Where to go. What to See. Things to Do.
A Western Carolina University economist estimates more than $33 million have been lost in revenue just the first 10 days of the government shutdown in the GSMNP and the surrounding areas. He also reports: > $12 million in lost wages $1.8 million in lost state taxes $1 million in lost local taxes Lost revenue will continue as long as the government shutdown continues and the park remains closed.
A funny rumor and true stories related to government shutdown and our nation: Helicopter dropped drape over Mt Rushmore to obstruct view of monument. (rumor!) Grand Canyon is a ghost town. Two dozen citations written by park officials for people trying to sneak into the park. School Bus route using road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park had to be rerouted because road was in national park land and road was closed to all traffic. National Park Service Guards held a tour group under armed guard in a Yellowstone National Park and told group that they weren’t to “recreate.” Couple…
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Blount County TN residents are feed up with the government shutdown. Almost 1/3 of the county is inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With the shutdown the county lost its main source of revenue. October is one of the busiest times of the year due to the fall foliage season. The area has lost access to the park for fishing, camping, hiking, horse-back riding, and driving the back roads to enjoy the colorful scenery this time of year. Businesses are suffering and business owners are upset. One of the roads closed was a school bus route. The school bus…
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The TN fall foliage 2013 peak season usually peaks about the last 2 weeks in October in East TN. Color changes usually speed up after the first frost. Each year in the autumn the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have 1.2 million visitor travel to the area to catch the annual fall foliage show.
The privately owned Pisgah Inn along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina was forced to close by the National Park Service. Park rangers have blocked the three entrances to the Pisgah Inn. A protest took place Saturday Oct. 5 by conservative activists. Park service management out of Washington directed the local parkway chief to block access to the inn. Pisgah Inn operates on leased land along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway’s 470-mile federal road is open but facilities, campgrounds, picnic areas, and bathrooms are closed due to the government shutdown.
The NC and TN tourism industry is trying hard to get the word out that there is still plenty to see and do in the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding areas despite of the government shutdown. Local chambers of commerce directors, visitors center staffers, waitresses, shop owners, and hotel workers want people to know the facts about what is and is not closed. The Blue Ridge Parkway is OPEN but the facilites and visitors centers are closed. US Highway 441 through the GSMNP from Gatlinburg to Cherokee is OPEN, but facilites, campgrounds, other roads, hiking trails and visitor centers…
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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park fall foliage show has been hurt by the government shutdown. Of the 326 Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees only 47 remain on duty during the park’s closure. Those 47 are mostly law enforcement staff and maintenance staff for human health safety reasons. The employees on furlough due to the Government Shutdown will probably not receive pay during the shutdown period. A shutdown of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park couldn’t be at a worse time. In October about 1.1 million visitors come to the area to see the fall foliage display. This time…
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About 50 couples planning to get married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have to make other arrangements thanks to the Government Shutdown that has closed down all National Parks. Weddings in October during the fall foliage season is very popular but about 50 couples that have wedding plans in the Great Smoky Mountains for this month may have to make other arrangements if the Government Shutdown continues.
Due to the Government Shutdown on October 1, the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed. Also the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is closed with all Visitors Centers closed. Entrances to the park are gated and locked. Campers in the park have 48 hours to leave. The GSMNP website is down with a statement that reads “Because of the federal government shutdown, all national parks are closed and National Park Service webpages are not operating. For more information, go to www.doi.gov.”
Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are expecting “fabulous fall” colors this autumn. The fall foliage color changes occur from early to mid- October in the higher elevation. The lower elevations peak color show are typically in the third and fourth week of October. The weather in mid-Oactober is responsible for the color intensity. Park spokeswoman Dana Soehn stated “We’re staring to get the right conditions. We’re all hopeful for a beautiful display of color this year”.
