Originally Posted by
MidLife50
We were really surprised at everything still closed. I understood they were closed earlier this Spring, but assumed things would open up more for the summer. Guess it's a process. BTW other than places to eat, the worst "Not Open" offender was the NPS. None of the visitor centers or museums were open other than the local ones.
The NPS thing seems to be a big issue with respect to getting things open again. A month ago we were in the Cherokee Nat'l Forest, Nantahala NF, and Cades Cove-Smokey Mtn NP. Only Cades Cove was open..with park staff(..and it was a zoo..we overnighted there on the way home..and were glad to leave). The Forests/campgrounds were open, but offices, visitor centers, museums were closed. A number of smaller-rustic campgrounds(our preference) in all areas were not open. Not sure if it's a lack of seasonal staff or it's just hard to get the whole machine up and running again. Locally..Wisconsin..the state parks would typically have personnel in an office at the entrance were you'd check in for campsite reservation. As of last year and ongoing today..we just drive in to our campsite..no one around at the entrance offices.
With respect to the GAP/CO..hopefully things will get back to normal as the summer progresses.