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by: Hannah Moore Posted: Sep 16, 2025 / 04:18 PM EDT Updated: Sep 16, 2025 / 11:51 PM EDT GALINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — For those looking to catch sight of an elk in the Smokies, the annual elk breeding season is underway in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elk gather in mixed herds during mating season from […]

by: Hope McAlee Posted: Sep 17, 2025 / 02:59 PM EDT Updated: Sep 17, 2025 / 04:26 PM EDT GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is urging visitors to stop stacking and moving rocks after an eastern hellbender was found crushed. The park shared that the crushed hellbender, which is part of the largest species of […]

by: Gregory Raucoules Posted: Aug 5, 2025 / 05:14 PM EDT Updated: Aug 5, 2025 / 05:22 PM EDT PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) — As Dollywood continues to welcome visitors for its 40th year of operation, the Pigeon Forge-based theme park has once again been recognized as one of the most popular theme parks in the world. Tripadvisor officials […]

by: Naomi Hillmer Posted: Jun 27, 2025 / 05:53 PM EDT Updated: Jun 27, 2025 / 06:16 PM EDT PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee tourism broke their revenue record for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest report from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.   The report, highlighting the economic […]

by: Matt Hollingsworth Posted: Jul 22, 2025 / 12:30 PM EDT Updated: Jul 22, 2025 / 06:20 PM EDT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, Tenn. (WATE) — Who are the people driving around the Smokies with a large net strapped to the roof of their car? A local nonprofit is trying a creative, low-tech method to track insect populations. The new […]

Following a year of record attendance in 2024, Dollywood Parks and Resorts are preparing for another season and visitors can expect some major developments when they open this March.