Date: January 31, 2007
Contact: Nancy Gray, (865) 436-1208
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials reported a 2 percent increase in the number of visitors to the Smokies in Calendar Year 2006 when compared to 2005 travel, the largest increase recorded over the past 5 years. A total of 9,416,734 came through the Park’s three main entrances and outlying areas, all of which ended the year with increases.
Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said, “The year was marked by several off-season months reporting record numbers and a majority of the months recording increases.”
A review of the monthly entries showed the first quarter of the year with mostly gains: January, up 6 percent; February, down 4 percent; March up 6 percent; and April, up 11 percent. The peak season followed with falling visitation: May saw a 4 percent decline; June, a slight 1 percent decrease; July was down 4 percent; and August visits fell 8 percent. The autumn’s spectacular display of fall color reported more visitors to the Smokies even though Park roads were closed for several days in October due to damages resulting from a wind storm. September had a 9 percent rise; October increase was 7 percent; November up15 percent; and December finished the year with a 7 percent increase.
“Mild winter weather during 2006 may have been a factor that attracted more people to the Smokies and contributed to the record monthly increases,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “But,” he continued, “the growing number of businesses, expanded services, and recreational opportunities offered in the outlying communities most likely played a role in the increases we saw during the off months.”
“It is also interesting to note that while gas prices have remained high through 2006, the Park still saw more people. This is probably due to the fact that we are in short driving distances to a large population base. Families can spend less on gas but still get away, including those in our local communities who stay connected to the Park by visiting frequently to enjoy the resources and engage in our programs and services.”
At year’s end, a breakdown of entrances showed that attendance was ahead of 2005 at all Park entrances. Townsend, Tenn., recorded a 3 percent gain, Gatlinburg, Tenn., showed a less than 1 percent rise, and Cherokee, N.C., showed a 2 percent increase, while the outlying areas, a combination of 10 lesser-used entrances in North Carolina and Tennessee, tallied the largest increase of 5 percent.
The Park’s monthly use report also showed an increase in frontcountry camping, with approximately 281,000 camper nights in 2006 compared with about 275,000 camper nights in 2005. Backcountry camping had a slight increase at 70,193 in 2006 compared with 69,985 in 2005.
