New contract awarded for Smokies lodge
The Associated PressOriginally published: July 03. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: July 02. 2008 11:42PM
GATLINBURG — The National Park Service has awarded a new 10-year contract to operate the LeConte Lodge.
The rustic mountaintop retreat is the only overnight lodging inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The contractor cooks on propane, uses oil lamps for light and packs supplies in and out by llama.
The new contract was awarded to the current operator, LeConte Lodge Limited Partnership.
Beginning in 2009, there will be new services to day hikers, backpackers and horseback riders. They will able to buy beverages, snacks, brown bag lunches or have lunch at the lodge.
The current contract allows food to only overnight guests.
The backcountry lodge is perched at the 6,593-foot summit of Mount LeConte and is accessible only by trail.
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