9 million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year.

With 9 million visitors per year visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, this makes the park, the most visited in the U.S.  Dedicated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on September 2, 1940, the park has an interesting beginning. With local support, community leaders and politicians in both Tennessee and North Carolina pushing for the park, they finally made it happen after many years of planning and raising money.

It all started with Mrs. Willis P. Davis, a Knoxville resident who thought the Smoky Mountains should acquire park status, as it was equal to or surpassed the beauty of other national parks at the time. Before park status was given, construction of an improved road between Asheville and Knoxville needed to be built. With the help of citizens like Colonel David Chapman, the Smokies overcame all odds winning out from over 60 other proposed sites, and in 1926 Congress authorized a Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As it turned out that was the easy part. Raising money turned out to be more difficult as the depression hit.

Nestled within the majestic Great Smoky Mountains are many beautiful communities. The Ridges at Tellico Lake is a gated community offering fractional home ownership of two exquisite mountain homes. They are priced from $149,000 per share and are beautifully furnished, featuring gorgeous panoramic mountain and lake views. Home sites are also available in single and discounted packages. For more information please visit www.theridgesattellicolake.com or call 1-877-Tenn-A-See (836-6273)