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Synchronous Firefly Viewing Event At Elkmont Cancelled

April 23, 2020

Synchronous Firefly Viewing Event Cancelled The popular springtime event, the synchronous firefly viewing event, has been canceled by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials. A news release on April 21, 2020 states “in a continuing effort to support federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and to adhere to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)” the synchronous firefly viewing event has been canceled. The synchronous firefly viewing event takes place every year during late May and early June. As part of their mating, Photinus Carolinus, a…
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Dollywood Eagle Nest Live Cam

April 19, 2020

Dollywood Eagle Nest Live Cam Hatchling Dollywood may not be open but the park has a new attraction currently. The Dollywood eagle nest live cam has an eaglet to watch. Two eagles of the eagle enclosure in the Village Craftman’s section of Dollywood are proud parents! And it’s all been caught on a live webcam! Proud eagle momma Glenda is sitting on a second egg that can hatch any time now. Grant and Glenda are two disabled and non-releasable bald eagles that live at the American Eagle Foundation inside of Dollywood. One of two eggs in the nest has already…
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High Wind Warning Close Campgrounds Tonight

October 26, 2019

High Winds Warning Close Campgrounds Tonight High Wind Warning Close Campgrounds tonight in the Great Smoky Mountains. The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for Blount County this afternoon. The warning lasts until Sunday morning at 5:00 am. Due to high wind conditions that are expected to continue overnight the park service has had to close several campgrounds and several roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont campground and Cades Cove Campground are both closed. Little River Road and Laurel Creek Road have also been closed due to downed trees as a result of the high…
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Fall Foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains

September 27, 2019

Fall Foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains Predictions   The fall foliage 2019 Great Smoky Mountains predictions are in for this year’s annual show of fall colors. A warm summer and a warm September should result in a colorful fall foliage season.  Current drought conditions should not have too big of an impact. The biologists and fall color experts are predicting a good fall season for this upcoming fall foliage show. During September sunny days and cool nights make the perfect recipe. We had sunny days but not many cool nights. A cold front is in the forecast for the first…
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New Section of Foothills Parkway Opens

November 8, 2018

New Section of Foothills Parkway Opens In Wears Valley The “Missing Link” of the Foothills Parkway will open on November, 10, 2018. The Foothills Parkway was dreamed up by Congress way back in 1944. The road was planned as a scenic drive along the Great Smoky Mountains from Chilhowee, TN to Interstate 40 east of Cosby, TN. The entire length of the Foothills Parkway was a planned 72 miles. Since 2010 only one-third of the parkway had been completed and was open to vehicles. Portions of the parkway had been built and were accessible but the completed parkway project ran into many…
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Sparks Lane Closure In Cades Cove

October 29, 2018

Sparks Lane Closure In Cades Cove Temporarily For those headed to Cades Cove to view the fall foliage the park service is closing Sparks Lane for two weeks. Starting on Monday 10/29/18 until 11/12/18 Sparks Lane will be closed to ALL TRAFFIC. This is so repairs to a low-water crossing can be done across Sea Branch. The repairs require the use of heavy machinery and equipment. The current concrete structure will be removed and a new low-water crossing and approach ramps will be rebuilt. The closure on Sparks Lane for the next 2 weeks include motorist as well as cyclists…
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Search For Missing Hiker

September 28, 2018

Search For Missing Hiker Near Clingmans Dome Missing hiker search underway since Tuesday. Susan Clements of Cleves, Ohio has been missing since Tuesday evening. She and her daughter were hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They were hiking near Andrews Bald and the Clingmans Dome parking lot. The two women were separated while hiking. Park Rangers starred their search Tuesday night and the park’s Search and Rescue Team have joined in the search. Park official have asked for those with information please call the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch at (888) 653-0009. Mitzie Sue “Susan” Clements is…
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Fall Foliage Reports And Updates 2018

September 23, 2018

Fall Foliage Reports And Updates 2018 Fall foliage reports and updates are underway. Fall has finally arrived and the fall foliage season is just getting started. The first official day of autumn was Saturday September 22. Although the weather is still warm there is some fall foliage color changes already taking place in the Great Smoky Mountains. The dogwood trees have some color changes visible but it is due to the shorter daylight and the normal growth season for the dogwood. The start of the fall foliage color changes begin in the highest elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains toward the end of September….
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Bear Euthanized After Body Found

September 14, 2018

Bear Euthanized After Body Found Bear euthanized after body found in Cades Cove. William Lee Hill Jr. of Louisville, TN was found dead two miles north of Cades Cove Off Rich Mountain Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The man was reported missing on Sunday after he and friends were in the park looking for ginseng. The group separated and Hill never reunited with his friends. Park officials started a search in the Great Smoky Mountains in Cades Cove for three days. His body was found Tuesday near Rich Mountain Road. In the same area of the body…
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Dollywood Grows With New Wildwood Grove

August 3, 2018

Dollywood Grows With New Wildwood Grove For 2019   Dollywood is growing. Wildwood Grove is a new addition to Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge. Dolly Parton was at Celebrity Theatre in Dollywood today to announce the news. The new expansion cost $37 million. There will be 11 new theme park experiences and the addition will be a family fun experience. Wildwood Grove is a forest inspired area with rides that offer tree and woodland theme excitement. Included are a suspended roller coaster names ‘The Dragonflier’; the ‘Sycamore Swing’ is a ride that visitors sit in and swing back and…
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