Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Back in 2011, I was on vacation in Tennessee and visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park with my husband, three children and my mother and father in law. As we were turnin around to come back down after enjoying Laurel Falls, my mother in law twisted her ankle. She was unable to bear weight on the leg and the rangers in the park were swift in their contact of emergency medical services to get a stretcher up the 1.3 mile trail to bring her back down and help us to get her into our car to retrieve her purse with identification from our cabin to seek medical attention. Between the rangers and the other visitors in the park, we had some pain medication, a make-shift splint on the leg and all the help we needed to get her leg set and protected so she could make it back home to IL to have surgery. We are very thankful for the quick thinking and expertise of the National Park staff in reducing my mother in law’s suffering and getter her the help she needed.

Sincerely,
Christa

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the country's most popular national park sites. It offers postcard-perfect views and plentiful wildlife.

State(s): North Carolina Tennessee,

Established: 1926

“I have had many trips to many National Parks and it is my goal to visit all of them. The peace I feel when walking through so many of these protected lands is indescribable at times. I have visited about half the parks so far and think it is of the utmost importance to protect them all for future generations. ”

National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!

{{ active ? "Cancel" : "Begin"}}

Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.

You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.

In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!

Here’s your unique story page link:

{{ storyUrl }}

* indicates Required fields

Click to choose a file to upload

Submitting your story means that you agree to our Terms of Service

More Stories

  • Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    As a native Tennessean, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your service at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies have always held a special place in my heart. From the rolling mountain vistas and mist-covered ridges to the rich history, wildlife, and trails…

  • Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most beautiful and visited mountain ranges in the United States. Located along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, they are part of the Appalachian Mountains and are famous for their breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural history. The mountains get…

  • Greetings from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Living in the Middle Tennessee area, it has become a yearly family tradition to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I wanted to say thank you to all of the Park’s staff for all that they do to preserve nature’s natural beauty.

Donate

Preserve Our Parks

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

Donate Now