10:06 a.m. September 30, 2013
How a government shutdown would affect Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Jeaneane Payne

Planned vacations, local businesses, and communities that provide lodging, dining, and other recreational activities in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park could be jeopardized if the US government shuts down on October 1. A shut down will occur if a federal budget deal is not reached by October 1.

Tourism in Great Smoky Mountains National Park area reaches a peak in October which is the second busiest month of the year in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas. Over 1.2 million people visit the Park in October.

"Provisions were made by the government to keep commuter routes open which means Hwy 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge will remain open as well as the Gatlinburg Bypass and The Spur (between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg)," said Dana Soehn, the park's Public Affairs Management Assistant. "Overlooks, parking lots, and restrooms within the park will close." The Cades Cove Loop Road would be closed to visitation.

"Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 326 employees; 279 would be placed on furlough and 47 would remain on duty -- 41 of those remaining on duty are law enforcement and other 6 are in maintenance (human health, animal care). Some park rangers use horses for transportation. Those rangers will remain on duty to tend to animals in park such as the horses in Cades Cove," Soehn said.

Published September 30, 2013