GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Full operations at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park resumed Saturday morning, despite the federal government shutdown. This development is a result of a collaboration between local and state leaders, the Friends of the Smokies, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who provided the necessary funding.

News Channel 11’s sister station, 6 News, spoke with visitors about what the reopening means to them.

After a temporary closure, key attractions such as the Sugarlands Visitor Center and Cades Cove Loop Road are once again accessible—just in time for the park’s busiest period. The Smokies is the most frequented national park in the United States; visitors like Brandon Keairns from Cincinnati anticipated that they might encounter closures over the weekend.

“We knew about the shutdown. We actually planned to visit on Tuesday night when we decided to come. But then the shutdown occurred and changed everything. However, since it’s such a stunning area, we thought we’d come down and enjoy whatever is available,” explained Keairns.

Keairns was pleasantly surprised to learn the Sugarlands Visitor Center had reopened.

“Then today we discovered that Sugarlands is open, and I think it’s great they managed to secure funding,” he mentioned. “When we purchased items there, we chose to round up to support the park because it’s just a fantastic place.”

Others were just as excited to hear that several areas impacted by the shutdown are now operating and available to the public again.

“It’s amazing because I was really disappointed when I heard it was closed, as we invested a lot into this trip. Hearing the park was reopened was thrilling,” said Tiffany Adams, a visitor from West Virginia.

The reopening is possible due to a funding arrangement that provides over $60,000 each day to operate the park — covering staffing and essential services during this peak season, which means visitors can experience all that the Smoky Mountains have to offer.

“I think it’s just wonderful that the park was able to get the funding to open up. So, despite everything else going down, we can all enjoy this beautiful area. I’ve been to Yellowstone, coast to coast, but the Smokies, there’s just something enchanting about it,” added Keairns.

The National Park is funding remaining daily operational costs through recreation fee revenue, which includes revenue from campgrounds and parking tags.