Just two Sundays ago we were making our way around the loop to get to the Parsons Branch Rd., and we were going slow, maybe 10-12 MPH, watching the deer and the wild turkeys, keeping an eye out for a big buck or a bear, and I swear some guy in a big SUV about four cars back laid on his horn like that. A bunch of us pulled over (including the guy in front of him who had a Disabled American Vet tag and a handicapped parking sticker) and the asshole in the SUV roared on by doing about 40. He was from Florida. Guess he was in a hurry to get back home.

The loop road ought to be unpaved and closed to private vehicular traffic. Period. Crap, I'm in the amen chorus... but the hike up to Gregory's Bald shouldn't be spoiled by the sound of horns honking... especially not in June when the azaleas are in bloom.

Recently I saw a blurb about the cove loop road being closed some mornings for maintenance. I had hoped this might include some repaving. No?

In my experience lines of waiting cars are a far bigger problem than drivers speeding around the loop.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

I never understood the fascination some people have of sitting in a car looking at wildlife. I agree, close off the loop to all vehicular traffic-bikes and pedestrians only. I also dont have a problem charging people a nominal fee to enter the park...$5 per vehicle or less...(with all money staying in the park) isnt going to break someones budget. If you can pay $4 a gallon for gas to drive to the park you can sure as hell pay an admittance fee.

Not sure I agree about closing the loop to vehicular traffic completely. It's sort of unique. Think about the guy with the handicapped parking permit. Or families with small kids and/or a dog. There are plenty of other opportunities to park and hike trails. I would agree there should be be more trails for bicycling.

If they start charging admission, they are going to have to pay restitution to the ancestors of every family that lost their home and land on the promise of a park free to the public. Instead, charge people who choose to drive their own car instead of using some form of free mass transit through the cove.

I have seen so many tourists just drive through the park and never stop or get out of their car.

I advocate a huge parking garage at I-40 and the 407 exit. Another huge parking garage in Asheville. The two garages will connect to each other via an electric train that runs through Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, up 411, and through Cherokee. There will be two trains. One an express from 407 to Asheville which goes through the Smokey's to satisfy the tourist passing through. That train would have an autoferry which loads and unloads at the garages. The other train would be akin to a bus with several stops along the route. This train would travel through Pigeon Forge with several stops to load and unload. It would proceed through Gatlinburg with 2-4 stops. It would stop at Sugarland then proceed to Townsend then to Cades Cove then back to Sugarland then to Newfoundland Gap then to Cherokee then to Asheville then it does the loop in reverse with optional stops upon passenger request similar to how public buses work (voice announces "Approaching Elkmont. Request stop by pressing the yellow bar. Last chance in 5-4-3-2-1. Next stop The Wye.") The existing roads would be maintained for forestry service, horses, bicycles and perhaps motorcycles. Maybe the roads are reduced to single lane roads with the other lane supporting the elevated track for the new train so that little to no damage is done to the park to support such a system.

Cost can be subsidized through large corporations like Microsoft who may want to install onboard Internet access and monitors which offer advertisements regarding the shopping and entertainment opportunities at each stop. Within the park these systems could provide a video/audio tour of the park itself. Imagine a system eliminating the need to convert 321 from Pigeon Forge to Townsend into a 4 lane straight road while still creating the commerce opportunities between to east and west sides of the park. The cost in maintaining existing and building new roads and infrastructure could be diverted to this system.

Later it could expand to include Knoxville, Chattanooga, and other cities in the route. If I could cost effectively load my family (and perhaps bicycles) on a train at West Town Mall and spend a day in Cades Cove, the number of trips I would make to the park would dramatically increase. If I could hop on a train in downtown Knoxville and end up in Asheville, my family would visit Biltmore far more than once a decade.

Doug McCaughan
(link...)

A car permit fee is not a bad idea. Hybrids should get a discount!

A narrow gauge electric railway would be nice, meandering closer to the center of the cove where elevation changes would be less problematic. Then the paved road could be converted into a walkway / bicycle trail.

The fall hay rides could be easily accomplished with the use of a couple of flat cars and some straw. Of course somebody would insist on staging those stupid wild-west train robberies.

Access to Parson's Branch and Rich Mountain roads could be obtained through passes at the ranger's office.

Where are the CCC boys when you need them?

Visit us at

The Home

I'll meet you half way and offer an open air electric tour bus "thing" w/handicap access while staying closed to cars.

Agreed.

Cars are a problem, and although I've lived here my entire life, I don't frequent the park because of congestion.

However, I do feel that there is a danger when you start limiting access for those people who are paying for the park.

If you close it off, will it become one of those "out of sight, out of mind" issues that the public forgets about until a news story about how it has been allowed to deteriorate, perhaps irreparably, gets their attention?

Drive by tourists are a pain, but if they remember it, and therefore care about it, don't turn them into enemies. You may need them as friends some day.

Keith Bellows used to live very close to the park over in Blount County when he worked at Whittle Communications, if I remember correctly. I'm sure he knows the history of it.

Then again, Yellowstone has a fee and last time I was up there where the buffalo roam, the park wasn't hurting for visitors.

Of course, they have geysers.

I'm in favor of charging for cades cove but 441 should be free. More trollies to cades cove from the gatlinburg hotels should be tried as a pilot program.

You can count me in the move'em along camp regarding cades cove. There are plenty of pullouts and plenty of signs telling drivers to use the pull outs. Someone parking in the middle of the drive is just as rude as someone speeding around at 40 mph. I think it is pitiful that I can do the loop faster on my bike than I can in my car.

___________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

The best solution to this entire problem isn't an entrance fee, it's having a Federal Government willing to step up and fully fund our National Park System.

Bottom line, there should be a GSMNP wish list and our federal officials should get it funded. We shouldn't settle for less.