Join us for the 67th Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Smokies on April 11-15, 2017!
The beautiful Smoky Mountains are open for business and we can not wait for you to come see all the gorgeous spring flowers!
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual five-day event in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offering professionally guided programs which explore the region’s rich wildflowers, wildlife, ecology, culture, and natural history through walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes, and evening seminars. Most programs are outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All programs are held, rain or shine.
As you probably know, a devastating fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) moved into Gatlinburg, TN in late November, 2016. The fire burned 3% of GSMNP land (17,140 acres) from the Chimney Tops down into Sugarlands Valley. Portions of Gatlinburg contiguous to GSMNP forest land also burned. Embers from the fire drifted off many miles and created secondary fires. All GSMNP buildings within the fire zone were spared. Unfortunately, approximately 2,200 homes and businesses in Gatlinburg were severely damaged or destroyed. The GSMNP is alive and recovering. The business core of Gatlinburg is intact. Most of the hotels and restaurants were not affected by the fire.
This is a great time to observe how the wilderness recovers from fire damage. Several walks this year explore the effects of fire on a natural environment. The Friday evening program by National Park Zone Fire Management Officers, Greg Salansky and/or Rob Klein, discusses “Fire Ecology of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park”.
Other evening speakers also focus on environmental aspects of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. On Wednesday, author and outdoorsman, Charles Maynard, presents “Reading Between the Lines - Stories of Writing about the Smokies’ Waterfalls, Churches, and Trails”. On Thursday, Regional Resource Specialists and Biologist with the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division of the National Park Service, Scott McFarland, talks about his research on natural sounds and night skies in the Smokies.
Call us today 865-908-7935 or visit our website at www.berrysprings.com to reserve this spring and partake in the beauty that is growing all around us. Hope to see you soon!
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