Latest GSM Guide Posts

October Sets New Record

November 17, 2015

Fall Foliage Makes October Second Busiest Month On Record Thanks to this year’s vivid and colorful fall foliage display the Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials report this past October was the busiest month since 1987. The number of visitors to the park in October of 1987 is reported as the busiest October with October 2015 being the second busiest month on record. It was a banner fall foliage display with fall colors predicted to be the best in several years. Visitors flocked to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina to see the beautiful fall colors. The National…
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A Dollywood Christmas

November 3, 2015

A Dollywood Christmas Celebration It’s another  Dollywood Christmas season! Dollywood Theme Park is always fun but at Christmas the theme park turns into a Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration for the young and  old to enjoy. A Smoky Mountain Christmas starts November 7, 2015 and runs through January 3, 2016. After the National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration Dollywood closes for a week while the theme park is decorated with thousands of lights, hundreds of Christmas Trees and Christmas decorations. The theme park is turned into a magical festive Christmas theme park. Located in Pigeon Forge near the Great Smoky Mountains…
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Appalachian Bear Rescue

October 26, 2015

What Is Appalachian Bear Rescue? The Appalachian Bear Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving orphaned and injured black bear cubs. Since being formed in 1990 the organization has cared for more than 200 bears. They work closely with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After care, medical attention and rehabilitation the rescued bear cubs are returned to the wild. As well as caring for the cubs the organization’s mission is also to educate the public about black bears. There are many reasons for the need for a bear cub to be rescued. Abandonment, injury, dog…
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Black Bears Need To Forage

October 24, 2015

Black Bears Need To Forage The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is asking for help on their Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facebook page. The black bears need to be left alone to forage prior to the winter months. Please heed the posted  warning signs. Here is a copy of their request. “We need your help! Please allow bears to forage undisturbed during this critical feeding period before winter hibernation. Bears depend on fall foods such as acorns and grapes to store fat reserves that enable them to survive winter. This year, these foods in the park are extremely scarce….
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Controlled Burns Planned For Cades Cove

October 21, 2015

Controlled Burns Planned For Cades Cove In Coming Weeks The Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have just announced a series of prescribed controlled burns planned for Cades Cove. These prescribed burns help to restore the woodlands by burning undergrowth, control woody encroachment, rid nonnative plant species and encourage native plant species growth. The controlled burns can start as early as next week and can take place intermittently for the next several weeks. Many fields in Cades Cove have been identified by fire management as needing the controlled burn (about 300 acres total). Delays and possible temporary closures may take place on some roads…
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Cades Cove Fall Foliage Trip Report

October 15, 2015

Cades Cove Fall Foliage Trip Report With Pictures! Here is our Cades Cove fall foliage trip report from October, 15, 2015. Took a ride through Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park today. Saw some fall foliage colors in the mountains tops as we rode thru the 11 mile loop road of Cades Cove. It was crowded with lots of cars and many visitors at the Cades Cove Visitors Center and in the picnic areas. The fall foliage colors where a little disappointing. I thought for the middle of October there would be more color. I did get…
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Murphy Gets New Casino

September 28, 2015

Murphy Gets New Casino For Western NC Western North Carolina has a new casino. The new casino opened in Murphy, NC on Monday September 28, 2015. Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is now open for business. It has over 1,000 slot machines and 70 table games in the 50,000 square foot casino. Encase patrons get hungry the casino has a food court with Nathan’s Panda Express, Earl of Sandwich, Papa John’s Pizza, and Starbucks within the complex steps away from the slot machines and gaming table.The hotel is a 300 room full service hotel. Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino…
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Government Shutdown 2015?

September 26, 2015

Government Shutdown 2015? Government shutdown 2015? Another government shutdown is possible next week meaning the likely closure of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at one of the most busiest times of year for the park. The month of October is a very busy month at the park due to the fall foliage show and tourist coming to view the beautiful scenery in the mountains. Two years ago the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as all other national parks were closed down for several week during the month of October resulting in a costly loss of money to the park…
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Upcoming Events in The GSM Park

September 22, 2015

Upcoming Events In The Park The Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers a variety of events throughout the park at various locations. Upcoming events in the park for the next few weeks are full of fun. Many have to do with the fall foliage season. Listed here are just some of the events that are coming up in late September and for October. Visitors can take a hike with a park ranger to learn about how to predict how much snow may be in the forecast, how mild or harsh a winter and other tell-tale signs. Learn about the wild creatures…
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I-40 Closed For Hours Near TN/NC State Line

September 16, 2015

I-40 Closed For Hours Near Mile Marker 7 For Safety I-40 closed through the Great Smoky Mountains for several hours on Tuesday September 15, 2015 due to unstable rocks. An ongoing slope stabilization project caused some rocks to become unstable high above I-40 so to be safe the NCDOT closed both east and west lanes near mile marker 7 in North Carolina. The eastbound lanes were reopened late Tuesday night with the westbound lanes reopened later in the early morning hours of Wednesday. The slope stabilization project is being done to control any rock slides before they may happen. Rock slides in…
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