Category: WATE News
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.
The XPERIA: Ocean Journey is an up-close, hyper-real experience in Sevierville, Tennessee and combines innovative digital technologies and immersive storytelling to take participants on a journey to explore fascinating areas of the ocean and interact with some of the most amazing sea creatures, without having to go to the ocean.
Wilderness at the Smokies has expanded and renovated its indoor Wild WaterDome waterpark! Guests can experience new attractions like a three-story water coaster called the Ridge Runner.
Dolly Parton is continuing to add to her theme park, known as Dollywood. The biggest additions for their 39th season is what will be known as the Dolly Parton Experience, which is expected to be complete by May 24
The Great Smoky Mountains Association has opened a new visitor center called the Great Smokies Welcome Center. Located in Townsend, at 7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, this new center is a starting point for visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The center provides information about the park and sells souvenirs, parking tags, and other park-related items.