What friends do when the Park closes

 

Nine-Day extension to keep Smokies open through Oct. 19 during government shutdown

KODAK, Tenn. (Oct. 8, 2025) -  Sevier County has announced a nine-day extension to the agreement that will keep Great Smoky Mountains National Park open and fully operation through Oct. 19, 2025. This extension is to the previously announced agreement that reopened the park Oct. 4 through Oct. 10, 2025. Friends of the Smokies is among several partners that have provided support to fully open the park during the shutdown, including the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Sevier County, Blount County, Cocke County, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Pittman Center. Friends of the Smokies is a nonprofit partner of the national park funded by your generous donations and specialty license plates. You help us fund projects, programs, equipment, and staffing the national park cannot afford with its normal annual budget. In special circumstances, such as the government shutdown, your support has put us in a position to step up for our beloved Smokies. We couldn't do it without your help.  As always, check the park's Current Conditions page for the latest closures. See this full press release at our website.

"Lapse of Appropriations", or the government shutdown

The federal government has shut down due to a bunch of child-like behavior!

The link below will give you the GSMNP information for visitors during this time.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm