Tag Archives: Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee Orchard Road, Elkmont Road, and several trails due to the Chimney 2 Fire. As of Monday morning, Nov. 28, 2016, the fire has grown to approximately 500 acres in size overnight due to extreme, sustained winds over 20 mph. National Park Service fire crews are focusing on suppression ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials celebrated the completion of a 2-year trail rehabilitation project on Alum Cave Trail on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Alum Cave Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, leading hikers to iconic areas including Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluffs, Mt. Le Conte, and LeConte Lodge. The trail was reopened, ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have issued a ban on all campfires and use of fire grills throughout the park effective immediately. Due to continued dry conditions and widespread wildfires throughout the region, park officials have issued the parkwide ban to further reduce the risk of escaped fires. The fire restriction will be in effect until further notice. The ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to comment on a proposed sustainable energy solar project through Dec. 13, 2016. Duke Energy has proposed installing an array of solar panels, coupled with a zinc-air battery, to power critical park communications equipment located atop the remote Mt. Sterling in the Haywood County area of the park. Duke Energy currently ...

Two visitors pleaded guilty to feeding a black bear outside their Gatlinburg rental cabin last summer. 40-year-old Billy Harden and Dawn Cantrell, 27, both from Nashville, Ind., appeared in Sevier County General Sessions Court on Oct. 27, 2016 where they pleaded guilty to the charge of feeding a black bear while vacationing at a rental cabin on Silverbell Lane in ...

Two women died as a result of a single-car accident in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday after their vehicle crashed and landed upside down in the nearby Little River. According to park spokesperson Dana Soehn, rangers responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Little River Road about three miles east of the Townsend Wye just after 1:30 ...

Bigger is better. That is the story of the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff and Chili Cookoff as it continues to grow with more than 9,000 people visiting the festival Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. Community businesses and organizations turned out in force with 24 booths offering up creatively created chili samples and other goodies. To signify the start of Gatlinburg Winter ...

Sevier County is the latest area of Tennessee to be placed under a burn ban due to drought conditions. State Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton has issued a burn ban for Claiborne, Jefferson, Loudon and Sevier Counties. The burn ban is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice. “Sevier County has requested that the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced the temporary closure of roads within the Greenbrier section of the park during the month of November for bridge repairs. The Ramsey Prong Road will be closed from the turnoff to the trailhead on Tuesday, Nov. 1 through Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 to allow repairs on two bridges. During this time period, hikers ...

The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (McGhee Tyson Airport) and the Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville are pleased to present “Arts in the Airport,” a new exhibition featuring selected artwork from 40 artists in the East Tennessee region. “Arts in the Airport” was developed to allow regional artists to compete and display work in the most visited site in ...