Visitors flock as virus spikes
Visits on pace with last year despite pandemic
Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted 828,792 visitors this May, which is almost exactly on pace for the number of visitors that came in May 2019.
The pandemic isn't slowing anyone down.
The park reopened May 9 after being closed since late March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Smokies welcomed over 1 million visitors last May, but the park was open 31 days instead of the 23 days it was open this year.
Last year, the most visited national park in the country received over 12.5 million visitors, which set an attendance record. So far this year, the park has received over 2.2 million visitors even with the multiweek closure.
During the first reopening phase, park managers implemented new safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. More roads and sites reopened May 23, during the second phase. Its visitor centers and a few campgrounds reopened June 8, and more opened June 15.
The visitor centers had capacity limits, protective barriers and social distancing markers on the floor, with museum spaces and theaters remaining closed.
Park managers encourage visitors to choose trails and overlooks without congested parking areas; visit the park early in the morning to avoid crowds; stay in their vehicle while viewing wildlife; maintain physical distance from other visitors; and wear face coverings where social distancing is not possible.
Over the last two weeks, coronavirus cases have spiked in Sevier County, with more than 250 Sevier County residents testing positive from June 5 to June 19. As of Monday, there have been 422 cases of COVID-19 in Sevier County with three deaths.