Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeing record visitation, many choosing it as a safe destination during the pandemic. The bigger numbers present challenges that will require adjusting.
These changes take funding and that’s where the Friends of the Smokies organization comes into play. You can help by donating to its virtual telethon.
The park has breath-taking scenery and amazing wildlife.
“We’re just blown away by the beauty of it,” says Hunter Williams, visiting with his family from Jackson, Tennessee.
It’s hard to beat Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“This is the most visited park in the system, and it doesn’t cost anything to enter,” says Allen Murray, visiting from Kelly, North Carolina.
It would be a popular spot in normal times, and even more so during the pandemic. After a brief shutdown in the spring, the park reopened.
“And wow,” exclaims Park Ranger Florie Takaki. Visitors started showing up in droves.
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