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The Smokies are Back! In Episode 108 join Chuck Schmidt, travel host for a journey through Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as surrounding communities in the aftermath of the COVID virus. Learn about weekly updates for attractions, hiking trails, dining, shopping and road closures. Plus, up to date information regarding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Let’s take a look at the park. What’s open and what’s colsed
Closed:
All the visitor’s centers – Closed
Campgrounds – Closed until at least June 7th
Clingman’s Dome – Open!
Trails Closed:
All other trails and backcountry campsites & shelters (accessible from open roads) are open with reduced capacity limits
The only open roads are:
| Big Creek Road |
| Cades Cove Loop Road (will open daily at 8:00 a.m. No closures for bicycles only) |
| Cherokee Orchard Road (Historic Nature Trail) |
| Clingmans Dome Road |
| Cosby Road |
| Deep Creek Road and Trailheads* – Down near Bryson City |
| Foothills Parkway |
| Gatlinburg Bypass |
| Greenbrier Road (Due to roadwork, only open to Ramsey Cascades Trailhead only) |
| Lakeview Drive Road* -Down near Bryson City |
| Laurel Creek Road |
| Little River Road |
| Newfound Gap Road |
| Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail |
| Tom Branch Road |
| Tow String Road |
| Tremont Road |
| Upper Tremont Road |
| Wear Cove Road (Metcalf Bottoms) |
The following roads remain closed for motorists, but will be open for pedestrians and cyclists:
Elkmont Road, , Hwy 284, Cataloochee Road, Abrams Creek Road, Forge Creek Road, Rich Mountain Road, Little Greenbrier Road, Balsam Mountain Road, Heintooga Round Bottom Road, Straight Fork Road, Twentymile Road.
Picnic Areas that are Open as of May 23rd:
Big Creek
Cades Cove
Chimney Tops
Collins Creek and Pavilion
Cosby and Pavilion
Deep Creek and Pavilion
Metcalf Bottoms and Pavilion
Open restrooms:
Clingmans Dome
Newfound Gap
Restrooms near Cable Mill in Cades Cove
Restrooms near Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Restrooms near Sugarlands Visitor Center
Abram Falls, Alum Cave, and Rainbow Falls Trailheads
Restrooms at open picnic areas
Concession Operations are scheduled to open on the following dates:
Sugarlands Riding Stables
Cades Cove Riding Stables
LeConte Lodge
Cades Cove Campstore on 5/23;
Smokemont Riding Stables on 5/23
Smoky Mountain Riding Stables is pending;
When you’re planning your trip, have several options in mind so that you can switch plans if an area is congested. Hikers and horseback riders should expect to encounter more debris and downed trees along trails. Our normal spring clearing operations to remove winter downfall by volunteers and staff have been delayed due to the park closure and local ‘stay at home’ orders that were in place this spring to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Open Businesses
Indeed the Smokies are back! The following businesses have reopened since last weeks update. Please note that they may have limited services and hours in addition to specific amenities and features remaining closed.
| Alcatraz East Crime Museum |
| Arcadia |
| Big Rock Dude Ranch |
| CAM Cabin Crafts |
| Cooters |
| Country Cascades |
| Davy Crockett Mini Golf Course |
| Gatlinburg Space Needle |
| Love Life Live Life |
| Nantahala Outdoor Center Gatlinburg Retail Shop |
| Outdoor Adventures |
| Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show |
| Pigeon Forge Snow |
| Pink Jeep Tours |
| Rip Roaring Adventures |
| Rowdy Bear Mountain Gatlinburg |
| Sevier Air Trampoline & Ninja Warrior Park |
| Smoky Mountain Angler |
| Smoky Mountain Cat House |
| Smoky Mountain Popcorn Company |
| Smoky Mountain Spinnery |
| Stiffy’s Ax Throwing |
| The Captured |
| The Cliff Dwellers Gallery |
| The Coaster At Goats On The Roof |
| The Spice and Tea of Gatlinburg |
| Zoo Knoxville |
Future Reopenings
The following businesses have shared an official opening date with the public. These are still subject to change. Please contact the businesses directly for the most up to date information.
| Anakeesta | May 21 |
| Pigeon Forge Trolley | May 21 |
| Buttonwillow Civil War Theater | May 22 |
| Cookie Dough Bliss | May 22 |
| Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park | May 22 |
| Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster | May 22 |
| Gatlinburg SkyLift Park | May 22 |
| Gatlinburg Trolley | May 22 |
| Ober Gatlinburg | May 22 |
| Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg | May 22 |
| Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies | May 22 |
| Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater | May 22 |
| Ripley’s Believe It Or Not | May 22 |
| Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze | May 22 |
| Ripley’s Super Fun Zone | May 22 |
| Smoky Mountain Ziplines | May 22 |
| Tube River Rage | May 22 |
| Wonderworks | May 22 |
| Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show | May 23 |
| Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud | May 23 |
| Nantahala Outdoor Center Pigeon Rafting | May 29 |
| Biblical Times Dinner Theater | May 30 |
| Red Skelton Tribute Theater | May 30 |
| Titanic Museum | June 1 |
| Unforgettable View Massage | June 1 |
| Grand Majestic Dinner Theater | June 2 |
| Wilderness At The Smokies | June 4 |
| Country Tonite Theatre | June 5 |
| Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre | June 5 |
There you have it, this completes my Smokies Reopening Update for 5/20/2020.
For information regarding businesses in the Smoky Mountains Area Reopening please visit: https://www.pigeonforge.com/coronavirus-updates
I’m going to be doing podcast updates every Thursday from this point on. I apologize if I got some things wrong here on this current podcast but there is a lot of information to sift through and not every business is updating their websites or Facebook pages.
Are you planning a visit to the Smokies and are wondering how to fit it all in? Check out our sample itineraries: https://dancingbearfoot.blog/2018/08/30/smoky-mountains-vacation-itinerary-day-1/
If this is your fist time coming to the Smokies and renting a cabin check out out blog post in what to look for when renting a log cabin.
Thank you for reading. If you’d like to learn more about our cabin or other great things to see while visiting the Smoky Mountains please visit us at Dancing Bearfoot.com.
Like our Pizza Bear? Check out the other great artwork from Kenton Visser https://www.kentonvisser.com/
