Blog Archives

April 7, 2020

4/7/2020

For your enjoyment, a look at what’s happening on the mountain during the closure. Time seems to be standing still and yet marches on as the seasons change.

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GSMNP and LeConte Lodge Closure Extension

4/1/2020

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In conjunction with the extended closure of Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the COVID-19 outbreak, LeConte Lodge will also be extending its closure to all visitors.  Please read the Park’s most recent press release for details regarding these and other closures.  This latest announcement from GSMNP implies that the revised closure will extend at least through April 30, 2020.

Guests with reservations now through April 30, 2020 will be receiving refund checks in the mail and should refrain from contacting our reservations office at this time.  Guests affected should only contact our reservations office if they are inquiring about rescheduling their stay for a later date in the 2020 season as space allows.  Guests with reservations May 1st onward should refrain from contacting our reservations office, and await guidance from the lodge up until a week before their scheduled stay.

LeConte Lodge will remain under continual surveillance, but there will not be a daily blog from the top during the closure.  Only updates regarding the closure itself and information pertinent to guests with reservations will be provided on our social media pages at this time.

Thank you for your patronage and understanding as we continue to work through this closure.  We look forward to reopening our doors as soon as possible.

Park Extends Closure to Support Regional COVID-19 Prevention Efforts

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that all park areas, except the Foothills Parkway and Spur, will remain closed until further notice. All access to the park, including trails and roads, were originally closed on March 24 through April 6, in alignment with efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 across the region. The park is extending the closure in response to Executive Order 121 issued by NC Governor Roy Cooper, Executive Order 22 issued by TN Governor Bill Lee, and ‘Stay at Home’ orders in local communities surrounding the park.

The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Park managers will continue to evaluate regional conditions and work with local communities to assess dates for an orderly reopening of park facilities in a manner that provides for the health and safety of employees, volunteers, partners, residents, and visitors. While park managers are prepared to act to reopen as quickly as conditions allow, the park is likely to remain closed at least through April 30. The park will notify the public when park operations resume through our website at
www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
and social media platforms.
During the closure period, visitors can experience the park using digital tools including our social media platforms and website where near real-time views can be seen via park webcams at
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
Park rangers remain available to answer questions via email or phone during business hours at (865) 436-1291, (828) 506-8620, or GRSM_Smokies_Information@nps.gov.

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