Citizen Portal
Sign In

Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!

Get email alerts on the Tourism topic

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Committee backs resolution recognizing Gatlinburg as official gateway to the Smokies

House Naming and Designating Committee · February 9, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Representative Ashley said HJR 7-51 recognizes Gatlinburg's cultural and economic role as an access point to the Great Smoky Mountains; members urged outreach to the Eastern Band of Cherokee; the resolution moved forward unanimously.

Representative Ashley presented HJR 7-51 to designate Gatlinburg as the official gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains and framed the resolution as support for tourism and local jobs. He described the city's historic role as the "front door" to the park and the economic engine it supports.

Representative Jones suggested engaging the Eastern Band of Cherokee leadership on place names and involvement with tourism stewardship. The committee advanced the resolution to State and Local Government with a 10-0 vote. "Recognizing Gatlinburg underscores Tennessee's commitment to supporting tourism," Ashley said in his presentation.