Great Smoky Mountains National Park officially reopened on Thursday, Oct. 17 under federal funding. The park had been closed for the first two weeks of October due to a lapse in Congressional appropriations
The Park and its facilities had originally opened to the public on Wednesday, Oct. 16, due to the donation of funds from the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, who worked in partnership with Blount and Sevier counties. Their funding would have allowed the park to be opened for a period of five days.
“We would once again like to express our gratitude to our county neighbors and the states of Tennessee and North Carolina for the donation which allowed the Park to open and serve our visitors,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “The support they have shown is truly remarkable and is indicative of the strong relationship Great Smoky Mountains National Park holds with our local communities. We are happy the Park is now open for the long term, and can be fully enjoyed by our visitors through the popular autumn season.”
For more information about the visiting the Park, please visit www.nps.gov/grsm.
– NPS
