My husband and I have had the pleasure of visiting a majority of the US National Parks over the years. What an amazing place, each and every one of them. We currently reside in E TN and owned a house in Gatlinburg. We sold the house before the wildfire and it still stands today. We took our first trip back to Gatlinburg and GSMNP since the Nov ‘16 wildfire just last week. We were saddened, especially viewing Chimney Tops from a friend’s balcony. Smoky took a big hit. This was due to two careless young men, very dry conditions, stormy weather and most of all, mandatory burns not able to able to take place as frequently as needed. Our parks are our number one resource in this great country. It’s time we start putting something back into them, rather than always taking from them so everyone can enjoy them going forward. I believe in the mission of the NPCA and fully support it. Thank you. The cleanup from this fire has amounted to over 90 TONS of waste from houses, trees and everything else we lost in this wildfire. It’s all sitting at the Sevier County Waste System now with no answers when something this horrible may happen again. My deepest hope is that it does not, but with storms increasing, a lightning strike could bring the next sad event.
Sincerely,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the country's most popular national park sites. It offers postcard-perfect views and plentiful wildlife.
State(s): North Carolina Tennessee,
Established: 1926
“Every park offers a unique, peaceful and educational opportunity. I believe nothing is stronger or more amazing than nature. Our national parks are proof of this and they need to be respected far more than they are now. Let's all help by not tossing a plastic bottle on the ground. Is the trash/recycle bin really that far away?”
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Mid-October, 2023—colors between Cherokee and Gatlinburg
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Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Even before my family and I reached the Smokies, I was in awe of the scenery around me. Tennessee’s vibrant forests framed the road on either side, and we drove along a glimmering creek that threaded through the trees. Later, after hiking up to Clingmans Dome, we watched the fog…
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