Open House of Un-Opened Section of Foothills Parkway

May 2nd & 3rd 2008

Park Schedules Open House of Un-opened Section of Foothills Parkway Park managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced that the public will be invited to an Open House on the un-opened section of the Foothills Parkway in Blount County (Tenn.) from 10 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 3 and 4, 2008. Park Superintendent, Dale Ditmanson said, "This 9.5 mile scenic roadway was last opened to motorists in April 1998 and has been under construction nearly non-stop since then.  During that ten year period, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded and managed two contracts totaling $17.5 under which three graceful, curving bridges have been completed." "We are really looking forward to having our neighbors see what has been accomplished since they were last able to visit the site."  Ditmanson said.  "The entire section has spectacular vistas and the bridges seem to hang suspended up to 80 feet above the ground. We believe that they will someday become icons of the Foothills Parkway much as the Linn Cove Viaduct is of the Blue Ridge Parkway." Motorists will enter the area via the Foothills Parkway interchange off U.S. 321 about 11 miles north of Maryville.  Upon entering they will be greeted by graduates of "Blount County Experience Your Smokies" who will hand out safety and other information about the Parkway. The unopened segment is a dead-end and has a gravel surface, but no guardrails, striping or signs so it is not opened to vehicles on a regular basis for safety reasons. Normally the closed section is open only to hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. For more info contact Bob Miller (865)436-1207.

Photography Workshop

Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn will be hosting a Nature Photography Workshop the first weekend in May. Freelance nature and travel photographer Kendall Chiles will be teaching this unique workshop. Kendall has 20 years of photography experience, and is currently president of the Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers Club. Since 1992, Kendall has been a presenter and workshop leader at the annual Pigeon Forge Wilderness Wildlife Week. Additionally, he is a part-time instructor at the University of Tennessee and the Smoky Mountain Field School and has lead workshops for several national and state parks. His beautiful photos have been published in many magazines and books such as Birds and Blooms, Blue Ridge Country and Country Extra to mention a few.

Kendall’s exciting workshop will begin on Friday evening, May 2, in the spacious Blue Mountain Mist conference room. Saturday will be spent studiously clicking in the field or mountains. Saturday evening, after dining out on your own, your photos will be critiqued. Finally, Sunday morning will be spent outside on the gorgeous grounds of the Blue Mountain Mist.
 
The workshop will consist of only 10 participants. This will automatically insure that everyone will have one-on-one instruction, as Kendall will teach students with any level of photography skill.

The cost for this weekend-long workshop is only $100 per person.

See our Photography Workshop package