Media Center

Destination Weddings

Destination weddings have become wildly popular, and Gatlinburg offers the bride and groom everything needed for that perfect day.  Home to 15 unique wedding chapels, the “Wedding Capital of the South” is a wholesome community nestled in the Smoky Mountains that sets the perfect tone for years to come. It’s no surprise that 600,000 people come to this charming mountain town to begin their lives together or participate in a wedding every year.  In fact, it’s the second-most popular place in America to tie the knot, trailing only Las Vegas. Contact Doug Cunha at 865/430-3372.

Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course

Imagine your 8-iron has struck your golf ball solidly, and now it’s traveling off the side of a mountain toward the flag placed 195 yards out and 200 feet down from the tee! Appropriately named “Sky Hi,” you’re playing #12 at the City of Gatlinburg’s own 18-hole, 145-acre municipal golf course. The picturesque 52-year old facility has undergone a $1.75 million renovation in 2007, including the addition of a new clubhouse. Contact PGA pro Rick Tucker at 865/453-3912.

Handicap-Accessible Fishing Ramp & Pier

Herbert Holt Park in Gatlinburg is the location of a unique handicap-accessible fishing ramp and pier on the Little Pigeon River. The Bill Stevens Fishing Ramp & Pier allows wheelchair-bound people to get right down next to the river to fish. Situated in water designated “children only,” use of the pier is restricted to children as well as wheelchair-bound anglers of all ages.  Contact Trout Facility Manager Danny Gray at 865/436-4558.

Smokies Birdwatching

Whether you’re tracking the red-breasted nuthatch, eastern screech owl or the downy woodpecker, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the premier place for birdwatching. The crest of the Smokies towers nearly a mile above the foothills, creating a range in elevations and a variety of topographies that provide a diversity of habitats and microclimates for some 240 species of birds, 60 varieties of which are year-round residents. Contact Amber Parker at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont at 865/448-6709.

Trout Fishing

The City of Gatlinburg makes it easy for anglers of all ages to experience trout fishing. As many as 1,000 trout are stocked in City waters each Thursday, fish raised from fingerlings at the municipal rearing facility and released throughout town.  Appropriate fishing licenses are required,

with children-dedicated sections of the river available.  Contact Trout Facility Manager Danny Gray at 865/436-4558.

Gatlinburg Trolleys

Gatlinburg’s fleet of more than 20 trolleys is fueled by a blend of B20 biodiesel, a 20-percent vegetable oil-based fuel product blended with 80 percent petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel has a sparkling track record of reducing engine wear and maintenance and increasing fuel economy while decreasing sulfur, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions. Contact Mass Transit Manager Buddy Parton at 865/436-3897.

Trout Rearing Facility

The City of Gatlinburg raises trout from fingerlings to stock 40,000 fish per year in City waters. A portion of an old sewer plant at Herbert Holt Park was converted into five covered raceways that accommodate tens of thousands of trout in oxygen-enriched, ice-cold mountain water which is about 20 inches deep. Contact Trout Facility Manager Danny Gray at 865/436-4558.

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Since its establishment in 1993, Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park has assisted the National Park Service in its mission to preserve and protect GSMNP by raising funds and public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects. Boasting over 4,500 members, Friends has raised close to $20 million through individual, corporate and foundation contributions, special events, and sales of specialty license plates in Tennessee and North Carolina. Contact the Friends at 800/845-5665.

Great Smoky Mountains Association

Great Smoky Mountains Association is a non-profit organization authorized by the United States Congress to support the Park's educational, scientific, and historical programs. Its mission is to enhance public enjoyment and understanding of GSMNP through activities including distribution and publication of educational books and guides, exhibits and demonstrations at its non-profit outlets. Since its creation in 1953, GSMA has contributed aid to the Park totaling close to $15 million. Contact GSMA at 865/436-7318.