Deal on Shutdown Opens Gates to North Carolina Visitors


RALEIGH, N.C. (October 17, 2013) — Fall foliage seekers and fishermen can once again access all of North Carolina’s federal sites including Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cape Hatteras National Seashore plus many other sites across the state. 

“Fall is a fantastic time to visit North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, Director of Marketing for the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. “The fall foliage in the mountains is really popping and the fishing action is heating up on the coast. Tourism is a $19 billion industry for our state, and we’re excited to get back to work hosting visitors during our peak travel season.”

Travelers can keep track of peak color as it makes its way across the state through park ranger reports and photos available online at VisitNC.com/fall. In addition, travelers can see what’s happening in other regions of the state with Piedmont foliage reports and coastal fishing reports.

Federal tourism sites in North Carolina include:

  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  • Cape Lookout National Seashore
  • Appalachian Trail
  • Overmountain Victory National Trail
  • Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
  • Uwharrie National Forest
  • Croatan National Forest
  • Carl Sandberg Home National Historic Site
  • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
  • Moores Creek National Battlefield
  • Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
  • Wright Brothers National Memorial
  • Wildlife Refuges (11 statewide)
  • Military Museums at Fort Bragg

About North Carolina Tourism

The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, part of the state Department of Commerce, serves to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. In 2012, the state welcomed 45.4 million visitors and ranked sixth nationally in visitation. With $19.4 billion in domestic visitor spending, tourism generated $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenues and directly supported 193,610 jobs for North Carolina residents.