Park continues to seek tips regarding Foothills Parkway vandalism

Image courtesy of GSMNP

GSMNP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to seek information to help identify the party responsible for vandalizing the Foothills Parkway West Entrance Sign. The sign is located near the Highway 321 intersection in Walland, Tennessee and was vandalized between September 18, 2020 and September 19, 2020.

On Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 7:45 a.m., visitors reported seeing a black bear skin with head and a cardboard sign attached to the entrance sign that read “Here to the lake Black Lives don’t matter.” The investigation is ongoing and no further details are to be released at this time.




“We encourage anyone with information to reach out to us as we continue to investigate possible motives for this incident.” said Chief Ranger Lisa Hendy. “We take vandalism incidents seriously in the park, and this incident is particularly egregious. It is for this reason we are offering a reward for information.”

Investigators are looking for additional information from anyone who may have observed activity leading to the vandalism. Though respondents may remain anonymous, investigators are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information that could aid this investigation is asked to contact investigators through any of the following means:

NOTE: Use is restricted to investigative tips ONLY and should not be used to offer general comments or opinions.

• CALL or TEXT the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009
• ONLINE at www.nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip”
• EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov
• MESSAGE on Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS

Published September 23, 2020