To see more fun photos like this, subscribe to our e-newsletter. This colorful photo of a wild turkey is by Ranger Kent Cave.
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Just Discovered -- Hop Tree -- 100th Native Tree
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Park rangers have just discovered the 100th species of tree native to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a Hop Tree, sometimes called Wafer Ash. Its Latin name is Ptelea trifoliata.
This small tree or shrub of the citrus family has a straight trunk, rarely grows taller than 20 feet, and is a host for Giant Swallowtails and Tiger Swallowtails.
Photo from Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
It is found from Canada to Florida, but is nowhere abundant. The
name is derived from the fact that its fruit was once believed to be a viable
substitute for hops in beer making. The oddball arbor's other claim to fame is
that its bark and flowers both have a foul smell.
Besides raising the tally on park biodiversity, it's also a
welcome relief for park interpreters and scribes for whom stating "99 species
of native trees live in the park," always seemed awkward and slightly
inadequate.
The hop trees were
discovered on property recently added to the park in a land swap involving TVA
and other entities. They are located on the extreme west end near Calderwood
Lake and Highway 129.
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Elk Corps Volunteers
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Bugle Corps in Cataloochee
John Broome wears elk antlers provided by Barbara Smathers and another volunteer (who is hiding behind John).
These antics are part of the work of the Elk Bugle Corps in the Cataloochee Valley.
The Corps began in 2007 and consists of of volunteers who help visitors learn about elk and enjoy their trip to Cataloochee.
The Corps uses a variety of hands-on tools such as elk fur and naturally shed antler to teach visitors about the reintroduction of elk into the park.
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Special Deep Discounts -- Great Christmas Presents
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Our Limited Edition 75th Table Runners and Placemats are now 50% off!
Woven by hand on an antique loom in the complex whig rose pattern, by Hope Reagan, these would make the ultimate Christmas present for a Smokies lover.
You can watch Hope, a 4th generation Smoky Mountains craftsman, weaving these very placemats and 50" table runners in a video podcast on our website.
 
An end of the season closeout means 35% off our handsomely-textured GSMA pique polo shirts. The 60% cotton/40% polyester blend with a GSMA logo will last for years and is easy to wash. In navy and hunter.
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Our New Dollywood Store
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We have a new store at Dollywood. Come visit us there between now and Christmas. We'd love to see you. And so would Dolly!
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Road Advisories
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I-40 between Tennessee and Asheville, NC (near mile marker 3, very close to the Tennessee state line) is blocked because of a huge rockslide. Find alternate routes if you were planning to travel this stretch of I-40.
The Gatlinburg Bypass and the Spur will have periodic single lane closures to clear vegetation from November 2-January 15. The work will be suspended during times of heaviest traffic.
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Leaf Color Update
Drought is Over, Visitorship is Up, and the Smokies are Less Smoky
Photo by Deb Campbell
This is it! Throughout the next two weeks fall color will be
at its peak in the Great Smoky Mountains.
After two and a half years of drought, rains came in May, and now we're 6" above average at Elkmont and 8" above average at Mt. LeConte. From May to September, Mt. LeConte received 15" above normal rainfall!
The air quality in the park has continued to improve over the last ten years. Visibility on the haziest days is up 18%, ozone is down 24%, sulfates are down 32%, and nitrates are down 22%.
So far this year 7,205,731 people have toured the park, an increase of 5.7% over last year's total of 6,818,948.
Click here to get updates on the fall colors.
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New Video: An Autumn Postcard from the Smokies
Elk and Fall Color in Cataloochee
You'll love Valerie Polk's newest film featuring the elk herd, a bull bugling, and leaf color in Cataloochee.
Bonesteel Films has generously loaned us this snippet of rare National Archives footage of George Masa featured in their documentary The Mystery of George Masa. To promote the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Masa served as guide during numerous visits by representatives of the Department of the Interior to the Smokies.
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Ghost Stories for Halloween
Free Audio Podcasts
 For some spooky Halloween fun, you can listen to 3 ghost stories we've posted online.
These are local ghost stories read by local people:
Cabin on Fire read by Don G. Campbell.
Rachel read by GSMA's own Joey Heath.
Snowy Footprints read by Ranger Carey Jones.
We sell half a dozen different books containing lots more stories like these, such as The Granny Curse.
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New Issue of Smokies Life Magazine
# 5 Is On the Way!
 If you're a GSMA Member, Volume #5 of Smokies Life will magically appear in your mailbox in November.
It's
loaded with great stories about the Conscientious Objector Work Camp in
the Smokies during World War II, our own "Song Catcher", Salamanders,
Heirloom Apples, and much more.
Truly a collector's item you won't want to miss.
Smokies Life magazine comes out twice a year. The Fall edition is beginning to be mailed out.
The next edition will appear in April of 2010.
Members will also receive The Bear Paw printed newsletter and our new Christmas catalog soon.
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Free Programs on Masa and Kephart
Saturday, November 21
Presentations on George Masa and Horace
Kephart will be given at Sugarlands Visitor Center Auditorium on Saturday, November 21. These two men were pivotal in bringing the grandeur of the Smokies to the
attention of the public.
Japanese born, George Masa
(1881-1933) captured the light, shadows, and cloud formations that waft through
these mountains... all through the lens of a camera. Masa's personal friend and one of the principal supporters for
establishing the national park, Horace Kephart (1862-1931),
eloquently captured the heart and soul of the Smokies in Our
Southern Highlanders and several other books about the area.
George Masa: A
Perspective on His Life and Works
Presented by GSMA board chairman William A. Hart, Jr., 10 am
The Back of
Beyond: Horace Kephart in the Smokies
Presented by retired park ranger Butch McDade, 1 pm
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Mountain Music CD
We Discovered Him Before Ken Burns Did!
 You'll love this audio CD companion to Horace Kephart's classic book Our Southern Highlanders.
Before the Ken Burns series, GSMA used Bill Mize's music in many of our video podcasts.
We like to think that's where Ken got the idea to use his music on the PBS series.
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New Kephart Book Is an Instant Bestseller
Manuscript Discovered and Donated to the Park
 George Ellison and Libby Kephart Hargrave (Horace's great-grand daughter) will appear for a book signing at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on Thursday, November 12, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm.
George and Elizabeth Ellison will also do a book reading and signing at Malaprops bookstore in Asheville, NC on Friday, November 20, at 7 pm.
For lots more information about Horace Kephart, visit this page of our website.
Links to other Kephart books appear below
Camping and Woodcraft
Camp Cookery
Cherokees of the Smokies
Our Southern Highlanders
Smoky Mountain Magic (hardback)
Smoky Mountain Magic (paperback)
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Ken Burns' PBS National Park Series in Blu-Ray
Highlights the Smokies and Local Historic Figures
 Get the entire series on DVD, the companion book, and the soundtrack. Or click here to see all our Burns, Masa, and Kephart products.
Millions of viewers tuned in to watch
Ken Burns' newest PBS film, a 12-hour series about our national parks. Much was said about GSMNP as well as author Horace Kephart and
photographer George Masa, both of whom played key roles in the Park's creation.
Because
of the keen interest in this special documentary, GSMA donated a full set of series DVDs to the main libraries in counties adjacent to the Park: Blount,
Cocke, and Sevier, TN; Haywood, Swain, and Graham, NC; and the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Qualla Boundary.
If you'd like to own America's Best Idea, the six-DVD series is $99.99 ($129.99 for Blu-ray BD) from GSMA bookstores at Park visitor
centers, online at www.SmokiesInformation.org,
or by calling our mail order department at 1-888-898-9102 extension 226.
The film captures magnificently the beautiful landscapes
that are unique to America and unfolds the struggles to create a national
system of parks. The people and stories are as varied as the parks themselves which have
grown to 391 in the National Park System.
The National Park Service has
launched a new website www.nps.gov/AmericasBestIdea/ that highlights the work
underway to keep improving "America's Best Idea." In 2016, the National Park Service will turn 100,
another important milestone to look forward to in our nation's history.
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GSMA Membership
With the holidays just around
the corner what better way to surprise someone special than with a gift
membership in GSMA!
Our Smokies Life magazine has received kudos galore. Containing
both natural and cultural history articles, each issue serves as a valuable
resource for those who love the park. Members
receive this impressive and informative publication twice a year, in Spring and Fall.
GSMA offers many other membership benefits as well, including a 15% discount on
purchases made at any of our 8 stores in and around the park, as well as on-line, or via mail order. And, of course, all purchases benefit the
park!
New
members will receive a handsome lapel pin, a decal, a current catalog, the Smokies Guide printed newspaper four times a year, the Bear Paw printed newsletter twice a year, and a membership information
pamphlet, plus many other perks, such as
invitations to our annual membership weekend in September and guided
interpretive hikes and programs throughout the year.
So, remember when
you're scratching your head about what to get someone for that special
occasion, the perfect solution is a membership in GSMA! No shopping, wrapping, or mailing is required.
To order a
membership call toll free:
1-888-898-9102 extension 222 or 254.
Please allow 4 weeks for holiday processing and mailing.
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Smokies Life
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Here are the previous editions of Smokies Life magazine. Have you missed any since you joined GSMA?
   
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15% Discount
for GSMA Members!
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All Great Smoky Mountains Association Members support the park with
every purchase they make while enjoying a 15% discount plus many more
benefits such as a free subscription to Smokies Life magazine, Smokies
Guide newspaper, Bearpaw newsletter, Cub Report monthly e-newsletter, and discounts at many other parks!
A new Members Only area of the website is being developed where special offers and information will be available via password!
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Gift Memberships
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Make a charitable donation, support the park, and give a present all at the same time!
Click here to view the possibilities.
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Contact Membership@GSMAssoc.org
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Any Questions?
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For questions about online purchases, click here and Doug will help you.
For questions about membership, click here and Judy or Marti will help you.
For questions about business membership, click here and Westy will help you.
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