Tag: Chamber of Commerce

As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Blount County ranked eighth among Tennessee’s 95 counties in 2024 visitor expenditures at $610.9 million, a six-percent increase from $576.1 million in 2023, according to the Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties report issued by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Gov. Bill Lee.

On an average day, visitor spending generated $1.7 million in daily expenditures, $600,000 in daily labor income and $67,353 in daily local tax collections. In total, visitor spending in Blount County generated $24.6 million in local tax revenue meaning that each household in the county saw a $1,063 annual tax savings.

Davidson County, which includes the city of Nashville, topped all county indices with $11.2 billion in tourism economic impact. Shelby County was second at $4.2 billion, Sevier third at $3.9 billion, Knox was fourth at $2.1 billion and Hamilton fifth at $1.8 billion. Williamson County entered in sixth with $1.4 billion and Rutherford County was seventh at $787.6 million. Montgomery and Wilson counties at $419.5 and $370.7 million, respectively, round out the top 10.

“It’s wonderful to witness the ongoing growth of the tourism industry throughout the state, especially here in Blount County, where we’ve experienced record-high visitor spending,” said Kim Mitchell, Director of the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority. “As the leisure and hospitality industry stands as the state’s third-largest employer, it’s crucial that we keep promoting our region, which offers abundant outdoor activities and a wide range of dining and lodging choices.”

Tourism employment in the county was at an all-time high of 4,952 which also led to an all-time high payroll of $218.8 million.

State tax receipts for the county totaled $33.3 million, marking the ninth consecutive year of reaching at least $20 million.

Statewide, Tennessee’s tourism industry broke records for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, generating $31.66 billion in direct visitor spending and welcoming 147 million visitors. Tennessee saw a 12% year-over-year increase in international travel spending. This is notable because the report does not consider impacts from new direct flights from Iceland and Ireland added in Spring 2025. Those impacts will not appear until next year’s report.

Tennessee direct visitor spending has grown 36.6% over 2018 compared to the US AVG growth of 17.4% per data from Tourism Economics.

“I’m so grateful to our amazing tourism and hospitality industry for these remarkable results,” said Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “The Tennessee Tourism team has been able to leverage bigger tourism budgets to help grow visitor spending over 36% in these last six years. We are leading the nation as one of just a few states that are aggressively growing tax revenue from non-Tennessee residents to benefit all seven million Tennesseans.”

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 public along with all visitor centers and picnic areas that are normally open this time of year.

Friends of the Smokies joined a partnership of state and local entities that funded the reopening and full staffing of the national park from Oct. 4 through Nov. 2. During that time, all furloughed park employees returned to work, received paychecks, and continued their efforts to serve visitors and protect the park during the busiest tourism month of the year. Great Smoky Mountains National Park attracts an average of more than 1.6 million visitors each October.

As the national park transitions to a relatively slower visitation season, the latest agreement from Nov. 3, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, will reduce the funded staff positions to those directly related to basic visitor services. Many park employees will be furloughed if the shutdown continues beyond Nov. 2.

The official agreement to keep the park open is specifically between Sevier County Government and the National Park Service. Under the arrangement, Sevier County pays the federal government directly and the other partners pay their share to Sevier County. The funding effort has been supported by Sevier County, the cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Blount County, the State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourism, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Friends of the Smokies.

Under the Nov. 3 through Jan. 4 agreement, the total cost to keep the park open with basic services and reduced staffing is approximately $80,000 per week. The State of Tennessee will contribute $25,000 of that weekly total while the remaining seven partners provide $7,000 weekly. Fees collected by the national park for recreation and parking will also be used to fund essential operations.

“This is a tough time for our partners in the national park,” said Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies. “Friends of the Smokies is proud to help fund staffing through the holidays so emergency services, restrooms, and visitor centers can remain open when visitation is high. Still, we’re deeply saddened that critical work – treating hemlocks, repairing trails, and preserving historic cabins will pause due to furloughed staff. Caring for this park is year-round work, and the best news will be a fully funded park with an end to the shutdown.”

The upcoming nine-week agreement ensures previously planned events will continue even if the shutdown persists. That includes the Cades Cove Loop Lope 10-mile and 5K race scheduled Nov. 9, 2025. The race is one of the major annual fundraisers for Friends of the Smokies and is the only official footrace held inside the national park. The event sold out within 24 hours when registration opened in June and attracted participants from 28 different states.

There are also several school activities scheduled in the national park in November. The agreement provides funding for the park’s education staff to work part-time during those student events to allow them to continue as planned. Special use permits for weddings and other previously scheduled events will also be allowed to proceed.

Restrooms, campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor centers will remain open and accessible to the public on the park’s normal seasonal schedule. Parking tags will still be available for purchase and are required for anyone parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes.

Please note there are many seasonal closings that naturally occur in Great Smoky Mountains National Park regardless of the shutdown. That includes several campgrounds, picnic areas, and roads that close during the colder months. See the park’s seasonal facility schedule for more details. Roads can also close in the park due to weather conditions, as is often the case at higher elevations such as Newfound Gap Road and Kuwohi Road. Check the park’s Current Conditions page for the latest closure information.

In early 2017, the Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson family was rocked by the sudden and untimely death of 23-year-old Sean Summerfield. Sean was a resident of Maryville and graduated from William Blount High School in 2011. Sean “Little Sean” Summerfield practically grew up at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson. He began working there at the age of 15 when his father Mike, also a member of the Smoky Mountain family, volunteered him for an open wash bay position. By 16, Little Sean was riding his Sportster every day to school and then working afternoons and weekends at the dealership. It was obvious from the beginning that Harley-Davidson was in his blood. He absorbed everything from those around him, building and modifying his own motorcycle and working on all sorts of special projects for the dealership. Little Sean was the inspiration for Smoky Mountain H-D’s High School Bike Build Off and was a key member in the development and promotion of the Smoky Mountain Scrambler projects. For all that knew him, his “Summerfield Smile” was contagious; his sense of adventure filled others with life. He was a real-life James Dean and his memory will live forever in all of us.

To memorialize his life, Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson has created the Sean Summerfield Memorial Scholarship to be awarded to a child of a SMH-D employee or Blount Co student. The scholarship is funded by the annual Smoky Mtn Cannonball Run event. The Cannonball Run will consist of teams of motorcycle riders using their navigation skills to hit as many checkpoints as possible within a 7-hour timeframe. Checkpoints are located all over East Tennessee within a 100-mile radius of SMH-D. Registration for riders to participate is $25 and is available online at smh-d.com. The event will occur rain or shine on April 30th with the day of registration opening up at SMH-D at 8 am. All riders must be registered by 11 am to participate. Donations will also be accepted online and on the day of the event. At 6 pm we will be handing out thousands in cash and prizes to winners of the event, the 2022 Scholarship winner will be announced prior to the concert, and conclude the evening with live music at The Shed located next door to Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson, featuring Tuesday’s Gone: The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Concert. The concert is free for those who participate in the run.

What: Smoky Mtn Cannonball Run

When: April 30 at 11 a.m.

Where: Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson, 1820 W. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Maryville, TN 37801

More info can be found on our website and social media outlets.

Website – https://www.smh-d.com/–cannonballrun

YouTube (past event link) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8GaOWQ3eDg

FB-  https://www.facebook.com/SmokyMtnHD

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/smokymtnhd/

Ticket link- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/smoky-mountain-h-d-cannonball-run-tickets-230932945657

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (GSMHC) is excited to announce Tastes of the Smokies (TastesoftheSmokies.com), a new annual event focusing on Appalachian culture, food,
and music. The event is Saturday, June 18th from 4:30-7:00PM on the grounds of the Heritage Center at 123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend, TN 37882.

“My staff and I look forward to hosting our entire community for this exciting new event on Saturday, June 18th,” says Brent Lambert, Executive Director of GSMHC, “We invite members and nonmembers alike to spend the late afternoon and evening at Tastes of the Smokies at the GSMHC and then stay for the Carlene Carter concert in our on-site amphitheater.”

Featuring 20 exhibitors spanning various crafts and woodworking skills spread out amongst the unique museum and village, Tastes of the Smokies will also include local restaurants providing
“tastes” of their featured dishes. Elvira’s, the Abbey, and Peaceful Side Social will be serving, as well as other local vendors. Three separate live acoustic music areas will be set up around the
Heritage Center campus. Beverage “tastes” will be provided by Albright Grove Brewing, Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, EZ Stop, and Argentinean wines will be provided by the Boyd Family.

The Heritage Center’s unique Appalachian village and museum will be alive with the sounds and smells of the way life used to be in the Smoky Mountains.

Directly after the Tastes of the Smokies event, there is an optional concert starting at 7:30PM featuring long time country artist and CMA entertainer Carlene Carter. Dusty Leigh will open up
for Carlene Carter. Tickets will need to be purchased separately for the concert.

This is a ticketed event for those 21 and over. All are cordially invited to attend and to support this new annual fundraiser for the GSMHC. Tickets can be found at this link
(TastesoftheSmokies.com).

In consultation with local authorities and out of an abundance of caution due to expected inclement weather produced by Hurricane Helene, the Blount Partnership made the difficult decision to cancel the Townsend Fall Heritage and Bluegrass Festival scheduled for September 27-28 at the Townsend Events Center in Townsend.

With the safety of attendees, performers, and vendors as the top priority, this decision was made in light of the significant rainfall and high winds expected in the region as a result of the hurricane. These conditions are anticipated to create hazardous travel and saturated grounds, posing a safety risk for those attending and participating in the event.

This marks the first time in the festival’s 30-plus year history that it has been completely canceled, underscoring the severity of the weather forecast. The festival, a beloved annual celebration of heritage, bluegrass music, and community spirit, will be sorely missed this year, but the decision reflects the Partnership’s commitment to the well-being of all involved.

“While we are deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s event, the safety of our attendees and everyone involved must come first,” said Blount Partnership Communications Director Jeff Muir. “With the saturated grounds and continued rainfall, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable environment for our festival-goers.”

The Blount Partnership encourages all those who planned to attend to stay safe and monitor local weather updates. They also extend their gratitude for the ongoing support of the community and look forward to hosting the festival again next year under safer conditions.

Event sponsors are Danielle Snipes Allstate Insurance, Century 21 Legacy, Harvest Thyme, Leaf Filter, Little Arrow Outdoor resort, Renewal by Andersen, Rocky Branch Mountain Music, and Senior Care Partners of East Tennessee.

From June 17-21, 2024, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is hosting Naturalist Week, a free virtual event designed to connect people with nature from wherever they are. Kids and adults are encouraged to explore their backyards, local parks, or any green spaces to notice the nature around them.

Naturalist Week features the Level Up Challenge, where participants earn points by engaging in outdoor activities such as eating a meal outside, following an insect’s travel path, or camping in the backyard. Participants collect 25 points to win a prize and enter a drawing for a custom Tremont experience. Point totals should be submitted online by Monday, June 24 to receive a prize in the mail.

Last year, 56 individuals ranging from 4 to 77 years old from 13 states completed the Level Up Challenge, earning a total of 2,088 points. A local participant shared with event organizers, “I noticed how magical it is to share time and perspectives with someone else while in nature. My daughter and I love similar experiences, but introduced new ways of seeing something to each other.”

On Thursday, June 20, Tremont is hosting The Big Day, a challenge to document as many species as possible, including plants, mammals, fungi, insects, birds, and lichens. For each observation shared on Tremont’s website or social media, a generous donor will donate a dollar to support Tremont’s environmental education programs.

“Over the last two years, we have stories of people exploring with their grandkids, taking intentional time outside during lunch breaks at work, and discovering nature mysteries in their backyards,” said Tremont’s Marketing Director, Erin Rosolina. “It’s incredibly heartening to see people explore biodiversity and find wonder in their own outdoor spaces.”

To wrap up the week, Tremont is hosting a family-friendly happy hour at Yee-Haw Brewing Company in Knoxville on Friday, June 21, from 6 to 10 p.m. A dollar from each pint sold will support Tremont’s programming.

Virtual Naturalist Week is taking place at the same time as an in-person Naturalist Week on Tremont’s campus inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The in-person event is an overnight environmental camp for adults, and includes several of the same activities as the virtual event, including The Big Day. A few spots remain for the in-person Naturalist Week camp; learn more at gsmit.org/event/naturalist-week.

Though not required to participate, Tremont encourages donations to Naturalist Week; the funds raised throughout the week will support the nonprofit’s year-round work to connect people of all ages with nature, both through on-campus experiences in the Smokies and educational outreach in the surrounding communities.

Learn more about Naturalist Week activities, including the Level Up Challenge and species documentation, at gsmit.org/naturalist.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is pleased to announce the second annual Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry coordinated in partnership with Smokies Life, formerly Great Smoky Mountains Association. Applications to participate in the event may be submitted online now through April 30 at writers.gsmit.org.

From Wednesday, October 23, through Sunday, October 27, a small group of selected writers will join renowned authors and professional park educators on Tremont’s campus in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Participants will enjoy brainstorming and fine-tuning their work with award-winning author workshop leaders while also learning and writing throughout the day.

Morning workshops in fiction, nonfiction and poetry will take place outdoors, led by faculty members Monic Ductan (fiction), David Brill (nonfiction) and Maurice Manning (poetry). Guest author Frank X Walker, the first African American Kentucky Poet Laureate and workshop leader at the 2023 conference, will lead several sessions for the entire group, including a guided discussion on the craft of writing. Each afternoon, writers will join experienced Tremont naturalists for guided explorations that spark curiosity and wonder through a deeper connection to the region’s cultural and natural history. Evenings will conclude with hearty dinners, fellowship with peers, and readings by writing faculty. Meals and lodging are provided.

“A sense of community came from the gathering of creative souls dedicated to their crafts — attendees seeking growth and honing, and leaders sharing their insights and guiding us with their experience,” said writer and photographer Michele Sons who participated in the inaugural Tremont Writers Conference in October 2023, which brought together 20 writers from all over the country. “By stepping out of my comfort zone, I gained confidence in my writing, and I came home with concrete ways to improve my manuscript based on the feedback of our leaders and the group at large.”

Applications for the October conference should be submitted no later than April 30. Acceptance to conference workshops is based on manuscript evaluation, with chosen writers notified by July 14. Additional information about the Tremont Writers Conference and complete 2024 application guidelines can be found at writers.gsmit.org.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is pleased to announce the fourth annual Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry coordinated in conjunction with Smokies Life. Applications to participate may be submitted online now through May 15 at writers.gsmit.org.

Held Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 25, the conference on the Tremont campus invites participants to brainstorm projects and fine-tune their work alongside award-winning author workshop leaders and professional park educators in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This year’s faculty members include guest writer and “New York Times” best-selling author Ron Rash; recent Kentucky poet laureate and memoirist Crystal Wilkinson (leading the nonfiction cohort); celebrated playwright and Knoxville poet laureate Linda Parsons (poetry cohort leader), and award-winning Cherokee novelist Kelli Jo Ford (leading the fiction cohort).

“This is a rare opportunity for writers to work closely with authors they admire in a setting as immersive as it gets: the Smokies,” said Frances Figart, conference co-director and creative services director for Smokies Life. “We keep the retreat intentionally small — choosing writers who are deeply engaged with their work and excited to challenge themselves in a new setting. It’s that level of collective commitment that bolsters the creative process and makes the experience so productive for our writers.”  

Faculty members will lead daily morning group workshops and also mentor writers in optional one-on-one sessions throughout the retreat. Each afternoon, experienced Tremont naturalists will guide participants in activities meant to create a deeper connection to the region’s cultural and natural history. Evenings will conclude with group dinners, fellowship and readings by the featured authors. Meals and lodging are provided.

“Like all of Tremont’s programs, roughing it (a little!) is part of the experience,” said co-director Jeremy Lloyd, who serves as Tremont’s manager of field and college programs. “Most of the workshops take place outdoors, where we can take in and be inspired by our beautiful natural surroundings — with fewer distractions from the modern world. This format is part of what makes the Tremont Writers Conference unique, paving the way for more meaningful connections with workshop leaders and fostering a sense of community among participants.”

Acceptance to conference workshops is based on evaluation of submitted writing samples, with all writers notified of their acceptance status by mid-July. One conference participant will be selected to receive the Debbie Ellis Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. The scholarship is funded by Ron Ellis in memory of his late wife, Debbie, who channeled her love of the Tremont area into her writing, including “Elkmont Settlement: A Microcosm of Appalachian Challenges,” in “Perspectives in History” (Northern Kentucky University, Vol. XXIII, 2007-2008).

Also available to select 2026 participants is the $5,000 Laurel Rematore Tremont Writers Conference Scholarship, distributed between three or more chosen writers whose attendance is dependent on financial aid. The scholarship’s namesake, the former CEO of Smokies Life, strongly believed in the power of the arts and was integral to the retreat’s founding.

Applications for the October conference should be submitted no later than May 15. Additional information about the Tremont Writers Conference and complete 2026 application guidelines can be found at writers.gsmit.org.

Tremont Writers Conference is created, managed and produced as a joint partnership between Smokies Life and Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. It brings writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry to an ancient and wild setting, where they can receive feedback from established authors, connect with writing peers and find renewal and inspiration. In addition to creative workshops, writers will join experienced Tremont naturalists for guided explorations that spark curiosity and wonder.

Fans of vintage automobiles can view a special collection of classic cars at the Autos Through the Ages Car Show at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (123 Cromwell Dr., Townsend) on July 15 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  The car show is free with admission to the museum being $5.

Presented by the East Tennessee Region Antique Automobile Club of America and sponsored by West Chevrolet, Twin City Dealerships and the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority, the event features food and a viewing of classic cars throughout the day.

Visitors will experience how cars and trucks have evolved during the past 100 years as they see and learn about autos from T Models to Teslas.  One rare car on display is a 1934 Oldsmobile convertible, found in Morocco, is one of only 903 produced.  Others models include a 1927 Ford Mail Truck, a 1988 Rolls Royce Silver Spur, a 1954 Ford Skyliner, a 1949 MG TC, a 1960 Morgan +4, a 1958 Edsel Convertible, a 1929 Ford Fire Truck and a 1933 Packard Victoria Convertible.

“There’s a lot of history in these cars and they definitely bring back plenty of memories,” said Steve West. “This a great event that showcases the great American craftsmanship that went into these vehicles.”   

“Having been around cars all my life, I really enjoy seeing these classic cars and watching the enjoyment they bring to those that have taken care of them for future generations,” said Jerry Hodge of Twin City Dealerships. “There’s just something about getting behind the wheel of cars like these and hitting the highway that brings about a great feeling of freedom.”