NEWS RELEASE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
A joint ceremony between the City of Gatlingurg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park was held at Sugarlands Visitor Center on Frdiay, June 14, at 9:00 AM. to kick off the start of the trolley service connecting Gatlinburg with Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A free ride is extended to the public travelling the Park route on this day.
The city is providing shuttle service on an experiemental basis at no cost to the Park and at minimal cost to the rider beginning June 14. The small colorful city-owned passenger buses will shuttle visitors this summer between the downtown Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce building and three destinations in the Park.: Sugarlands Visitor Center, Laurel Falls Trail, and Elkmont Campground. The trolley will depart from Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce every day at approximately 9 and 10:30 AM, and 1:00, 2:30, 4:00, and 5:30 PM. One-way fares range from $.25 to $1 depending upon the destination.
"The shuttle should provide additional benefits to Park and Gatlinburg visitors alike," said Superintendent Karen Wade. "Elkmont campers will be able to leave their RVs at the campground and take a liesurely ride into Gatlinburg. Another advantage for visitors will be to ride the shuttle to the popular 1.3 mile Laurel Falls Trail where parking spaces are limited and often full during peak season. Visitors may also want to use this opportunity to ride from Gatlinburg to the visitor center and walk back to town on the popular 2-mile Gatlinburg trail."
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