December 2019
News and Happenings from
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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All we want for the holidays is for you to share
this video
with your friends!
Share GSMA's mission so your friends will know why you support our organization with your membership, your purchases, and your participation in our events. Thank you!
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Dreams come true with GSMA
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Great Smoky M
ountains National Park? Sue Wasserman of Burnsville, North Carolina, will find out this coming April.
A GSMA member, Wasserman was chosen from eight finalists as the winner of the second annual
Steve Kemp Writer's Residency. Named in honor of 30-year GSMA veteran Steve Kemp, this GSMA-funded program is designed to connect writers with the Smokies in meaningful ways and to inspire some of their best work. Kemp himself will spend time guiding Wasserman in her experience of iconic park places such as Cataloochee, Oconaluftee and Cades Cove.
"Thanks to GSMA, I've fallen in love with everything about the Smokies," Wasserman said. "So to be able to become part of the rhythm of daily life as the Steve Kemp Writer-in-Residence is a dream come true."
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Ellison and McCue win Thomas Wolfe Award for
Back of Beyond
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George Ellison and Janet McCue, co-authors of 2019 GSMA title
Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography
were honored for winning the 64th
Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award
at a ceremony November 16 hosted by the Western North Carolina Historical Association. The book brings to light details about an enigmatic figure whose legendary charisma and journalistic prowess were influential in securing a park in the Smokies.
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Team members involved in the ten-year effort to bring this book into print. From left: editor Frances Figart, Elizabeth Ellison (George’s wife), author George Ellison (seated), Robert Kibbee (Janet’s husband), author Janet McCue, book designer Lisa Horstman, board member Geoff Cantrell, former board chair Bill Hart, and board member Dan Pierce. Photos by Quintin Ellison
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Behind-the-scenes of a
Smokies Life
Cover story
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The cover of the Fall 2019 issue of
Smokies Life
features a man who, for many, was the face of the Smokies for more than four decades as he hosted nearly half a million overnight guests on the park’s third-highest peak. We interviewed David Brill who wrote the cover story, Dan Thompson who took the cover photo (could he be related to Jim Thompson?), and, of course, Mr. Le Conte himself, Tim Line, about how it all came together.
TIM LINE
How did you feel when you found out
Smokies Life
was going to do a story about you?
My first thought was, “
Why would they want to do that
?” I was honestly quite hesitant about doing the story . . .
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The final cover image by Dan Thompson and a couple of the alternate images considered.
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Give the gift
of membership
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What a great way to say “Happy Holidays” and to skip the wrapping paper!
A Great Smoky Mountains Association
gift membership
provides the same exclusive benefits as regular membership and enhances everyone’s park-visiting experience. Plus, as the gift giver, you get the added benefit of the “warm and fuzzy” feeling that comes from knowing you’re supporting educational, historical and scientific endeavors within this national park.
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We'll help you make the holidays bright
Our 2019-2020 Holiday Catalog is full of gift ideas and includes access to many of the latest and greatest items we've introduced this year.
December 13 marks the final day to place orders in time for Christmas delivery.
Spend $150 or more on our full line of ranger-approved merchandise and we'll waive your shipping and handling charges. Some restrictions apply.
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Cozy up to a Smokies mug this winter
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Our ceramic mugs are beautifully formed and artistically etched with iconic images created just for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Choose between a historic cabin on a red mug, animal silhouettes on a blue mug, Smokies black bear on a black mug, or hemlock branch with chickadee on a green mug. A set of four makes an impressive collection or a memorable gift. Made in the USA.
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Staying hydrated is
important in winter too
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Our park-themed water bottles and tumblers are durable and feature artwork that’s chock full of everything you love about the great outdoors. We offer a variety of fun colors, including purple, lime green, aqua, orange and bright pink. Check out all the colors and options on our
web store.
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The rugged alternative to glass for life’s adventures
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Versatile, practical, vivid and fun—our 16 ounce Silipint tumbler can go from the daily commute to your next camping trip without missing a beat. Thick, sturdy silicone makes this cup grippy and durable, squeezable yet not too squishy, and absolutely unbreakable. BPA-free, 100% food-grade tested and approved, freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe. Tumbler and lid sold separately.
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Welcome home a cuddly friend for the holidays
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Our web store is the place to find the best variety of Smokies plush animals. Elk, otters, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and, of course, famous Smoky Mountain black bears in all sizes, plus many others are all available and waiting to come home for the holidays. See our
web store for our full selection.
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National Park ranger dolls put a smile under the tree
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National Park Service rangers have important jobs to do when it comes to protecting our public lands, including inspiring young people to become the next generation of park stewards. These soft plush park ranger dolls are decked out in park ranger attire, including their ‘green-and-gray’ uniforms and official park ranger badges. Inspire a child in your life with these charming dolls and the important mission they represent.
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Great Gift Ideas:
Our 2020 wall calendar and
Species-a-Day Perpetual Calendar
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Each year, GSMA marks the new year with our highly anticipated wall calendar. For 2020 we offer you two handsome calendars, each depicting different and iconic aspects of our beloved Smokies.
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First, our
2020 wall calendar
serves as a look back in time through the lenses of gifted Smokies photographers from the pre- and early-park eras. Featuring historic photos carefully selected from park and regional archives, the twelve-month calendar shares images taken by such noted photographers as Jim Thompson (1880-1975), Doris Ulmann (1884-1934), George Masa (1881?-1933) and Carlos Campbell (1892-1978).
The 11" x 11" spiral-bound calendar presents Smoky Mountain residents, landmarks, flora and scenic landscapes in gorgeous sepia-toned photographs. Each month highlights wildflowers in bloom, seasonal wildlife changes, park weather summaries, notable dates in park history, sunrise and sunset times and park special events.
The 2020 wall calendar is a companion publication to
Pictures for a Park
, GSMA’s pictorial tribute to the early photographers whose work was crucial to the birth of the Great Smoky Mountains as a national park.
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In addition to our wall calendar, GSMA is excited to present its
Species-a-Day Perpetual Calendar
, a collaborative project between GSMA, Discover Life in America and the National Park Service. This amazing little desk calendar can be used year after year (don’t throw this one away!) and features a different species of life found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park each day.
Every page includes a full-color photo or illustration with interpretive text to describe that day’s species. Once a month, a page is dedicated to a “new-to-science” species—one that’s been recently described for the first time. Enjoy learning about the wondrous diversity of the Smokies by meeting a new wild resident each day, all year long.
Whether for home, the office or a classroom, this attractive, high-quality calendar will captivate and educate users of all ages with the fascinating network of life found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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These calendars make great holiday gifts and are a wonderful way to introduce your friends to the park and the idea of Great Smoky Mountains Association membership. Or get one of each for your own wall and desk and you’ll show your love for both the historic treasures and natural wonders of the Smokies.
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Sales of all ranger-approved products support the national park. If you experience difficulty using our website, please
EMAIL
us and we'll do our best to help.
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*Member pricing is based on the 15% discount offered to GSMA members at the entry level, although additional discounts are available at higher levels. Please log into your online account to view discount pricing.
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All purchases support the park!
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Winter road closure schedule
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In addition to regular seasonal closures, park visitors should be aware of upcoming work that will prevent access to Cades Cove. Laurel Creek Road leading to Cades Cove will be closed to all traffic from January 2 at 8 p.m. through February 29, 2020 to repair the Bote Mountain Tunnel. The tunnel was constructed in 1948 and has not had any significant rehabilitation work since. The work will involve replacing nine draining structures within the tunnel wall, patching the concrete liner, replacing the underdrain, and sealing concrete cracks. Repaving will be completed at a later date and require single lane closures.
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Smokies roads crews work from each side of the park to reopen Newfound Gap Road after a winter storm.
Image courtesy of NPS
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All park roads, including Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), may close temporarily for snow or other inclement weather at any time. Many secondary and higher elevation park roads are closed to motor vehicles in winter.
- Heintooga/Round Bottom Road closed October 28
- Heintooga Ridge Road closed October 28
- Straight Fork Road closed October 28
- Rich Mountain Road (in Cades Cove) closed November 11
- Little Greenbrier Road (to Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse) closed November 25
- Clingmans Dome Road closed December 1
- Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail closed December 1
- Forge Creek Road (in Cades Cove) closes December 31
- Cades Cove and Laurel Creek Road past Tremont close January 2, 2020 at 8 p.m.
- Parson Branch Road (in Cades Cove) is closed due to hazardous trees
Hiking trails are open in winter. However, some trailheads will be inaccessible to motor vehicles because of road closures. Walking on seasonally closed roads is permitted unless snow plowing or construction work is underway.
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Support our business partners
Every business is important in the support of the Smokies and
Lookout League
membership is a sign of a business’s commitment to the perpetual preservation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
New Businesses
Mount Cammerer ($2,500 annually)
Shuckstack Level ($500 annually)
Look Rock Level ($250 annually)
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Renewing Businesses
Cove Mountain Level ($1,000 annually)
Look Rock Level ($250 annually)
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National Park visitation to date
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Will Great Smoky Mountains National Park hit 12 million visitors in 2019? Only time will tell...
January: 496,743
February: 421,770
March: 786,305
April: 999,259
May: 1,096,056
June: 1,469,857
July: 1,613,133
August: 1,411,231
September: 1,273,326
October: 1,408,013
2019 Total Thru October:
10,975,693
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Last Year's Park Visitation
through October: 9,913,733
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The most recent issue of
Smokies Guide
, Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official park newspaper, is available to read online and can be mailed to you for free (S&H charges apply). Call 865.436.7318, Ext. 226 for mailing details.
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Great Smoky Mountains Association's
Cub Report e-newsletter is published near the beginning of each month, with the exception of January.
Laurel Rematore, chief executive officer
Frances Figart, editor
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Writers and contributors to this issue include Logan Boldon, Emma DuFort, Breckenridge Morgan, Valerie Polk and Dawn Roark.
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