Tourists pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Northeast Tennessee’s economy in a typical year, but 2024 is far from typical.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tourists pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Northeast Tennessee’s economy in a typical year, but 2024 is far from typical.
Hurricane Helene has taken a toll on the eastern part of the Volunteer State. However, three weeks after the storm, roads are starting to open up.
Hurricane Helene hit East Tennessee just as the fall tourism season was revving up. While it’ll be a long road to recovery for some, there are still many hotels, shops, and tourist sites that want travelers to know they’re open.
“The stigma that you see with this is, ‘They’ve been wiped off the map, that whole area is closed,’ and that is 100% not true,” said Alicia Phelps, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association.
According to Phelps, tourists spend $867 million every year in the eight counties that make up Northeast Tennessee. Meanwhile, the downtown areas in Johnson City, Bristol, Kingsport, as well as smaller mountain towns like Erwin, are open for business.
“These businesses need you right now,” said Phelps. “It’s a really important time for the tourism industry to step in and say, ‘Hey, we’re still here, and our businesses absolutely need you to come and support us.'”
For the outdoor enthusiasts, some Northeast Tennessee parks are starting to open:
Roane Mountain is opening several trails this weekend.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park near Elizabethton is open with some trails still closed.
Rocky Fork State Park in Flag Pond is open but does have closed sections within the park.
Meanwhile, David Crockett Birthplace State Park saw extensive damage from the storm and is still closed, as are many of the kayak business along the Nolichucky River, but Phelps said there are other options: “If you still want those water adventures, we have numerous lakes and rivers still available. South Holston River is a great one for fly-fishing, South Holston Lake, Wautaga Lake is absolutely stunning.”
As for the roads, you can get from Nashville to Knoxville and the Smokies without issues. However, navigating around Interstates 26 and 40 once you’re in the mountains will take some pre-planning. Travel experts recommend using the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s SmartWay Traffic Map to keep up with changing detours.
“We do ask travelers to always map their way before they get here, just to make sure that they’re aware of any road changes, and that can change any minute as roads open back up to the community,” Phelps said.
The road to recovery will take some time, but don’t be a stranger in Northeast Tennessee. After all, the money from your visit will help the community recover.
“We’re resilient and we’re tough and we’re fighters,” Phelps said. “We’re Appalachian people.”
As for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while many areas of the park were hit, much of the Tennessee side has reopened.