From the Peaceful Side of the Smokies
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Townsend is the perfect place for a seniors’ day out. You can spend the whole day on fairly flat ground, park close to what you want to see and find plenty of places to sit. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the calmest days to visit, so try to plan for those if…
Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the nonprofit Friends of the Smokies will continue to provide funding to ensure Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open with basic visitor services and limited staffing from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026. The latest agreement allows the popular Cades Cove Loop Road to remain open to the…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Do you believe in ghosts? According to a recent poll, about 39% of Americans do. While Southern Appalachia has become a trending ghost-hunting hotspot on TikTok, the Peaceful Side of the Smokies seems—well, peaceful. You won’t hear many ghost stories floating around Blount County. But in the spirit of Halloween, here…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Art in Public Places, presented by Dogwood Arts, has returned to Blount County with six new outdoor sculptures. These works can now be seen around Maryville and Alcoa, including the Clayton Center for the Arts, the Alcoa Municipal Building, Greenway Village and Pistol Creek near downtown Maryville. Founded in 2007 by…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler From pumpkin carving and spooky runs to concerts, art classes and Halloween bashes, October brings fall color and festive fun across Blount County. Here’s what’s happening this month: October 10 – Clay Handbuilding Class: Pumpkin Get your hands muddy in this guided clay handbuilding workshop at Creative Spark Studio from 5:30 to…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler In just a few weeks, the summer heat will break, and East Tennessee will be ablaze with fall foliage. What better way to experience this spectacular transition than a camping trip? Since the Great Smoky Mountains is the nation’s most-visited park, it’s a good idea to start planning early. Just outside…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler While some national park services are limited during the federal shutdown, Townsend and Blount County remain open and welcoming. Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself is still accessible, but with fewer staffed facilities, some visitors may want additional options to round out their trip. Tourism is essential here. In 2024, visitors…
Blount County and the Townsend community remain open and welcoming to visitors while federal agencies operate with reduced staffing. We are closely coordinating with Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) officials and local emergency services to prioritize visitor safety and protect our natural and cultural resources. What visitors should know now: Townsend & Blount County…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler In the decades following the Civil War, Maryville was a town in transition. The war had left Downtown Maryville in ruins, and rebuilding came slowly. Brick and frame storefronts began to rise again, and on the city’s edges, new homes appeared. Among them was Indiana Avenue, where Quaker settlers from Indiana…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler Many East Tennessee place names come from the Cherokee language, especially from the Overhill Cherokee—settlements along the Little Tennessee River that English traders in the 1700s reached by traveling “over the hills.” Some names remain nearly unchanged, while others were adapted by settlers. Here are a few examples located in and…
Written by: Smokies Life Smokies Life announces its fall schedule of Branch Out events, with 19 total activities and adventures being offered between mid-September and December. From moderate-to-robust naturalist hikes on park trails to engaging virtual events enjoyed from home, Branch Out programs offer activities for a wide range of interests.“Fall is an ideal time…
Written by: Emily Huffstetler On September 2, 1940, thousands gathered at Newfound Gap to dedicate Great Smoky Mountains National Park. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, standing against the backdrop of spruce and fir, promised the land “to the service of the millions of American people.”1 “There are trees here that stood before our forefathers ever came…
