Become a Member

Member Benefits

Friends of the Smokies members enjoy the satisfaction of preserving and protecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they get great Smokies discounts, too! Membership pays for itself when you present your card to our membership benefits partners. Shopping, dining and adventures at a discount are your reward for being a Friend of the Smokies. Members also get the inside scoop on Park alerts, features, and news.

Each of our membership levels enjoys the same member benefits listed above. Just choose the amount you’d like to donate, then join here.
Membership Levels:
Friend $35
Wildflower Friend $50
Creekside Friend $100
Evergreen Friend $250
Cascade Friend $500
Mountain Top Friend $1,000

Publications

Shaconage– The newsletter of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Annual Report– Published the following year.

Invitations to Special Events

Check your mailbox, inbox, and our events calendar for information on upcoming special events.

Smokies Fun Discounts

The Biltmore Estate – A special offer for Friends of the Smokies- 2 days of admission for the price of 1 when you purchase 1–6 days before your visit. You must click the Buy Tickets button on www.biltmore.com/smokies and select a visit date within the week; your ticket will automatically be good for a second consecutive day. You must purchase from www.biltmore.com/smokies to receive this offer.

Cataloochee Valley Tours – $3.00 off published price of any Eco-Tour with a valid Friends of the Smokies membership card. Let our naturalist take you on a guided eco-tour to one of the best kept secrets in the Great Smoky Mountains … Cataloochee Valley! Eco-tours include round trip transportation along with a snack and drink.

Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country – $5.00 off the price of one-day admission.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad – $3.00 off regular ticket price.

Knoxville Zoo – 20% off any full-price one-day admission.

Museum of Appalachia – Adult admission, $2.95 off; Children‚s admission $1.00 off.

Ober Gatlinburg – 50% discount on round-trip aerial tramway fare.

Ripley’s Gatlinburg Family of Attractions – $20 off our Ultimate Annual Fun Pass making it $79.99 (originally $99.99).

Smoky Mountain Outdoors White Water Rafting – Class 3 & 4 Whitewater Adventures on the Big Pigeon River out of Hartford, TN as well as a guided Pack and Paddle trip, which combines a moderate hike on Big Creek Trail with a River Trip. Friends of the Smokies members receive a 10% discount on all guided trips. Reservations must be made by calling 1-800-771-7238. Please reference Friends of the Smokies to receive your discount. This offer cannot be combined with other offers.

Tennessee Smokies Baseball Games – Buy one ticket, get one free Sunday through Thursday home games during the regular season.

The TN Riverboat Company – offers Friends of the Smokies a buy one get one free sightseeing cruise aboard the “STAR” of Knoxville authentic paddlewheel boat. Get a look at original historic sights along the beautiful Tennessee River. During this 1.5 hour sightseeing tour enjoy commentary from the Captain, open cash bar and concessions. A meal and entertainment may be scheduled at an additional cost. Call 800-509-2628 for schedule for more information.

The Wildland Trekking Company – 5% discount on all guided Great Smoky Mountain based day hiking, backpacking, and lodge based hiking tours. Our trips include a knowledgeable guide, top of the line gear, exceptional cuisine, comfortable transportation, and all permits for the park. Reserve one of our award-winning guided multi-day backcountry trips, lodge based trips, or day hikes now online or call 800-715-HIKE (4453). Please reference Friends of the Smokies to receive your discount.

Smokies Shopping Discounts

Blue Ridge Books and News – 10% off in-store purchases, excluding newspapers.

Great Smoky Mountains Association – 15% discount on merchandise in stores and via mail order at (888) 898-9102 or by email at MailOrder@GSMAssoc.org.

Loralei’s on Main – 10% off total purchase.

Mast General Store – 20% off entire regularly-priced Mast Store branded purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers or to purchase gift cards. Not valid on Mast Store employee purchases. In-stock items only. Not valid online. Limit one offer per visit. Valid Friends of the Smokies Membership card required to receive offer. Valid thru 12/31/2016.

NOC Gatlinburg – $5 off purchase of $10 or more, not to be used with other coupons or on sale items. Excludes boat purchases and guided activities (hiking, fishing, climbing wall and rafting). In-stock items only.

Smokies Dining Discounts

The Peddler Steakhouse in Gatlinburg, TN – 10% discount with a current Friends membership card.

Park Grill Steakhouse in Gatlinburg, TN – 10% discount with a current Friends membership card.

Smokies Lodging Discounts

Apple Valley Comfort Inn – offers a 10% discount to Friends of the Smokies members. This property is located right on the border between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, and is a three time winner of Choice Hotel’s Comfort Inn of the Year and a recent 2011 Platinum Award winner. You will enjoy lodging at one of the Smokies Most Award Winning Hotels.

Big Cabins – 1-12 bedroom luxury cabins surrounding the Smoky Mountains. Featured in Southern Living’s “Ultimate Cabin Guide,” now part of Wyndham Vacation Rentals. 10% off to Friends of the Smokies members (not valid for some holidays). Contact Big Cabins at 866-305-8739

Carolina Vacations – 10% discount on rentals.

Clarion Inn Willow River – offers a 10% discount to Friends of the Smokies members. Located in Sevierville, Tennessee, the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains… the gleaming brightness of the ante-bellum southern design of the Clarion Inn Willow River reflects the charm of the Old South. This property won the 2009 Best of Sevierville Award from the US Commerce Association.

Haywood County Hotel and Motel Association – Varying discounts at participating members.

The Inn on the River – Friends of the Smokies members receive the largest and most generous discount available at The Inn On The River. $20 off published rates for every room type per night. Subject to space available; cannot be combined with any other type of discount.

Parkside Cabin Rentals – 10% off cabin rental (restrictions may apply) for all existing members of Friends of the Smokies. Call 1-866-808-7525 to make your reservation. Complimentary Friends of the Smokies membership with 4-night stay!

Smoky Mountain Premier RV Resort – Adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we are a brand new, gated RV resort featuring all big rig, full hook-up sites. 10% discount to Friends of the Smokies card holders (restrictions may apply). Call 855-55-SMPRV (76778) to make reservations.

10% discount on lodging from participating members of:

The Fine Print

Membership cards and membership benefits are extended to those giving membership gifts of at least $35/year to Friends of the Smokies.

You must present your membership card in order to receive your discount(s).  No exceptions.

Membership benefits and discount programs are subject to change without notice. 

For more information, call (865) 932-4794, or e-mail us at info@friendsofthesmokies.org.