Local Government Partnership Attempting To Keep National Park Open Through October

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was reopened last weekend after operations in the park had been shut down because of the federal government shutdown. The park itself was open, but visitor centers and other locations like Cades Cove had to be closed. Those sites all reopened at 12:01am Saturday morning, October 4.

Sevier County has signed an addendum with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to continue funding full operations of the National Park as the shutdown continues. This effort is supported through a partnership that includes the cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Friends of the Smokies, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The newly signed addendum extends the funding for an additional ten-day period. That will ensure the Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open and fully operational through Sunday, October 19. They are working on keeping the park open through the end of the month.