Regional

This NPS graphic shows how spending in the Smokies directly impacts sectors of the economy surrounding the Park.

This NPS graphic shows how spending in the Smokies directly impacts sectors of the economy surrounding the Park.

Smokies visitors contribute $2.1 billion to economy

News Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 12.9 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2022 spent $2.1 billion in communities near the park. That spending supported 32,590 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $3.3 billion.
Reconstruction work on Lakeview Drive began Monday with survey crews

Reconstruction work on Lakeview Drive began Monday with survey crews

Work starts on Lakeview Drive construction

News Staff
Monday, August 14, 2023
Work began today on Lakeview Drive, just outside of downtown Bryson City in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project is scheduled to last until mid-November is and is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.
Ghana Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Nii Adjah Obodai, commander, 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, presents U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Fisher, Defense Medical Readiness Institute’s Academic Support Branch noncommissioned-officer-in-charge, with a gift of appreciation for establishing a tactical combat casualty care training site in March 2022. (Courtesy photo)

Ghana Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Nii Adjah Obodai, commander, 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, presents U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Fisher, Defense Medical Readiness Institute’s Academic Support Branch noncommissioned-officer-in-charge, with a gift of appreciation for establishing a tactical combat casualty care training site in March 2022. (Courtesy photo)

Defense Health Agency’s top noncommissioned officer ‘aims high’

News Staff
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Mr. Terry J. Goodman Defense Health Agency Communications    When Daniel Fisher walked into the U.S. Air Force recruiting office in Sylva, North Carolina, nine years ago, he was lost with no sense of direction or purpose.
Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions, led a group of 10 people on a wildflower hike at a higher-elevation spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see unique plants found at the vertical bog.

Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions, led a group of 10 people on a wildflower hike at a higher-elevation spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see unique plants found at the vertical bog.

Variety’s the word at Parkway vertical bog

News Staff
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   When the Blue Ridge Parkway was created, it took blasting and drilling through sections of rock. In some spots where rockface is still exposed along the road—extending up several stories—water continued a steady trickle dripping, dripping, dipping.
Above is a view from an overlook on Lakeview Drive. The road, in the Smokies, will see some much-needed improvement this year but the work will require a road closure for 90 days beginning later in the summer.

Above is a view from an overlook on Lakeview Drive. The road, in the Smokies, will see some much-needed improvement this year but the work will require a road closure for 90 days beginning later in the summer.

Lakeview Drive to see repair this year

News Staff
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
GATLINBURG—Great Smoky Mountains National Park is using nearly $19 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act to reconstruct Lakeview Drive and repair Heintooga Ridge Road this summer.
Roger Puta Great Smoky Mountain Railroad has a projected date for early 2026 Debut and entry back into service for the Southern Railway Engine 722, pictured above.

Roger Puta Great Smoky Mountain Railroad has a projected date for early 2026 Debut and entry back into service for the Southern Railway Engine 722, pictured above.

GSMR begins restoring steam engine 722

News Staff
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR), owned and operated by American Heritage Railways (AHR), is proud to announce the rebuild of historic Southern Railway Steam Locomotive 722.
Glassblower apprentice Rachel Raming at the Green Energy Park works with one of the ultra-hot furnaces – which are powered by the nearby landfill.

Glassblower apprentice Rachel Raming at the Green Energy Park works with one of the ultra-hot furnaces – which are powered by the nearby landfill.

Waste energizes art at Green Energy Park

News Staff
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   In Dillsboro’s Green Energy Park, gas from the nearby landfill is put to good use as it helps power the work of glassblowers and blacksmiths.
The many trees of the Smokies, especially spruce and firs, may help soften damage from increased rain due to climate change. SMT file photo

The many trees of the Smokies, especially spruce and firs, may help soften damage from increased rain due to climate change. SMT file photo

Climate change impact on the Smokies ‘unsure,’ experts say

News Staff
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Climate change is already having visible effects in the world – but no one is quite sure how it will affect the Smokies yet.
Kiosks, like these two pictured at Oconaluftee Visitor's Center, are one of the ways visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can purchase parking passes, which are now required for anyone parking for more than 15 minutes.

Kiosks, like these two pictured at Oconaluftee Visitor's Center, are one of the ways visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can purchase parking passes, which are now required for anyone parking for more than 15 minutes.

Smokies parking fees now in effect

News Staff
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Those who arrived at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Wednesday, March 1 were greeted by bulky green kiosks from which they could now buy parking passes to visit the park.