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Comments
I appreciate the comments above. I will answer the question by providing how this effects my family, our country and future generations.
I moved to TN in 1992. I was a freshman at The University of Tennessee. Having the GSMNP close was another deciding factor to "why" I made the decision to move. Outdoor recreation is my passion and I took many courses at UT focusing on acts, laws and government legislation implemented to benefit "all." (Especially, individuals with disabilities.)
It's now 2023 and I honestly don't believe what's happening in our NPS. The cost/s associated with visiting our NPS is embarrassing AND laws are not being followed.
Our government has the finances to not implement the above fee OR cause additional increases IF budgets were managed correctly. Yes, inflation will always be an issue. However, the issue is having cost effective, strategic planning, legal minded professionals managing and controlling the budget for these types of fees to be avoided. These issues were not implemented in the past and I ask "why" they are being implemented in 2023?
I am a single mom with a son heading to UT. I want him to have the same freedoms of no cost to visit the GSMNP I had in 1992. He'll pay (and our future generations will pay) the cost in plenty other government increases that were not managed appropriately. Let's not have the NPS do this!
I want the GSMNP to be unique from other NPS. If the NPS is going to continue implementing and increasing unnecessary fees, that's injustice to "We the People."
I pray "In God WE Trust" that new eyes and ideas will reevalate the budget, follow the law and do what's right for our entire country to relieve any unnessary cost to truly enjoy public lands in liberty and justice for all.
My suggestion is updating products such as apparel, souvenirs, food and beverage in NPS Visitor Center's to increase revenue For operational funds. A parking pass makes zero sense to pay. I don't want that illegal paper trail or "souvenir" from the GSMNP.
No more extra fees please! Now it's dated entry tickets on top of paying entrance fees.
I'm not understanding why people think the most visited national park in the country should be free, essentially leeching off of every other park in the country that charges entry fees. I'm perfectly okay with paying a $35 entrance fee for a WEEK. Now, I understand the main road should be free, and that's fine. But I don't understand why the NPS didn't put up entry booths for every offshoot entrance road. You want to visit Cades Cove? You should have your entry pass. Clingman's Dome? Entry pass. You want to stop at Chimneys Picnic Area off the road or Sugarland or Oconaluftee Visitor Centers? You better have an entry pass displayed or have purchased one at a self-service station. To me that would be easier to enforce than a parking permit. Plus it would be consistent with what is done in other parks. When you buy an annual pass, I agree with those that say that one shouldn't have to pay additional fees on top of that.
From the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965:
"In the Smoky Mountains National Park, unless fees are charged for entrance into said park on main highways and thoroughfares, fees shall not be charged for entrance on other routes into said park or any part thereof."
It would be illegal. Admittedly, though, the same is true of the current end run semantics scheme.
No argument that the park needs the additional revenue but it seems that an earier way to collect would be to charge for access to Clingsmans Dome, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Cades Cove Auto Loop and the Pioneer Farmstead. You could even require a time entry like they are doing at Cadliac Mountain in Arcadia. You would pay a one time fee, good for 7 days to these attractions with GMSNP.. Beter than a bevy of Rangers runnung around like meter maids.