The Latest Breaking News from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 1964, a couple bought 535 acres in North Carolina and built a summer home there; decades later, they donated the entire property to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its largest land gift since the park was created

Transforming a cherished family haven into a hub for environmental research, this 535-acre property in North Carolina has been generously donated to the National Park Service. Now known as the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, it plays a crucial role in studying the impacts of climate change and preserving the…

The Times of India · Sep 3

European wild boars escaped a North Carolina hunting ranch in 1912; a century later the Smokies still removes hundreds each year to limit their damage

Invasive European wild boars, originally introduced to the area in 1912, are wreaking havoc within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To mitigate damage to delicate ecosystems, park management annually removes around 275 of these feral hogs. The boars breed with domestic pigs, creating hybrid species that further disrupt native wildlife.…

The Times of India · Aug 19

National parks are key conservation areas for wildlife and natural resources

The United States’ national parks have an inherent contradiction. The federal law that created the National Park Service says the agency – and the parks – must “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife … unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The Conversation · Aug 4, 2025

Smokies to require parking passes beginning next March

Beginning next March, visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park will need to purchase a parking pass to use the facilities

The Independent UK · Aug 15, 2022

350-pound bear rips into sleeping family’s tent in Smoky Mountains, claws mom and child

A 350-pound bear ripped into a sleeping family’s tent inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park before clawing a mother and 3-year-old girl, according to the National Park Service.

Tribune News Service · Jun 14, 2022

Smoky Mountains seeks parking fees, campsite rate increases

Great Smoky Mountains National Park wants to start charging parking fees and increase rates for campsites, day-use cabin rentals and picnic pavilions

The Independent UK · Apr 6, 2022

Crews work to contain wildfire near Smoky Mountains

Officials say firefighters from across Tennessee are working to contain a wildfire near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that spread overnight despite rain from storms that passed through the area

The Independent UK · Mar 31, 2022