Elkmont firefly viewing dates will be June 7-14. All visitors wishing to view the synchronous fireflies during this predicted peak must have a parking pass distributed through the lottery system at  www.recreation.gov . 

Lottery registration will open at noon this Friday, April 27, and continue until 8 p.m. Monday, April 30. Results of the lottery will be available Wednesday, May 9. A total of 1,800 vehicle passes will be available for the event.

Every year in late May or early June, thousands of visitors gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to observe the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus, a firefly species that flashes synchronously. Since 2006, access to the Elkmont area has been limited to shuttle service beginning at Sugarlands Visitor Center during the eight days of predicted peak activity in order to reduce traffic congestion and provide a safe viewing experience for visitors that minimizes disturbance to these unique fireflies during the critical two-week mating period.

Discover Life in America will dedicate its new pollinator garden and sign, a collaborative project between DLIA, GSMA and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Friday, May 18, from noon to 1 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center.  

“The Sugarlands pollinator garden will serve as a research tool, as well as an outreach opportunity for visitors showing how they can help pollinators in their own backyards,” said Todd Witcher, executive director of Discover Life in America. “At this short dedication event, we’ll talk about what the intent of the garden is and unveil the fabulous sign.”

Featured on the sign are the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and the Hummingbird Clearwing moth, both species that will be included in a new GSMA-produced field guide to butterflies and moths slated for publication in late spring. The book will showcase 73 species of butterflies and 27 species of moths, for a total of 100 species commonly found in the Smokies. 

“The typical visitor to the park is more likely to see butterflies than moths due to the fact that butterflies are active during the day,” said Frances Figart, GSMA's Interpretive Products and Services Director. “For this reason, we present a greater amount of butterflies in this book than moths. However, if you choose to stay overnight in the Smokies, you may see some of the moths we highlight, as they may be attracted to the lights in your camping area.”

The May 18 Pollinator Garden dedication (above) is the first in a series of Science at Sugarlands events hosted by Discover Life in America and scheduled the third Friday of each month May-October.

Each monthly program is slated to run from 1-3 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, TN.

Learn more about

Discover Life in America

While this low-growing plant with its small white flowers might get overlooked in the spring, when more showy ephemerals are on display, it is highly sought after in summer when its berries are ripe.

Other than the fact that strawberry jelly makes a mighty fine topping for biscuits, what do you really know about this plant and its fruit, in either its wild or cultivated varieties? Take our quiz and find out more.

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Mountain Makin's Cookbook and a pint of Foods of the Smokies Strawberry Preserves. Can you say, "Mmmmmm!"

By Michael Aday

Long before the rise and decline of Piggly Wiggly and the A&P, before electronic cash registers and bar code scanners, and before the cash and carry business model, the country store was the place where people in Southern Appalachia bought their dry goods and sundries. Customers brought in their “green backs” (if they had them) and traded with the proprietor for needed items. If they didn’t have ready cash they were often given credit and allowed to take what they needed. At some date in the future the customer would pay off their debt with currency or goods the proprietor could sell to other customers: eggs, butter, bacon, mutton, firewood or whiskey.

These transactions were usually recorded in the store keeper’s ledger book. Sometimes arranged by name, the entries recorded the date of the transaction, items purchased and their cost, and whether payment was received in cash, credit, or kind. Not only did the store ledger serve as the store keeper’s accounting system, surviving volumes provide a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of ordinary people...

By Dana Murphy

Meigs Mountain Trail is interesting from the very start. The trail is named for 'Return' Jonathan Meigs, the child of a couple who almost did not form a blessed union. Here's how the story goes: A Quaker woman continued to deny the courting efforts of a certain young man, until one day she changed her mind. As the suitor was riding away he finally heard her say, “Return, Jonathan, return.” Shortly after, their courtship turned to marriage, and the couple welcomed their first child. They were so pleased with the arrival of their son, they decided 'Return' was the most beautiful name they could bestow upon him.

In 1802, Return Meigs was a Revolutionary War hero appointed to survey boundary lines set by a government treaty with the Cherokee. He climbed a mountain, hung a colorful blanket as a line-of-sight for the other members of the survey party atop a neighboring mountain. That mountain is now known as Blanket Mountain...

We're thrilled this year to see dogwoods still blooming in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in early May. When this video (click on image to watch) was made in 2011, our park's dogwoods were at peak in mid-April.

Beautiful dogwood trees are common below 3,000 feet in the Smokies. With their showy white displays, they brighten up the forests during this time of year and remind us that spring is here but a short time.

Found primarily at elevations up to 3,500 feet, the tree will put on a colorful display of red berries starting in September, with leaves changing color in October.

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, TN, includes something for every member of the family, especially those interested in the finest books available on Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Authors scheduled to appear at the Great Smoky Mountains Association booth:

But before you head to Pigeon Forge in May, join Great Smoky Mountains Association at Greening Up the Mountains in Sylva, NC, on Saturday, April 28. In its 21st year, this small town's celebration of spring is the perfect opportunity to tour the location of Oscar-winning film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

By Peyton Proffitt

When visiting Great Smoky Mountains National park, folks often look forward to the pristine rivers, rare wildflowers, the world’s densest population of salamanders, and endless mountain overlooks. Without a doubt, the natural history here is diverse, ancient and unlike any other.

But what do you know about the park's cultural history? If you’re like me, you’ve noticed the remains of mountain homes right off the trail. During every hike I wonder who has sat by this fireplace, how was this structure used, or how long have people walked along this trail and what did they carry with them?

In our latest issue of  Smokies Life , readers get a rare glimpse into 'a day in the life' of park archaeologist Heath Bailey and his crew. Bailey discusses the importance of maintaining written records for future generations, while simultaneously using the park’s cultural history as a means to connect with our ancestors. Author Leigh Ann Henion explores how the work of archaeologists here in the Smokies transcends time and ties together past, present and future. 

“We look at stuff going back thousands of years... when you see something, it can take you back decades, a hundred years, millennia – just for a moment. That’s your connection to human history.” ~ Heath Bailey

GSMA members receive two Smokies Life magazines each year as part of your membership. In this Spring 2018 issue, readers will also find stories about the Smokies’ iconic rhododendrons, early 1900s Oconaluftee Valley, Elkmont, and more.

As part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park 's observance of National Park Week, more than 200 VIPs (Volunteers in Park) were recognized on Saturday, April 21, for contributions they make to the park each and every day. In total, more than 2,800 VIPs donated some 117,680 hours to support the Smokies in 2017.

In 2017 Great Smoky Mountains Association dedicated more than $37,000 to the VIP program here in the Smokies. And for that, we say 'thank you' to our members and visitors whose dues and store purchases make contributions like this possible. For a full accounting of how GSMA supported the park last year, see our Annual Report:

Our nation's active military and veterans will be honored as part of National Park Week this Saturday (April 28) with a 10% discount at all Great Smoky Mountains Association visitor center store locations:

- Sugarlands Visitor Center

- Gatlinburg Welcome Center

- Sevierville Visitor Center (Sevierville, TN)

- Cades Cove Visitor Center

- Cable Mill (in Cades Cove)

- Cades Cove Orientation Shelter

- GSM Institute at Tremont store

- Townsend Visitor Center (Townsend, TN)

- Oconaluftee Visitor Center

- Mingus Mill (near Cherokee)

- Clingmans Dome Visitor Center

- Swain County Visitor Center (Bryson City, NC)

Did you know... National Park Service employs over 5,800 active-duty military and veterans (28 percent of our workforce) in a wide array of careers and that the history of the NPS is intertwined with the U.S. military?

Second only to spending time on our park's breathtaking mountain trails and in its historic valleys, watching a movie is the most engaging way to learn about Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just think if you could watch five! 

The first five Smoky Mountain Explorer Series films are wrapped into one in this DVD compilation, slated for release near Memorial Day.

Just push 'play' to:

Our Spring 2018 exclusive Great Smoky Mountains National Park pottery mug is our best looking yet. Featuring the Southern Harebell, this mug fits snuggly in two hands and delivers your warmest, most satisfying hot and cold beverages. Heck, if lunch is what you crave, a hot cup of soup will certainly hit the spot.

While our web store remains offline for maintenance, please call us at 865.436.7318, Ext. 222 to order yours. Because like all our park's many ephemeral wildflowers, this mug will not be available forever.

Matt Drauszewski grew up in Tobaccoville, NC, and currently lives in Cullowhee, NC. As assistant store manager for our visitor centers, Matt works on rotation at Clingmans Dome, Oconaluftee, Bryson City, and sometimes Mingus Mill. He will have been with GSMA two years this June.

Matt’s responsibilities include maintaining a positive image of GSMA and Great Smoky Mountains National Park through visitor interactions, promoting GSMA's membership programming, and coaching staff to better provide these same opportunities to visitors. 

Some of you really enjoyed our joke and were kind enough to let us know; others were not one bit amused, proving the adage, "Humor is in the eye of the beholder," or something like that. (HA!)

For the Record: GSMA is not in the donkey ride business at Clingmans Dome or anywhere else in the Smokies. We are, however, always looking to expand our opportunities to support this national park and ensure preservation, research and education remain priorities in the Smokies.

Will Great Smoky Mountains National Park retain the title of 'Most Visited National Park' in 2018? Only time will tell...

January - 320,864

February - 399,156

March - 689,235

Total for 2018 = 1,409,255

Partner of the Month

A mountaintop of fun, excitement and beauty is waiting for you high above Gatlinburg. Discover the wonderful activities Ober Gatlinburg offers year-round! Join the millions who have boarded the 120-passenger Aerial Tramway for breathtaking views of downtown and the surrounding Smoky Mountains. The Swiss-made tramway will transport you above the trees 2.1 miles to the mountain top, where you can dine, shop and play in one convenient location. With activities for all seasons and ages, your group will be delighted to leave the sidewalks behind and experience the views.

The most recent issue of Smokies Guide, Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official park newspaper, is available to read online and can be mailed to you for free (S&H charges apply). Call 865.436.7318, Ext. 226 for mailing details.

We like to say, 'It takes a village to raise a cub.' Great Smoky Mountains Association's Cub Report e-newsletter is published on the last Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January.

These talented individuals contributed to this month's issue:

Laurel Rematore, Chief Executive Officer

Lisa Duff, Cub Report Editor

Michael Aday, Frances Figart, Karen Key, Dana Murphy, Peyton Proffitt, Valerie Polk and Daniel Young

In addition to our web store, Great Smoky Mountains Association operates stores in seven Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor center locations. When you stop by, be sure to tell our team how much the Cub Report means to you!

Find a Store Near You