Blue Ridge Parkway Closure

Blue Ridge Parkway closure at the Linn Cove Viaduct, the most visited and recognized stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is scheduled to close for three months beginning March 1 according to the National Park Service. The area, which includes trail areas below the viaduct, will also be off limits to cyclist and hikers. Park officials said the closure is necessary to allow for resurfacing roads and bridge repairs, adding that the seven-mile stretch will reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend. According to reports from various media outlets, crews will replace asphalt pavement, joints and water-proofing membranes on the bridge as well as repairing support structures, curbing, railing and essential drainage features.
Located 18 miles southwest of Blowing Rock, N.C., the viaduct is one of the parkway’s most popular tourist draws and was the last part of the 469-mile road to be completed. Designated a national civil engineering landmark by the America Society of Civil Engineers, the 1,234-foot viaduct, consisting of 153 segments that weigh in at 50 tons each, was built at a cost of some $10 million.
It was a project that almost did not happen. According to accounts, the original plans for that stretch of the roadway included carving out parts of Grandfather Mountain. The plan sparked an immediate and intense opposition, especially by Hugh Morton who had inherited Grandfather Mountain from his own grandfather, Hugh MacRae. Preserving the mountain was a primary focus for Morton (who died in 2006) prompting him to donate easement for some 3,000 acres to the The Nature Conservancy whose focus is preserving land and water worldwide. Additional acres and easement were later sold to the conservancy. A compromise route, negotiated by Gov. Dan Moore, partnered the National Park Service’s landscape architects and Federal Highway Administration engineers who proposed that the road should be elevated wherever possible to eliminate cutting into the historic landscape. According to Park Service officials, the result has been called “the most complicated concrete bridge ever built.” The viaduct’s sweeping ‘S’ curve appears to hover in mid-air offering spectacular mountain and valley views and is often referred to as “a ride in the clouds.”

Although the viaduct is a direct route to Grandfather Mountain and its state park hiking trails, Frank Ruggerio of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation was philosophical about the closure. Ruggerio said that he was sad that people will not enjoy the whole high country experience this spring, but agreed that it was a necessary step to make the repairs.
Grandfather Mountain and the state park is still accessible from U.S. 221.

Pigeon Forge Shopping

Pigeon Forge Shopping in the Smoky Mountains is always a special event! Boutique shops and outlets abound in Pigeon Forge, located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. Designer fashions, name-brand shoes, bags and jewelry are all available at affordable prices in several outlet malls in Pigeon Forge an area that includes more than 300 stores that are home to unique art galleries and quaint shops featuring hand-crafted items, made by local artisans, clothing, toys, tools and furniture. The Pigeon Forge Outlet, also known as “The Red Roof Mall,” boasts a whopping 196,600 sq. ft. of shops that include Rack Room Shoes; Carter’s Children’s Wear; Corningware, Corelle, and Revere Factory Stores; Osh Kosh; Big Dog Sportswear; Country Music USA, as well as handbag, lingerie and menswear outlets. Check out the Moonshine Ridge Country Store for locally-sourced food and gift items, and the specialized Smokey Mountain Cat House for fun toys, special treats and all things cat-related for your favorite feline. The G.H. Bass & Co. Store traces its roots to another mountain range in Maine. It was the year 1876 and George Henry Bass made it his mission to offer the finest and most comfortable shoe by redesigning and updating a Norwegian farm shoe and naming them “Weejuns” thus introducing the first penny loafer which continues to be a perennial favorite. The Lodge Factory Store provides an opportunity to restock your kitchen with some of the best cast-iron cookware in the world which is delivered straight to the store from the company’s Tennessee foundry.

Pigeon Forge is also home to a large pottery of the same name which offers an amazing variety of both useful and decorative hand-thrown

items. Nearby is The Old Mill, which has stood sentinel on the west prong of the Little Pigeon River since 1830. Step inside the historic structure, now a cozy gift shop, and check out stone-ground meal, grits and flour along with many other locally-sourced gastronomic items that are sure to tempt the most discriminating palates. The Mill also houses a restaurant that specializes in down-home Southern cooking, a candy kitchen and the adjacent Old Forge Distillery. Iron Mountain Metal Crafts, a working blacksmith shop, is also nearby. Catch a glimpse of a simpler time as you watch area Smithy’s craft hand-forged works of art that are both decorative and useful. Nearby small shops offer an assortment of custom jewelry, hand-crafted furniture, beautiful candles, scented soaps, and personalized Christmas ornaments, all of which are sure to brighten your home. The Li’l Dolly store boasts the largest selection of quilts in the Southeast while Anna Sophia’s Boutique specializes in French Country Farmhouse décor. Got a sweet tooth? Look no further than the delectable candies and baked goods offered at several shops in the Pigeon Forge area. If sweets are not your thing check out the locally made sauces, rubs, jams, jellies, beef jerky or sip some smooth-tasting Tennessee Moonshine. From hand-dipped chocolates to the best in area crafts, the shops in Pigeon Forge offer something special for all ages.

Don’t miss the newest shopping and dining experience on the Island located in the middle of the West Prong of The Little Pigeon River. Step into the 6,000 sq. ft. Ole Smoky Barn which includes an onsite still, a tasting bar and retail store. The Paula Deen Store (and restaurant) stocks a variety of cookware as well as many useful and decorative household items. Southern Sportz overflows with sportswear and memorabilia representing all major league and college sports. Perhaps the “sauciest” little shop is Pepper Place, which bills itself as the planet’s #1 hot shop, and this is only one of the several area outlets for the innovative varieties of barbecue and hot sauces that have won a number of taste-test awards, and is locally produced in Sevierville. A must see is The Island Trading Post which has name brands found only on the island. Some of the most popular are the southern-inspired Sass Frass tees, Mud Pie’s adorable children’s clothing and personalized mugs, cups and plates that you design yourself. Unique jewelry offerings include Uno De 50, handcrafted in Spain and Firefly, designed and made in Guatemala. Doc’s Magic and Novelty Shop, owned by Doc Waddell & Sons, promises that, with a little help, you too can be AMAZING! Emery 5&10 is the place for old fashioned toys in a nostalgic atmosphere. A Tervis Outlet specializes in sturdy and colorful tumblers and mugs in a myriad of designs. Blossom, a family owned and operated herb and oil shop, provides more than 100 organic and wild crafted oils and more than 175 herbs and body care products. The Kryptonite Character store stocks TV and movie character’s T-shirts and collectibles that range from DC Comics to the Walking Dead. You will find classic and the most innovative new toys at The Toychest Company. The island is also home to several restaurants, a fantastic amusement park and the four-star Margaritaville Island Hotel.

Make your plans now for some great shopping during your next visit to the Smoky Mountains!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Recruits ‘Adopt-a-Plot’ Volunteers

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Recruits ‘Adopt-a-Plot’ Volunteers. For this Smoky Mountain special event rangers are recruiting volunteers to adopt a monitoring plot in areas throughout the park. In an effort to track nature’s calendar, or phenology, volunteers will collect information as part of an important research project tracking seasonal biological data such as plant flowering dates and the presence of migratory birds.

Previous experience is not necessary but an interest in science and love for nature are characteristics of a successful volunteer. A 3-hour training workshop is provided and will include topics like tree identification techniques, stages of tree change throughout the year, fruit and flower identification, and phenology data collection protocols. Volunteers must attend one of these training opportunities which will be held at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN on Saturday, February 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and at Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, NC on Saturday, March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Plots are available for adoption near parking areas at several locations in the park. Volunteers will monitor their adopted plot at least two times per month from the first leaf bud in spring to the final leaf drop in fall. The Adopt-a-Plot project helps us better understand how changing weather patterns affect our diverse ecosystem and the seasonal timing of wildflower blooms and fall color.

This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone, no matter what age, to learn more about the amazing biodiversity of the Smoky Mountains. Each season in the mountains is a special time and having the chance to create a scientific record that will help future generations understand this land is a worthy pursuit.

If you are interested in this exciting volunteer opportunity, contact Jessica Stump at jessica_stump@partner.nps.gov or 828-497-1945 to register for the training. For more information about phenology research efforts across the country visit the National Phenology Network.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Welcomes Record Number of Visitors in 2017

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Welcomes Record Number of Visitors in 2017. The Smoky Mountain special events for the second year in a row, welcomed over eleven million visitors. In 2017, a record 11,338,894 people visited the national park, which is a

slight increase, 0.2%, over 2016. The park continued to see the highest visitation in July which was followed by October and June. Monthly visitation records were set during the shoulder season months of January, February, April, September, and November in 2017 which follows a pattern of the park seeing increased year-round visitation.

“We strive each year to provide exceptional services to the visitors who come to enjoy the Smokies,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “With increasing visitation across seasons, this does not come without challenges. I am proud of the employees who work hard each day to meet these challenges, along with the support of our volunteers and partners who collectively help us care for this incredibly special place.”

In 2017, over 2,800 park volunteers donated over 115,000 hours of service. These volunteers provided much needed help across the park

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, Cassius Cash, with HeySmokies owner, Brad Knight.

including trail maintenance, invasive plant removal, and providing visitor information along trails, at visitor centers, and in campgrounds. Visitors spent nearly 400,000 nights camping in the park which was slightly down from 2016, but above the 5-year average. The park offers 9 front country campgrounds and 100 backcountry campsites for visitors to enjoy across the park.

Notably in 2017, the park hosted the largest special event in park history. The western half of the park provided prime viewing to experience totality for approximately 2 minutes during the Great American Total Solar Eclipse. Thousands of visitors participated in ranger-led events on the weekend leading up to the eclipse on Monday, August 21. Over 15,600 people attended eclipse events offered at Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and Sugarlands Visitor Center. Over 47,000 visitors entered the park from the four main entrances to view the eclipse on August 21, marking a 64% increase in visitation for that day over 2016. Another 26,000 people watched the live broadcast of the Clingmans Dome event in partnership with NASA and another 6 million people watched the event online from across the world via the NASA 360 broadcast.

For additional Great Smoky Mountains National Park Special Events visit NPS.gov.

Hikers Rejoice As Clingmans Dome Tower Rehabilitation Project Suspended for Winter

Hikers Rejoice As Clingmans Dome Tower Rehabilitation Project Suspended for Winter. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower has been reopened to the public. The rehabilitation work has been suspended for the winter and is expected to resume this Spring. The remaining work is expected to take approximately two weeks and will necessitate another short-term closure to complete.

Visitors can enjoy views from the tower throughout the winter, however, the Clingmans Dome Road will be inaccessible to motorists from December 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018 due to normal seasonal closures. The road, tower, and entire Clingmans Dome area remain accessible to hikers throughout the winter.

Much of the needed rehabilitation work was completed last Fall, but the final surface overlay still needs to be completed. Deteriorated areas on the concrete columns and walls have been repaired, support walls have been stabilized at the base of the ramp, and stone masonry has been repaired.

The work has been made possible through funding received from a Partners in Preservation (PIP) grant. The $ 250,000 grant was awarded last summer to the Friends of the Smokies on behalf of the park after being one of the top nine, most voted for parks in the Partners in Preservation: National Parks Campaign in 2016.

Straddling the North Carolina and Tennessee state line at 6,643 feet, the tower is a prominent landmark and destination as the highest point in the park. The observation tower is a precedent-setting design of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program, which transformed park planning, management, and architecture and fundamentally altered the visitor experience in national parks. Since 1959, millions of visitors have climbed the tower, where they can see distances of up to 100 miles over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Some minimal preservation work today on the tower will ensure that visitors continue to experience this unique structure spiraling up from the highest point in the park.

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with

the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country. Since 2006, Partners in Preservation, a community-based partnership, has committed $16 million in preservation funding to nearly 200 diverse sites in eight different cities across the country.

Through this partnership, American Express, National Geographic, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.