Serenity Now Cabin

02/10/2024

Friends: Below is an update from the National Park Service, Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Oct. 1, 2024. Newfound Gap Road is scheduled to reopen Oct. 2, 2024.
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Headline: US 441/Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will reopen tomorrow; Hurricane Helene recovery continues in Great Smoky Mountains National Park area

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The National Park Service (NPS) will reopen US 441/Newfound Gap Road by 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to allow for access between Tennessee and North Carolina communities.

Once US 441 reopens, all major roads, trails and facilities on the Tennessee-side of the park will be open to visitors. Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingmans Dome Road) will also open Wednesday. While the park has assessed high-use areas and trails for hazard and downed trees, visitors should exercise extra caution as they hike and explore the park.

Several local communities including Sevier County, which includes Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, as well as Cherokee in North Carolina, are fully open to those who can access them through safe routes.

Visitors should plan their trips to the area with the following in mind:

Plan safe routes to the area in advance: Plan your route and check on the status of local communities before you visit.
Recreate responsibly: Have a plan, know your limits, pack the 10 Essentials and avoid all water recreation. Know that emergency services are stretched thin, and response times may be delayed.
Some park closures are still in place: Park areas including Cataloochee Valley, Big Creek, Balsam Mountain and Lakeview Drive are still closed. Oconaluftee and Kuwohi visitor centers are also closed. Check current park conditions before heading to an area of the park.

US 441/Newfound Gap Road has been closed following the storm due to limited park staffing (some park staff were impacted by the storm or are assisting with recovery) and limited resources including fuel, which the park had been reserving for emergency response. With the coordination from the City Manager of Gatlinburg, and support from the NPS Eastern Incident Management Team (which is supporting Blue Ridge Parkway), the park received a needed fuel delivery to the Oconaluftee area today which is helping the park to reopen the road tomorrow.

Commercial vehicles are always prohibited on US 441/Newfound Gap Road and in all of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with the exception of the Spur). While the NPS recognizes that major routes outside the park are currently closed, park roads are not structurally designed to sustain traffic from heavy vehicles. Commercial vehicles will be turned away.

30/09/2024

Visitors coming to the area, please read this!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/YHuAPTDDVJz5VcP4/?

UPDATE: Wondering whether you should reschedule your trip to the Smokies due to impacts from Hurricane Helene? While parts of the national park are open, outdoor recreation is currently discouraged due to park staffing being stretched and visitor safety concerns. However, Sevier County, which includes Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, is fully open to those who can access the county through safe routes. We are working hard to get all major park roads open to the public as soon as possible.
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News Release—The National Park Service (NPS) continues to assess conditions and to address damage following the impacts from Hurricane Helene in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today, park staff are prioritizing assessments of high use roads and trails as well as radio repeaters and historic structures throughout the park.

Several park roads, including Newfound Gap Road/US 441, remain closed. There are no current reopening estimates for closed roads. Visit the park website for a map of what’s open and closed.

Park staff and resources are currently limited at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Several park employees in both North Carolina and Tennessee are dealing with emergencies at home or are unable to drive to work due to closed roads. Multiple employees are also assisting the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding communities.

While we recognize that this is a popular time to visit the park, visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips for their own safety. If visitors choose to visit, they are asked to recreate responsibly—know your limits, avoid water recreation and know that emergency response times may be delayed. Hiking and backcountry travel are not recommended due to the unpredictability of creek crossings, potential of downed trees and other hazardous trail conditions. Emergency services are currently stretched thin and have already responded to several incidents (many unrelated to the storm) in the last several days.

Visitors should also be mindful of closures and limited resources in some communities surrounding the park. Western North Carolina communities and Cocke County (Tennessee), in particular, experienced significant flooding and have downed trees, damaged powerlines and limited resources. The North Carolina Department of Transportation advises that all travel in Western North Carolina should be for emergencies only. Surrounding communities may have limited resources (gas, food, water) available to visitors at this time.

What’s currently closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
- Balsam Mountain area, campground and roads.
- Big Creek area, campground and roads.
- Cataloochee Valley area, campground and roads (including Hwy 284).
- Deep Creek (the creek itself) between Indian Creek Bridge and the park boundary closed to all water activity.
- Deep Creek Campground.
- Foothills Parkway East.
- Kuwohi Road (formerly known as Clingmans Dome Road).
- Kuwohi Visitor Center.
- Lakeview Drive.
- Newfound Gap Road/Hwy 441.
- Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
- Parson Branch Road (due to Flint Gap Fire impacts).
- Smokemont Campground.

Additional updates will be shared on the park website: www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

NPS Photo

12/04/2024

It’s warming up here in the Smokies and it’s the perfect time to plan your next visit! 🌷🌸🪻
Our cabin is 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms and can sleep up to 8! It’s perfectly located right between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in a quiet little cul-de-sac. Plan to bring marshmellows to roast over our bonfire in the cool evenings too! 🔥🪵🌌

https://evolve.com/vacation-rentals/428371

10/03/2024

There a lot of new attractions opening in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge this year! Check out what’s coming and plan your trip!

Here's what's new in Pigeon Forge, TN for 2024! Top Pigeon Forge attractions 2024 and a list of new things to do in the Smoky Mountains.

26/01/2024

Exciting new activity opening soon!!🚜🏗️🚧

23/01/2024

Beautiful flurries at the cabin this weekend! 😍 the cold weather and snow dusting made the cabin so cozy!

19/03/2023

We recently put in a new hot tub!! Plan your next visit and check it out!

31/01/2023

Starting March 1st, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the National Park for more than 15 min. Click here for more details!

https://www.gatlinburg.com/great-smoky-mountains/parkitforward/?fbclid=IwAR1cdkp4GAOK17vnE4wWsLqOfjWvWs2eh-dcnbk6epTVUA1-ysbg2DunnqI&mibextid=unz460

Beginning March 1, 2023, valid parking tags will be required on any vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes. Approved parking rates are $5 for a daily parking tag, $15 for a weekly parking tag, and $40 for an annual parking tag. All revenue will stay in the park to provide sustainable, year-roun...

15/08/2022

Exciting new ride coming to Dollywood!

01/12/2021

It’s our favorite time of year at Serenity Now. We hope all of our guests enjoy the festive decor (and new mattresses 😁) this December 🎄!

23/01/2021

Nothing like a cozy cabin bed on a chilly day!