Smoky Mountain Campground Reopens After 9-Year Shutdown

A campground at Great Smoky Mountains National Park that has been closed for nine years has been reopened, park officials said.

Look Rock Campground is a 68-site facility that provides camping along one of the park’s most scenic drive, according to Superintendent Cassius Cash.

The campground opened Saturday and remains available through Nov. 13.

“We are grateful for the voices who supported us in our efforts to secure the needed funding for repairs, including the Friends of the Smokies and their donors,” Cash said in a news release.

Look Rock Campground and Picnic Area were closed in 2013 after the water utility systems failed. The picnic area reopened with limited services after the park received funds in 2019 to install an accessible vault toilet.

The water system has now been completely replaced, with access to flush toilets and potable water. Campground sites were rehabilitated. Ten sites were renovated to accommodate larger recreational vehicles and offer the first electric and water hookups in a park campground, the park said.

Read the full article from the Associated Press here.