Smokies Announces Renovations to the Sugarlands Visitor Center

The Sugarlands Visitor Center will remain open to the public as it receives much needed renovations January 7 through March 31, 2013. The renovations will improve the layout of the main lobby and visitor contact area to better serve the 850,000 thousand visitors that come through the visitor center annually.

The new visitor contact area will create a sense of arrival and enhance visitor orientation as visitors are provided park information and directed to interactive exhibits that introduce them to park resources. Along with lighting system improvements, the new visitor information desk and exhibits will be laid out to have more open space allowing for better circulation and overall accessibility. New interactive exhibits in the lobby will focus attention on natural resource challenges like air quality and forest health. In addition, access to the popular natural history exhibits in the existing museum will be improved. Sustainable products will be used in the renovations.

Construction work will be concentrated between 2pm and 11pm daily, Monday through Friday, January 7, 2013 through March 31, 2013. During this time period, the natural history museum portion of the visitor center will be closed to the public. All other services including general information, the park film, and the bookstore will remain available. Visitors should expect to see construction work throughout the 3-month period.

Here's an artist drawing of the visitor center after the renovations are complete:

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com