Latest GSM Guide Posts

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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GSM Travel

Nawger Nob Arts and Crafts Show

September 12, 2015

Nawger Nob Arts and Crafts Show 2015 in Townsend The two-day Nawger Nob Arts & Crafts Show is Saturday and Sunday September 26 and 27, 2015 in Townsend, TN. Townsend is known as The Peaceful Side of the Smokies. This annual craft show takes place at Nawger Knob Shopping Area with the craft vendor tents set under the shade of the trees. There will be about 80 craft tents and booths set up with so many different crafts you are sure to find something you like. This craft fair is very popular and a great place to start some Christmas gift shopping….
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GSM Events

Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day 2015

September 12, 2015

The 23rd Annual Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day Every fall in September Townsend puts on the Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day . This year the two-day festival takes place on Friday Sept. 25 and Saturday Sept. 26, 2015. The festival takes place at the Smoky Mountain Visitors Center,  7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, TN. This year is the 23rd Annual Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day  celebrating mountain and Appalachian arts and crafts. The festival has a bluegrass stage with bluegrass bands all day and into the night. Bluegrass picking takes place on the…
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GSM Events

National Parks Birthday

August 23, 2015

National Parks Birthday Tuesday The National Parks birthday is Tuesday. The national park service is celebrating their 99th birthday Tuesday August 25, 2015. That day is called Founders Day. Many national parks do charge an admittance fee that will be waived on Founders Day. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park  is free everyday. This Founders Day on August 25 will be the start of a year-long celebration that is the kickoff to the big Centennial Celebration in 2016! President Woodrow Wilson signed into legislation the creation of the National Park Service 99 years ago on August 25, 1916. Now, 99 years later…
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Park Official Prepare For Hikers After New Movie

August 19, 2015

Park Officials Prepare For Hikers After Movie Release of “A Walk in the Woods” Park officials prepare for an increase in hikers after the movie “A Walk in the Woods” is released. The movie stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte as two old friends that hike the Appalachian Trail. The movie is an adventure/comedy/drama that comes out on September 2,2015. The Appalachian Trail is a 2190 mile trail from Maine to Georgia. Portions of the trail is located in the Great Smoky Mountains and officials for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are expecting a surge in the number of hikers that will…
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Hiker Rescued And Airlifted Out

August 13, 2015

Hiker Rescued And Airlifted Out Hiker rescued by helicopter on Saturday August 8, 2015 after falling while hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains. The 20-year-old fell on Friday and may have suffered a broken ankle. He fell while hiking on the Miry Ridge trail near the intersection with the Appalachian Trail. A call for help was made on Friday just after 4:00pm. Due to weather related conditions the planned airlift and rescue could not take place until Saturday. Park rangers stayed with the college student Joey Watson overnight. On Saturday the Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter crew successfully airlifted the young man out…
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Girl Falls Down Waterfall in Park

August 3, 2015

Girl Falls Down Waterfall In Park A  young girl falls down waterfall in the National Park. A 7-year-old child from Kentucky fell in The Great Smoky Mountains Thursday July 30, 2015. The girl fell about 30 feet after climbing the Cataract Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Sugarlands. The child sustained cut and a concussion. A park ranger from the nearby park headquarters arrived on the scene within minutes. She was taken by ambulance to the medical facility in Pigeon Forge and then was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville about 30 miles…
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DreamMore Resort Opening On July 27

July 26, 2015

DreamMore Resort Opening Monday July 27, 2015 DreamMore Resort opening is finally here!  The resort opens Monday July 27, 2015. The resort offers  “300 rooms and hotel suites designed with families and groups in mind”. DreamMore Resort is the latest addition to the Dollywood experience. This past week workers were working feverishly to get the final touches completed before the new resort opens on Monday July 27, 2015. Workers were all over the grounds planting trees and shrubs, road crews were getting the entrance road to the resort ready, and Dollywood theme park workers had been practice “guest” for the last few weeks…
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Kayaker Death On Little Pigeon River

July 4, 2015

Kayaker Death Occurs On Little Pigeon River After Capsizing Kayaker death occurred on Thursday July 2, 2015. A 53-year-old man from North Carolina died while kayaking on the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is reported he capsized while kayaking in the river. His body floated to where friends got him out of the water. Emergency care was given including CPR after park rangers, fire and police responders arrived on the scene. The man was transported to a local hospital but died. The man was identified as Kenneth Worthington from Apex, North Carolina. Streams and…
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Trails And Backcountry Campsites Reopen After Bear Attack

July 4, 2015

Trails And Backcountry Campsites Reopen After Bear Attack In June The Hazel Creek area hiking trails and backcountry campsites have been reopened by the park service weeks after a bear attack occurred. The park service after monitoring for bear activity have decided it is safe to reopen the area to hikers and campers. Signs still warn of the dangers of bear activities. Visitors should take precautions while in the Great Smoky Mountains. The areas reopened are Hazel Creek Trail, Jenkins Ridge Trail,  Bone Valley Trail, Cold Spring Gap Trail, Derrick Knob Shelter, and backcountry campsites 82, 83, 84, 85, 86,…
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