A Tennessee Original The Great Smoky Mountains Byway Corridor Management Plan April 2012 Table of Contents Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................................................. i Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Section II: Status of the Corridor Today................................................................................................................................................ 2 Location ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Corridor Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Loudon County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Blount County ................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Sevier County ................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Cocke County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Greene County ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Washington County ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Carter County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Traffic Assessment ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Loudon County Traffic Volumes .................................................................................................................................................. 16 Blount County Volumes ............................................................................................................................................................... 17 Sevier County Volumes ............................................................................................................................................................... 18 Cocke County Volumes ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 Greene County Volumes ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Washington County Volumes ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 Carter County Volumes ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 Traffic Accidents and Highway Safety Status.................................................................................................................................. 23 Great Smoky Mountains Byway Corridor Management Plan Page i Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Section III: Overview of Intrinsic Qualities .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Scenic ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Natural............................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Recreation ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Archeological .................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Intrinsic Qualities of Regional and National Significance: History and Culture ................................................................................ 27 Native American Presence and Impact ........................................................................................................................................... 27 A Region of Firsts ........................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Appalachian Culture ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Civil War ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Abolitionist Movement ................................................................................................................................................................. 30 War ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Reconstruction Period ................................................................................................................................................................. 30 Section IV: Interpretation Assessment ............................................................................................................................................... 31 Loudon County ............................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Blount County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Sevier County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Cocke County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Greene County ............................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Washington County ........................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Carter County ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Section VI: Tourism ............................................................................................................................................................................ 35 Tourism in the Great Smoky Byway Region ................................................................................................................................... 35 Key Strengths of the Great Smoky Byway Region .......................................................................................................................... 35 Key Challenges of the 321 Byway Corridor .................................................................................................................................... 35 Great Smoky Mountains Byway Corridor Management Plan Page ii Strategic Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Evaluating Travel Trends ................................................................................................................................................................ 36 Targeting Audiences for the Great Smoky Byway 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