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Laurie McDowell

Picture of Laurie McDowell
Laurie McDowell is Smokies Life’s 2026 Steve Kemp writer in residence. Having grown up in eastern Kentucky and Western North Carolina, McDowell has an abiding love of the Smoky Mountain region and will seek to celebrate it through poetry and illustration during his six-week residency. He currently serves as ecological horticulturist for Randall’s Island Park Alliance in New York City.

Great Smokies

Welcome Center

Hours of Operation

(subject to change)

Open year round (closed December 25)


January - February

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

March - November

Open Daily 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
December

Open Daily 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.

Physical Address

7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway Townsend TN 37882

Contact

865.436.7318 Ext 320