Sugarlands Visitor Center renovations set
From Staff Reports
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sugarlands Visitor Center will remain open to the public as it is renovated from Jan. 7-March 31.
The renovations will improve the layout of the main lobby and visitor contact area to better serve the 850,000 visitors that come through the visitor center annually.
The new visitor contact area will create a sense of arrival and enhance visitor orientation as visitors are provided park information and directed to interactive exhibits that introduce them to park resources.
Along with lighting system improvements, the new visitor information desk and exhibits will be laid out to have more open space allowing for better circulation and overall accessibility.
New interactive exhibits in the lobby will focus attention on natural resource challenges like air quality and forest health.
In addition, access to the popular natural history exhibits in the existing museum will be improved. Sustainable products will be used in the renovations.
Construction work will be concentrated between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. During this time period, the natural history museum portion of the visitor center will be closed to the public. All other services, including general information, the park film and the bookstore will remain available. Visitors should expect to see construction work throughout the three-month period.
