KODAK, Tenn. (Oct. 17, 2025) – The nonprofit Friends of the Smokies continues to provide funding to keep Great Smoky Mountains National Park fully open and operational through Nov. 2, 2025. This latest round of funding with a partnership of state and local entities follows two previous payments that reopened the park Oct. 4 and then extended the opening through Oct. 19.
This continued funding effort is supported by Sevier County, the cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Friends of the Smokies.
Friends of the Smokies is a nonprofit partner of the national park funded by your generous donations and specialty license plates. You help us fund projects, programs, equipment, and staffing the national park cannot afford with its normal annual budget. In special circumstances, such as the government shutdown, your support has put us in a position to step up for our beloved Smokies. As we stated in the video below on our YouTube channel, we couldn’t do it without your help.
As always, check the park’s Current Conditions page for the latest closures.
See the full Oct. 17, 2025, news release from Sevier County Government below.
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LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERS COMMIT TO KEEPING GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 2
Sevier County, Tennessee (October 17, 2025) – Sevier County and its local and state partners support keeping Great Smoky Mountains National Park open and in full operation through Sunday, November 2, 2025, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The effort to keep the national park open is supported by Sevier County, the Cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Friends of the Smokies, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Through this agreement, local and state partners will continue to ensure uninterrupted operations of the national park. While the November 2 date extends beyond a standard increment, multiple agreements will be signed over the next couple of weeks to maintain funding through Sunday, November 2, if necessary. If the federal government shutdown continues into early November, the partners plan to meet during the week of October 27–31 to discuss next steps.
This commitment ensures that Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open and fully operational for residents and visitors, with all facilities, roadways, visitor centers, restrooms, campgrounds, and trails continuing to operate as normal.
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About Friends of the Smokies
Friends of the Smokies is the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through private donations, fundraising events, and specialty license plates in North Carolina and Tennessee, Friends of the Smokies raises money to fund needed projects and programs in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.
Learn more about how to get a Friends of the Smokies license plate at BearPlate.org. You can make a direct tax-deductible donation at our website. We are also grateful for those who pitch in at our donation boxes throughout the park. Every gift makes a significant difference for our beloved Smokies. Thank you, Friends!
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