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Dan Pittillo, a founding member of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, enjoys the view from Scaly Mountain during a 2023 hiking trip led by the organization. Photo courtesy of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy.
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Plant biology research was lifelong passion for Dr. Dan Pittillo

Avid botanist, dedicated environmentalist, and lifelong educator Dr. J. Dan Pittillo passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 86. This story, originally published in June 2021, celebrates his decades of contributions to natural science and environmental education in the Great Smoky Mountains region. I met and became friends with Dr. Dan Pittillo through this column. He

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Frances Figart August 25, 2025
Holly Kays

New book explores roots of Rockefeller generosity to the national parks

In 1927, a $5 million donation from the richest man in America—the equivalent of $92 million today—secured the Great Smoky Mountains’ then-tenuous future for protection as a national park. But when John D. Rockefeller Jr. agreed to write the check, he had never so much as glimpsed these ancient peaks. Smokies Life’s former publication director Steve Kemp spent years wondering: why? “Most people just said,

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Holly Kays August 20, 2025
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Smokies Life

is a proud partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and National Park Service

115 Park Headquarters Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738

865.436.7318    info@smokieslife.org

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

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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