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Take our Mountain Roads Quiz
How well do you know your way around Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Take our Mountain Road Quiz to find out. 
Be the first person to answer all 10 of the following questions on Smoky Mountain roads correctly, and you will win a Smokies Road Guide and a Great Smoky Mountains National Park DVD.
Traveling in the Smokies during the winter months is especially enjoyable for those who prefer fewer crowds, the tranquility of snow and the ground frozen beneath their feet. When visiting during the winter, it's a good idea to know road conditions and closures before you arrive.
Primary roads such as US 441 (Newfound Gap Road from Gatlinburg, TN, to Cherokee, NC), Little River Road, and the Cades Cove Loop Road are open year round, weather permitting. Most secondary roads, however, are subject to seasonal closures as listed here:
* Clingmans Dome Road
Open April 1 - December 1
* Forge Creek Road
Subject to closure from December through mid-April due to mud.
* Little Greenbrier Road
Open April 12- December 31
* Parson Branch Road
Open April 11 - November 17
* Rich Mountain Road
Open March 22 - November 17
* Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Open April 12- November 30
* Roundbottom/Straight Fork Road
Open April 1- November 11
* Balsam Mountain and Heintooga Ridge roads were both closed in 2013. It is unknown at this time if they will reopen in 2014.
For updated road information, call (865) 436-1200, Ext. 631, or check the park's Twitter account.
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Preserving historic structures
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GSMA videographer Valerie Polk gives us a view of the historic structures found and protected in Cades Cove. The "perpetual preservation" of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is GSMA's primary mission and the reason we need members to join our efforts. Find out more about how you join our membership family HERE. |
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Save 15% on Clingmans Dome merchandise this holiday weekend
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GSMA sales associate Dan Paulin straightens a shelf of Clingmans Dome t-shirts in preparation for this weekend's holiday sale at the Dome.
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Before the Clingmans Dome Information Center closes for the season at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, visitors are invited to help us celebrate the end of another great year with a Dome blow-out sale starting on Thanksgiving Day. All four days of the extra long holiday weekend above 6,000 feet will feature sales prices, hot drinks, refreshments and more.
All Dome-related items will be available for 15% off regular prices. For example, the blue short-sleeve T-shirt (seen above) and the map T-shirt, both regular $19.99, this holiday weekend will sell for $16.99. Also on sale will be the popular DVD/Blu-Ray combo "An Island in the Sky," which regularly sells for $13.95, starting Thursday will be $11.85.
These sales prices are only available at the Clingmans Dome store location. See you there!
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Official Park Store
All store locations to be open on Thanksgiving Day!
* Order by Wednesday, Dec. 18,
to receive in time for Christmas!
Sure, Santa can bring a puppy or kitten down the chimney to live with you and your family this year. But he does that all the time. How about this year you ask Santa to bring a really BIG Smoky Mountain black bear! No house-training required. (Note: Cute kid not included; however, smiles of glee are guaranteed.)
Do you have a baker or sweet treat lover on your holiday gift list? How about someone who enjoys cooking and recipes from days gone by? Then the Mountain Kitchen Gift Box will make the perfect gift. It's packed full of our best selling products: stone ground corn meal, blackberry and strawberry preserves, apple butter and wild flower honey. YUMMY!
For that person on your holiday list who never stops learning, give them GSMA's complete Field Guide set. In this set they'll get our easy-to-use books to help them identify trees, birds, wildflowers, mammals, ferns, and reptiles & amphibians of the Smokies. Everyone who loves this park and wants to know more about the diversity of life found here will love this collection.
All purchases at GSMA's 7 official National Park stores support the worthwhile work being done here to preserve this place for all time.
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Business Member of the Month
The Cabin Cafe
600 Glades Road, #10
Gatlinburg TN 37722
tel: 865.325.1000
The Cabin Cafe has become one of the premiere restaurants in Gatlinburg, TN. Currently ranked #4 out of 169 restaurants in Gatlinburg, The Cabin Cafe continues to grow and include more "seats, services & sandwiches." The next time you visit Gatlinburg, TN, do not miss this treasure. The Cabin Cafe is now serving breakfast. We are extending our hours to 8:30am to 6pm - 7 days a week. In addition to our extremely popular quiches, we are serving omelets, cereals, oatmeal, bacon, eggs, ham, fruits, juices, home fries, and much more. The Cabin Cafe is now offering The Pioneer Pizza. We make a yeast-less pizza dough and cook the pizza in a cast iron pan.
GSMA Members receive 10% on food
New Business Members
Blount Partnership
201 South Washington Street
Maryville TN 37804-5728
tel: 865.983.2241
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
135 Jake Thomas Road
Pigeon Forge TN 37863
tel: 865.453.8574
If you own a business and would like to be included in this newsletter and on our website, contact Westy Fletcher at 423.487.3131 or Westy@GSMAssoc.org
GSMA Members Benefit...
GSMA members earn discounts at more than 50 North Carolina and Tennessee businesses. Think about it - 20% off here, $5 off there, and before you know it, your membership dues have paid for themselves. It's our way of saying "Thank You" for your membership! See our complete list of supporting business on our website.
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We've expanded our social network
We're honored to have more than 265,000 FANS! We get more "Likes" when you help. Share our posts and invite your friends to "Like" us.
(With this number of supporters and in light of a few highly-charged emotional outbursts concerning the partial government shutdown, we've deemed it necessary to establish a
User's Comment Policy, which we've located in our Facebook "About" page within the "Company Overview" section.)
GSMA is new to Pinterest. What would you like us to pin?
Subscribe to GSMA on YouTube
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Old-fashioned Christmas celebrations offer visitors a look back
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Looking for something a little different to do this holiday season? Great Smoky Mountains National park offers visitors two opportunities to travel back in time to be a part of old-fashioned Christmas celebrations at two of the park's visitor center locations near Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, NC, in December. First, on Saturday, Dec. 14, celebrate the Festival of Christmas Past at Sugarlands Visitor Center with old-time music, harp singing, storytelling and reminiscing, craft demonstrations such as weaving, spinning, quilting, basket making, historic toys and games, and children's activities. Then on the next Saturday, Dec. 21, join the Holiday Homecoming at Oconaluftee Visitor Center for even more old-time music and activities. From all of us to all of you, GSMA wishes all our supporters, friends and members the merriest of holiday seasons. (Watch for our Holiday Cub Report, Part 2 on Wednesday, Dec. 11.)  | | Add a Smokies scene to your holiday tree. Locally made in Gatlinburg, TN, this wooden ornament collection will brighten any Christmas tree. Be sure to collect all our other locally-made wooden ornaments. |
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Tenn's National Park quarter to feature GSMNP
The U.S. Mint's first America the Beautiful quarter to be released in January 2014 will feature the Tennessee coin and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but the design is top secret for a few more weeks.
 | | South Dakota's Mount Rushmore quarter is the most recent America the Beautiful coin to be released by the U.S. Mint, just prior to the Tennessee quarter, which is due out in January. GSMA offers all America the Beautiful quarters in our stores and on our website. |
The U.S. Mint's official release of the GSMNP quarter will take place Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at Mills Auditorium in Gatlinburg starting at 10 a.m. The event will include a number of U.S. Mint activities, a brass band, school kids receiving free quarters and collectors purchasing tens of thousands of dollars worth of GSMNP quarters. Citizens National Bank will be the area sponsor bank.
The evening before, Tuesday, Jan 28, from 5-6 p.m., the Mint will give a program at Sugarlands Visitor Center about the production of the GSMNP quarter for people with special interests in coins.
In 2010, the United States Mint began issuing 56 quarters featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program. 2014 marks the fifth year of the program and features the next 5 quarters.
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Kephart Knife SALE ends Sunday!
 | Click HERE to watch
"The Kephart Knife: Remaking History" |
There's still time to order your Kephart Knife for the holidays, but the sales price is only good through this Sunday. Great Smoky Mountains Association is offering both the numbered and non-numbered Kephart knives for sale at huge savings through the Thanksgiving Weekend, Nov. 30.
In commemoration of author and park advocate Horace Kephart's 150th birthday, only 150 of the limited-edition, numbered knives were produced and their supply has been reduced significantly since they were first introduced more than a year ago.
In his renowned book Camping and Woodcraft, Horace Kephart says: "For years I used knives of my own design, because there was nothing on the market that met my notion of what a sensible, practical sheath knife should be; but we have it now in the knife shown here. It is of the right size, the right shape, and the proper thinness."
Don't miss out this opportunity to own what's sure to become a treasured addition to any collection. Order today.
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'Bear in the Back Seat' author
to sign books this holiday weekend
Retired National Park Service ranger Kim DeLozier will sign copies of his new book, "Bear in the Back Seat," at two Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitor centers during the upcoming holiday weekend.
Visitors will find Kim first at Oconaluftee Visitor Center from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on "Black Friday," Nov. 29, and again at Sugarlands Visitor Center Saturday, Nov. 30, where he'll personalize your copy of his book from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. He'll also give a short talk in auditorium at 11:30 a.m. at Sugarlands.
With "Bear in the Back Seat" you get the real story from the man who lived it. For example, in Kim's world when sedated wild black bears wake up unexpectedly in the back seat of a helicopter in mid-flight - or in his car as he's driving down the highway, or in his office while he's talking on the phone - it's just another day in the park.
Order your copy of "Bear in the Back Seat" today or plan to get your copy of Kim's book at either of the visitor centers. All purchases of this book support the work being done to preserve wildlife in this national park.
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Smoky Mountain Recipes:
Holiday Eggnog
Most will agree: No holiday party is complete without a cup of sweet, creamy eggnog. Try this recipe at your next holiday gathering:
Eggnog 
Ingredients:
6 eggs, separated
3/4 C sugar
1 pint heavy cream
1 pint sweet whole milk
1 pint brandy or whiskey*
Nutmeg
Directions:
Beat eggs separately. Add 1/2 C sugar to yolks and 1/4 C sugar to whites. Mix and add heavy cream and sweet milk. Add brandy or whiskey slowly. Sprinkle nutmeg over top.
* Omit brandy or whiskey to make non-alcoholic eggnog.
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Gift giving without wrapping
 Sharing a membership in a worthwhile organization, one you love and support, is the gift that keeps giving throughout the year. A membership in Great Smoky Mountains Association is certainly that, plus so much more...
- More member activities
- More member benefits
- More member information
- More member opportunities
In addition to a discount (15-25%) on purchases at all of our sales locations, recipients look forward to receiving our Smokies Life magazine twice a year, a GSMA lapel pin to proudly display their membership, a window decal, invitation to our annual membership weekend and monthly activities, and increased offering on our website, including Smokies Guide and the Bear Paw. Our monthly Cub Report, with its videos, quizzes, monthly hike and program offerings, products, and updated park information is an added benefit.
So if you're all thumbs when it comes to wrapping paper and bows, give that special someone in your life a GSMA Membership! Order by Dec. 9 to receive in time for Christmas. Call us at 865-436-7318, Ext. 222 or 254.
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Dear Members: When using our website...
When you join Great Smoky Mountains Association, you join a family of more than 17,000 individuals who support this national park, people just like you who want to do their part to make sure the Smokies continue to be a special place to visit.
Also, when you join GSMA an account is established in your name to give you instant access to all our fabulous OFFICIAL NATIONAL PARK STORE products via our website. Your account login (for almost every member) is the email address you gave us when you registered. The first time you login to your account, use the "Forgot Password" feature, which will generate a random password for you to "copy and paste" into the Password field. Once you've used the generic password to access your account, please be sure to change your password.
We hope that you, as Proud Members of GSMA, will think about our official park products each time you have a gift-giving need. All purchases support the park you love.
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Answers
to Last
Month's
Wild
Turkey
Quiz
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1. How many feathers does an adult wild turkey have? 5000-6000
2. How far can a wild turkey's "gobble: be heard? Up to a mile
3. Turkeys prefer hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood forests with this important feature: Scattered openings/clearings
4. This person supposedly preferred the Wild Turkey over the Bald Eagle as our national bird: Benjamin Franklin
5. Turkeys can run up to speeds of 25 mph, and fly up to this speed: 55 mph
6. A true "comeback" story, from only 30,000 turkeys in the early 1900s, the turkey population has increased to this number today: 7,000,000
7. The tuft of modified feathers growing from the center of a turkey's breast is called a: Beard
8. When necessary, wild turkeys can do this: Swim
9. Male courting behavior involves the following: All of the above
10. Wild Turkey is the main ingredient in which of the following recipes: A Wild Apple Pie
Winner: Joe Mazzotto of Pennsylvania. For winning last month's quiz, Mr. Mazzotto will receive a copy of Corn from a Jar by UNC-Asheville history professor and former GSMA board member Daniel Pierce. Congratulations!
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| Have Questions? | - For questions about online purchases, click HERE and the Mail Order department 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.
- Want to volunteer in the national park for GSMA? Click HERE for details. |
| Read it on the web | - The latest Smokies Guide (the official GSMNP newspaper) is available for viewing,reading and printing. Click HERE.
- The Bear Paw, the GSMA membership bi-annual newsletter, is ready to read, share and print by clicking HERE.
- Be sure to check our Calendar of Events page often for upcoming park activities. |
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