected ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the reopening of Bull Head Trail and Sugarland Mountain Trail on Friday, October 26, 2018, after extensive work to repair damage from the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. Both of these trails extend from the highest peaks in the park to the lower elevations, providing incredible opportunities for hikers to enjoy fall colors over ...

Country Tonite is having Area Appreciation Days for residents of Sevier County and 14 surrounding counties in east Tennessee. The Country Tonite Area Appreciation Days offer runs Nov. 2–11, 2018. Tickets are only $8 for adults. Kids 12 & under get in free. Proceeds will benefit needy families for Christmas. Country Tonite’s Smoky Mountain Christmas promises a little bonus for ...