Presents
Great Smoky Mountains National Park's visitor's information resource.
Original wooden tower on Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Be sure to follow us on our Great Smoky Mountains Facebook page for the latest news, events, history and more.
Get your own Great Smoky Mountains Signature Series Coffee.
Homemade Foods Store is proud to offer Great Smoky Mountains Signature Series Coffee.
This coffee is a blend of three single source whole bean coffees. It is blended at the perfect ratio to represent the best qualities of each coffee. The result is a unique blend that registers between medium and bold.
We also donate 10% of the sales profits to help the GSMNP.
Click the link below to get more information about the coffee.
Homemade Foods Store is proud to offer Great Smoky Mountains Signature Series Coffee.
This coffee is a blend of three single source whole bean coffees. It is blended at the perfect ratio to represent the best qualities of each coffee. The result is a unique blend that registers between medium and bold.
We also donate 10% of the sales profits to help the GSMNP.
Click the link below to get more information about the coffee.
Order your Great Smoky Mountains Scenic Calendar.
Click below for details.
Click below for details.
Check out our merchandise store to get your souvenir momentos.
Get clothing, coffee cups, water bottles, tote bags and more.
Get clothing, coffee cups, water bottles, tote bags and more.
Click the button below to see what you might like.
Be sure to sign up for our online Great Smoky Mountain Weekly Newspaper to get the latest news and updates .
Barnes Appalachian Photography Online
Terrie Shults Barnes is a lifelong resident of Cocke County, Tennessee. Her passion for photography developed at an early age, but only recently began pursuing the art as a profession. She specifically enjoys capturing special moments like weddings as well as seeking out wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When she is not out and about with her camera, she works retail in Gatlinburg and spends time with her “grandkids".
Click below to see her offerings.
Terrie Shults Barnes is a lifelong resident of Cocke County, Tennessee. Her passion for photography developed at an early age, but only recently began pursuing the art as a profession. She specifically enjoys capturing special moments like weddings as well as seeking out wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When she is not out and about with her camera, she works retail in Gatlinburg and spends time with her “grandkids".
Click below to see her offerings.
Click the buttons below to start planning
& see what's new in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Overview
People have always flocked to areas of natural beauty. Long before the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSM) even became an official national park, people came to this area to enjoy the natural beauty that is so much in abundance. That is what made Sevier County a national vacation destination.
The GSM is a 522,427-acre natural playground that lies on the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2019 they broke all time visitation records with 12,547,743 million outdoor enthusiasts roaming the hills and valleys - each one finding an adventure that was perfect for them. Within the park boundaries you'll find more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the LeConte Lodge, close to 800 miles of trails, front and backcountry camping, an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers, history in every corner, and 2,100 miles of streams to play in.
One of the most popular places within the GSM is Cades Cove (CC). CC is circled by an 11 mile, one way loop road, which features a visitor center, restrooms, and the Cabel Mill historic area at the half-way point. CC offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the GSM, including white-tail deer, black bear, coyote, ground hog, raccoon, skunk, among other animals and birds. Scattered among the loop road are 3 churches, a working grist mill, barns, log
houses and other restored 18th & 19th century structures. First used by prehistoric Paleo Indians, the first official settlers at CC took residence between 1818 and 1821, and by 1850, the population was about 271.
Another popular area in the GSM, is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (RF). RF is a 6 mile long, one-way, narrow loop road, which winds its way past rushing mountain streams, old growth forest and a number of well-preserved log cabins, grist mills and other historic buildings. RF is one of the GSM larger and faster streams, which is evident if you drive it after a hard rain. Right before entering RF, you can take a short walking tour of an authentic mountain farmstead “Noah Ogle,” which features a streamside tubmill and a handcrafted wooden and flume plumbing system. Please note that buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted on RF.
The GSM contains one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. 90+ historic structures, including houses, barns, out-buildings, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved or rehabilitated in the GSM.
Scientists think that we are currently aware of only 17% of the plants and animals that live in the GSM. Scientists from around the world and plenty of volunteers are currently locating, identifying, and indexing plants and animals in the GSM as part of an international effort. More desired to see than the natural beauty, is the black bear. The GSM is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, where black bears can live in a wild, natural environment. 1,500 black bears inhabit all areas and elevations of the GSM and average 2 bears per square mile. Take the time to experience some of the GSM while you are here and see what wonderful memories you can take home with you, but remember it is a crime to take anything else out of the park.
National Park Service
Overview
The year 2016 marked a very special milestone for the National Park Service (NPS), because they celebrated 100 years of providing stewardship of America’s most treasured lands. The NPS official mission statement is, “The NPS preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the N.P. System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the level of its natural and cultural recourse conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.” Former President Theodore Roosevelt called the conservation of natural recourses as “essentially democratic in spirit, purpose and method,” quoted from [A Book-Lover’s Holiday in the Open], (1916). The NPS represents something special to Americans and the world. Currently, the NPS acts as the keeper of 401 park units, 23 national scenic and historic trails and 58 wild and scenic rivers. Specifically, natural parks are significant drives of economic activity, particularly on gateway communities. Each $1 dollar invested in the NPS generates approximately $10 dollars in gross sales revenue. [Economic & Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation](2011).
Source Credit: Compilation of material from ”NPS FY 2014 budget justifications general statement”, Outdoor Project website and National Park Service website.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Overview
People have always flocked to areas of natural beauty. Long before the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSM) even became an official national park, people came to this area to enjoy the natural beauty that is so much in abundance. That is what made Sevier County a national vacation destination.
The GSM is a 522,427-acre natural playground that lies on the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. In 2019 they broke all time visitation records with 12,547,743 million outdoor enthusiasts roaming the hills and valleys - each one finding an adventure that was perfect for them. Within the park boundaries you'll find more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the LeConte Lodge, close to 800 miles of trails, front and backcountry camping, an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers, history in every corner, and 2,100 miles of streams to play in.
One of the most popular places within the GSM is Cades Cove (CC). CC is circled by an 11 mile, one way loop road, which features a visitor center, restrooms, and the Cabel Mill historic area at the half-way point. CC offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in the GSM, including white-tail deer, black bear, coyote, ground hog, raccoon, skunk, among other animals and birds. Scattered among the loop road are 3 churches, a working grist mill, barns, log
houses and other restored 18th & 19th century structures. First used by prehistoric Paleo Indians, the first official settlers at CC took residence between 1818 and 1821, and by 1850, the population was about 271.
Another popular area in the GSM, is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (RF). RF is a 6 mile long, one-way, narrow loop road, which winds its way past rushing mountain streams, old growth forest and a number of well-preserved log cabins, grist mills and other historic buildings. RF is one of the GSM larger and faster streams, which is evident if you drive it after a hard rain. Right before entering RF, you can take a short walking tour of an authentic mountain farmstead “Noah Ogle,” which features a streamside tubmill and a handcrafted wooden and flume plumbing system. Please note that buses, trailers, and motor homes are not permitted on RF.
The GSM contains one of the best collections of log buildings in the eastern United States. 90+ historic structures, including houses, barns, out-buildings, churches, schools and grist mills have been preserved or rehabilitated in the GSM.
Scientists think that we are currently aware of only 17% of the plants and animals that live in the GSM. Scientists from around the world and plenty of volunteers are currently locating, identifying, and indexing plants and animals in the GSM as part of an international effort. More desired to see than the natural beauty, is the black bear. The GSM is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, where black bears can live in a wild, natural environment. 1,500 black bears inhabit all areas and elevations of the GSM and average 2 bears per square mile. Take the time to experience some of the GSM while you are here and see what wonderful memories you can take home with you, but remember it is a crime to take anything else out of the park.
National Park Service
Overview
The year 2016 marked a very special milestone for the National Park Service (NPS), because they celebrated 100 years of providing stewardship of America’s most treasured lands. The NPS official mission statement is, “The NPS preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the N.P. System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the level of its natural and cultural recourse conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.” Former President Theodore Roosevelt called the conservation of natural recourses as “essentially democratic in spirit, purpose and method,” quoted from [A Book-Lover’s Holiday in the Open], (1916). The NPS represents something special to Americans and the world. Currently, the NPS acts as the keeper of 401 park units, 23 national scenic and historic trails and 58 wild and scenic rivers. Specifically, natural parks are significant drives of economic activity, particularly on gateway communities. Each $1 dollar invested in the NPS generates approximately $10 dollars in gross sales revenue. [Economic & Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation](2011).
Source Credit: Compilation of material from ”NPS FY 2014 budget justifications general statement”, Outdoor Project website and National Park Service website.
Updated and published quarterly by
c Excellent Publishing All Rights Reserved.