Take our Ruby-throated Hummingbird Quiz

So tiny, so delicate, so beautiful. How much do you know about the ruby-throated hummingbird? Take our quiz HERE and find out.

 

The first person to answer all of the following questions correctly will win a copy of "Ruby-throated Hummingbird" (Wild Bird Guides) by Bob Sargent and a beautiful hummingbird pin.

Spring in the Smokies
Spring Bursts
Spring Bursts, by Gary Wilson

The first 30 seconds of Gary's latest video could more aptly be titled "A Wildflower Ballet." Through time-lapse photography and a great deal of patience, GSMA's cinematographer was able to capture spring ephemerals as they responded to morning's first warming rays of sunshine.

 

Wildflowers are volunteer Tom Harrington's passion, and we are lucky to be able to include his findings on our website throughout the spring, summer and into fall. We are well into our fourth year of including Tom's extremely detailed reports HERE.

 

By comparing dates since 2011, you are sure to find this Wildflower Update a handy reference when searching for your favorite flowers.

May is mountain laurel month

The blooming of mountain laurel is the big event in May. Unlike many other flowering plants in the park, every year seems to be a good year for mountain laurel.

 

This large shrub grows only in the eastern U.S., but stretches from southern Maine to northern Florida. Individual plants have reached 25 feet tall in the Smokies. Its leaves are poisonous if ingested and even the milk from livestock that have eaten mountain laurel can be deadly.

 

If you want to take a hike with plenty of mountain laurel, try one of these. Keep in mind that mountain laurel prefers sunny sites, especially on the west side of the park.

 

- Cove Mountain Trail from near Sugarlands Visitor Center (Cataract Falls). The first two miles have spectacular mountain laurel.

 

- Chestnut Top Trail from the Townsend Wye. The first 1.5 miles are very good for mountain laurel.

 

- Abrams Falls Trail in Cades Cove. This is a 5-mile round trip hike to the falls and back.

May's member adventures focus
on birds, blooms and 'shrooms
bluebirds missy weeks

Our May members activities will focus on birds, blooms and edible plants, including mushrooms.

 

Saturday, May 3 - "Birds and Blooms" with Kevin and Jennie Burke. Hike with this husband-and-wife naturalist team along the Cove Hardwood Trail & Chimney Tops to identify higher-elevation park birds and wildflowers.

 

(SPECIAL NOTE: Kevin is also half of the new volunteer team leading birding walks around the park. Kevin's partner in all things feathered is Keith Watson of Boogertown Gap music fame. Their walk schedule, which is open to all park visitors free of charge, can be found HERE.)

 

Saturday, May 10 - Noted national park hike leader Vesna Plakanas will lead a group of 20 on an "Ediable Plants & Mushrooms" hike in the Greenbrier section of the national park. While taking plants from the park is prohibited, Vesna will show participants what to look for outside-the-park collecting.

 

Make your reservations today. For the comfort of our members, our monthly activities are limited in participant size. Don't delay and miss an opportunity to learn more about the Smokies. Call us at 865.436.7318, Ext. 222 or 254; or email us HERE.
Official Park Store

Shop here and support GSMNP!

NEW - When most folks think of "little brown jugs," they are usually in the woods looking for a specific wildflower. However, GMSA's little brown jug is guaranteed to keep your coffee hot and can be found at all our visitor center stores and HERE. Get yours today.

Wilderness50 - On September 3, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. The background of that story is chronicled in
the most recent Smokies Life Magazine. This historic bill established the National Wilderness Preservation System and set aside an initial 9.1 million acres of wildlands for the use and benefit of the American people. Over the past 50 years, and as a result of America's support for wilderness, Congress has added over 100 million acres to this unique land preservation system. Mark the anniversary of this very special event and support this national park by purchasing a commemorative magnet, sticker, lapel pin and patch. For more on the anniversary, click HERE.

NEW - Whether you call it pink, paprika or watermelon, we call it the bright new addition to our T-shirt line. Available in three sizes, this shirt is 100% cotton and guaranteed to make a bold statement about your love for this park.

 

Wishbone's look-alike featured
in newest DisneyNature film
Disneynature's Bears - Official Trailer
Disneynature's Bears - Official Trailer
 
Check out the trailer above for DisneyNature's newest film, Bears. While these animals lives were filmed mostly in Alaska, one of the baby bears will look familiar to those of you who know the story of Wishbone, a black bear from the Smokies.
 

Over the years, many people have inquired about the history of a taxidermied black bear on display at Gatlinburg Welcome Center. The young bear is an especially attractive specimen with a white "wishbone" marking on his chest. Most bears in the Smokies are jet black, never brown or "cinnamon," though a few have the white chest blazes.

 

Wishbone, a yearling, was killed by a car on Newfound Gap Road in the national park. Chances are Wishbone had been fed by people or had gotten used to eating scraps of food at one of the picnic areas or campgrounds. Having lost its fear of people, it was only a matter of time before Wishbone was struck by a car, shot by a poacher, or killed by a legal hunter outside.

 

Today, Wishbone exists as a reminder for park visitors to keep their food secured and away from bears.

 

Every Wishbone purchase supports GSMA's efforts to protect black bears in this national park.

Business Member of the Month 

Stony Brook Cabins & Chalets

1663 East Parkway
Gatlinburg TN 37738
tel: 800.633.5652 
 
 
 

A family owned and operated cabin rental company, we offer 1 to 6+ bedroom rental cabins near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg. If you're looking for that perfect cabin at a discounted price with excellent service, you have found the place. Stony Brook Cabins & Chalets is committed to providing quality service and luxury Gatlinburg Chalets and Rental Cabins.

GSMA Members receive a 10% discount on lodging. (Some exclusions apply.)  

 

New Business Members

Carr's Northside Cottages & Motel

421 West Laurel Road
Gatlinburg TN 37738
tel: 800.370.559
 

GSM Outfitters

3275 Wears Valley Road, Suite B
Sevierville TN 37862
tel: 865.366.2608
 

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.

Changes are coming to our website
Who said, "The only constant is change?" A quick Google search returns Heraclitus of Ephesus from Wikiquotes as the originator of this thought, except, wait a minute, I remember when the site was just called Wikipedia. See what I mean? Everything is constantly changing, especially in the tech world.
 
GSMA's website is no exception. We're working now to update our site, mostly in the areas of membership and our webstore. User-friendly enhancements are on the way, with a few exclusive-access portals being included in the new design. That means portions of the site currently available to all will soon be available only to GSMA members.

If you're not already, JOIN US today to ensure that the digital access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park you've come to enjoy remains available to you.
1/4 Million+ Fans on Facebook! 
 
We're up to nearly 290K FANS! We get more "Likes" when you help. Share our posts and invite your friends to "Like" us on 
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.
We have a NEW Twitter
Follow GSMA HERE
Follow us on Pinterest
HERE and give us some suggestions for pins

 Anonymous donor/member gives $2.2M to GSMA

The nearly $2.2 million gift - one of the largest cash donations ever given in support of GSMNP - is to be applied to GSMA's existing Oconaluftee Visitor Center construction loan and a new loan to assist in construction of the Collections Preservation Center (above) this summer in Townsend, TN.

For those who haven't yet heard, we've got BIG news to share. GSMA Executive Director Terry Maddox announced earlier this month that an anonymous donor has named GSMA the recipient of one of the largest cash donations ever given in support of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

  

The donor is one of you - a long-time GSMA member. And for his or her generosity we could not be more grateful. The motivation to make a charitable gift of any size is often rooted in a donor's belief in and love of a cause or place with which he or she feels an emotional connection. Certainly this is the case with this donor.

 

"This donation will allow GSMA to redouble its efforts to carry out its mission and allow funds that would have formerly been directed to debt to be employed toward the broader aims of the organization," said William Hart, chairman of GSMA's board of directors. 

 

Click HERE to read the entire story.

 

Where GSMA puts its money...
Even in a particularly vexing year for our organization, GSMA was able to make a substantial contribution to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2013. Through memberships and sales at our visitor center stores, we contributed more than $1.5M to support park projects. For a complete list of where the money goes, click HERE.

  Firefly viewing is June 4-11

 

 

Parking passes for this year's firefly viewing at Elkmont went on sale this morning (April 30) HERE.

 

Because this event is hugely popular and crowd control is essential to ensue a pleasant experience for all, the system for viewing these little critters can be tricky to navigate. If you want to go, here are a few tips:

 

Step 1 - Log on to the Recreation.gov website as soon as possible TODAY! Only 90 parking passes per day have been made available and they go quick!

Step 2 - Reserve your parking pass for $1.50, which guarantees you a place to park at Sugarlands Visitor Center on one of the dates June 6-13.

Step 3 - Plan to arrive at Sugarlands no later than 7 p.m. on the day of your reservation.

Step 4 - Bring an extra $1 for each person's trolley ride to Elkmont. (NOTE: Only registered Elkmont campground guests will be allowed to park vehicles within walking distance of the viewing area.) 

Step 5 - Be prepared to spend between 3-6 hours outside at Elkmont during the evening hours, when temperatures can drop into the low 50s/high 40s this time of year.

Step 6 - Have a grand time experiencing this special event.

 

Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns, and they do so each year in early June as a mating ritual. The Elkmont area of the park has a high population of these fireflies and has become a very popular viewing area.

 

If you're unable to attend one of these viewings in Elkmont and if you're a GSMA member (or want to be), we will offer an evening program to cover all things nocturnal with Wanda DeWaard. Click HERE and scroll down to June 7 to read more about our evening in Greenbrier. We have only 20 spaces available for this program, so make your reservations today.

 Bicycle Days start

May 7 in Cades Cove

Park's facility schedule updated for spring

Pump up your tires and grab your helmet. Bicycle Days start May 7 in Cades Cove. From that date through September 24 bicyclists are given priority over cars and trucks on the scenic loop until 10 a.m. every Saturday and Wednesday morning.

 

May is the month when "Bicycle Mornings" start in Cades Cove. Beginning May 7, on every Saturday and Wednesday morning from sunrise to 10 a.m., only bicycles and pedestrians are allowed on the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road. If you have never experienced a peaceful early morning on "the loop," you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

 

Don't have a bike? No problem. Bicycle rentals are available at the Cades Cove Campstore. On "bicycle-only" mornings the rentals start at 7:00 a.m. You can choose from a one-speeder ($4 per hour), a full-on, multi-speed mountain bike ($6 per hour), or new this year an electric-assist bike for $20 per hour! For more information, call 865.448.9034. 

 

The park's spring facility schedule, which also includes the re-opening of both Balsam Mountain and Abrams Creek campgrounds on May 23, can be found by clicking HERE to find a complete list of all operating schedules for roads, front country and back country campgrounds, visitor centers, picnic areas and horse stables.

 Smoky Mountain Mystery:

The Stranger Room

While hardly the Hilton or even Motel 6, a "stranger room," seen here on the right of the front porch, did provide shelter from the elements.
Elijah Oliver cabin, photo by GSMA's Chris Ewing 

 

What exactly was a "stranger room?" When travelers were passing through and needed a place to stay, people like Elijah Oliver of Cades Cove might put them up in his "stranger room."

 

Elijah's was built onto the front porch of his house, but the people who stayed there did not necessarily have access to the main house. If the guest was indeed a stranger, Elijah could pull in the latchstring on the front door of the main house, restricting access. If it was a friend, the latchstring might be left out.

 

As the Great Smoky Mountains became more and more popular with anglers, hikers and sightseers, tourists could be boarded in the stranger room for a fee.

Membership Weekend

registration to start June 2

The Lambuth Inn at beautiful Lake Junaluska, N.C.
 
North Carolina's Lake Junaluska community will play host to Great Smoky Mountains Association members during this year's annual weekend retreat. Registration for the Sept. 19-21 event opens Monday, June 2.
 
Activities inside the national park will include:
Hiking along Cataloochee Divide to Purchase Knob Science Center
+ Hiking in Balsam Mountain area
+ Hiking & History Talk in Cataloochee Valley
+ Re-introduction of Elk Talk in Cataloochee Valley
 
Activities at the Lake will include: 
Birding around the Lake
+ A screening of the new "Cataloochee" movie
+ Birds of Prey program
+ Boating on the Lake
+ S'more Party at the Firepit
+ Native Plants Walk
+ Cornshuck doll making class
 
A host of individual activities offered by Lake Junaluska Assembly are also available, including a 24/7 fitness center, putt-putt, tennis, golf, volleyball, fishing, nature trails. For those who may want to experience Haywood County on your own, both towns of Maggie Valley and Waynesville are located within minutes of the lake. The Blue Ridge Parkway is also easily accessible from several locations nearby. 
 
In addition to the many activities being planned, the Membership Weekend package will include three full meals, with a Saturday morning breakfast buffet being added to the schedule for the first time. Accommodations are being offered at both the Lambuth Inn and in the campground just across U.S. 19 from the entrance to Lake Junaluska. Bring your bicycle, fishing pole, lawn chair, your walking shoes and your kayak/canoe.
 
Remember Mom, Dad and Graduates' big day
 
A GSMA membership makes a great gift for Mothers Day (May 11), Fathers Day (June 15), and high school and college graduates. Share the Great Smoky Mountains experience with that special outdoorsy someone in your life today. Once they're members, an invitation to the Membership Weekend in North Carolina is included, along with all the other benefits of membership.

Smoky Mountain Recipe:

Fruit Milkshakes 

 

You may remember from her "Staff Spotlight" how much our own Karen Key professed love for her work. And while she didn't mention finding and testing recipes as a highlight of what she does for GSMA, just look at these amazing creations above! It's a tough job testing recipes like "It's Almost Summertime Milkshakes" before sharing them with our readers, but Karen is a professional who eagerly takes on all challenges that come her way. We appreciate her for the effort. We know you do too. :)

 

It's Almost Summertime Milkshakes

1/3 C milk

2 1/2 C vanilla ice cream

1/4 C Foods of the Smokies preserves

* We liked blueberry, peach and strawberry best, but feel free to try whatever fruit preserve you like best!

Whipped cream (optional)

 

In a blender, mix milk, ice cream, and preserves until smooth. Top with whipped cream and preserves. Serving size is exactly enough to fill one of our coffee mugs!

 

Recipe idea courtesy of Judy Bowman, GSMA store manager
 
If you have a Smoky Mountain Recipe you'd like to share with Karen, send her an email HERE. Be sure to include the recipe's source.

GSMA Staff Spotlight: Kevin Roberson

Kevin Roberson is our assistant store manager at Cades Cove and Townsend visitor centers. His daily commute takes him past open meadows with mountain views, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote and oftentimes lots of slow-moving cars loaded with wide-eyed park visitors.

 

Q: How long have you worked at Cades Cove, Kevin?

A: I have worked for GSMA for 7 years, usually 4 days a week at Cades Cove Visitor Center and 1 at Townsend Visitor Center and have been the miller at Cable Mill on occasion. 

 

Q: Tell us about some of the things you've seen at work or coming and going there.

A: On my drive to work I have been blessed to see countless wildlife: deer, bear, turkey, grouse, bobcat, coyote, fox, wild hog, etc. While in the peak seasons the drive on the loop road can be extremely slow, it sure beats sitting in traffic on an interstate or in a city.  One of my favorite things is to see the woods get greener daily in the spring and the colors changing in the fall.  

 

Q: What's your favorite story about Cades Cove?

A: An interesting story about the settlers that lived in the cove is the one about Charlie Garland carrying a woodstove on his back from Maryville without setting it down. That story can be found in our book "History Hikes in the Smokies," which we have available in our visitors centers. 

 

Q: What's another of your favorite places in the Smokies?

A: Tremont is a beautiful place to hike, fish or just hang out by the river. Tremont is not crowded and is easy to get to.  

 

Q: Aren't you also an artist/crafter?

A: When not at work, I enjoy art, music, camping, riding motorcycles, working in the yard and rapier fencing [a type of sword fighting] in the Society for Creative Anachronism. 

 

Q: When do you think is the best time to visit Cades Cove?

A: My favorite time in Cades Cove is in the morning just after a rain. The mist rising from the surrounding mountains with everything wet and green, the deer seem to like rainy days as well. 

 

Q: What do you like most about your job?    

A: The part of my job I enjoy most is probably the interaction with visitors.  Most are in a good mood (hard not to be here), and it is interesting to talk with them and answer questions about the park.  Some of the questions are very amusing! I would also like to mention I work with some really great people, and the park has some very good volunteers and rangers.

Answers
to Last
Month's
Flowering Trees
Quiz

  

  1. This is one of the most common trees in the park, growing at all elevations. Its brilliant red flowers bloom from February-April. One Cherokee name for this tree means "blood-like." Red Maple

  2. Also called Juneberry and Shadbush, this tree rarely grows taller than 30 feet. Its five petal, star-like white flowers begin to bloom in the lower elevations in late February or early March. Serviceberry

  3. The women of Cades Cove were said to have placed the fragrant reddish-maroon flowers of this plant in their bosom as a perfume. The flowers bloom mid-April into June. Sweetshrub

  4. The leaves of this tree are heart-shaped, and its flowers appear prior to its leaves. Blooming from mid-March to early April these magenta splashes of color make a glorious statement of spring amid surrounding greenery. Redbud

  5. This magnificent, straight-growing tree is best known as the "Tulip Tree" based on the shape of its leaves and its large green and yellow-orange flowers which begin blooming in late April and drop to the forest floor by late May. Little Greenbrier School was built from its timbers. It is also known as: Yellow Poplar

  6. Drooping clusters of bright yellow-striped flowers that bloom during April and May, along with the three-lobed "goose foot" shape of its leaves, helps identify this tree. Striped Maple

  7. One of the most common understory shrubs in the park, this fragrant specimen's bright yellow blossoms provide some of spring's most lively colors. Flowers appear in late February and can last through March, It is also the host plant for a certain swallowtail butterfly. Spicebush 
  8. Probably this country's most loved flowering tree, this beauty is known to have Easter significance based on the structure of its bracts. Its berries mature in September and are a major food source for birds. Flowering Dogwood 

  9. This shrub often forms dense thickets in the higher elevations and rarely grows taller than 8-10 feet. Large clumps of white flowers bloom in late April and May. Mountain folk would hang its limbs over their doors to keep witches away. Hobblebush 

  10. The white pendulous flowers of this tree are produced in clusters conspicuous in April and May.  It is probably best identified by its bark, which tends to flake in scales resembling a candy bar... thus giving credence to its other name... the "Hershey" tree. Silverbell 

The winner is Randy Small, Alcoa, TNCongratulations!

  

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 with GSMA? Click HERE and Lisa will help you.
EXTRA!
Read all about it!
The following are all instantly available, digital, GREEN publications...
+ The all-new Spring 2014 Smokies Guide (the official GSMNP newspaper) is available for viewing, reading and printing. Click HERE.
+ The all-new Spring 2014 Bear Paw, the GSMA membership bi-annual newsletter, is ready to read, share and print by clicking HERE. This edition includes the 2013 Annual Report.
+ Be sure to check our Calendar of Events page often for upcoming park activities.
+ Read back issues. Archive editions of the Cub Report can be found HERE.