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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The $1.8 million figure was not taxpayer money paid to businesses to keep Great Smoky Mountains National Park open. It was a 2013 study estimate of state tax revenue lost during the first 10 days of a federal shutdown in the region. A separate 2025 shutdown led state, local and nonprofit partners to fund the park’s reopening; reimbursement was not guaranteed in the account updated November 4, 2025.
What the $1.8 million figure measures
Western Carolina University’s March 2015 newsletter reported estimates from an October 2013 fall-season travel study conducted by Dr. Morse’s class. For the first 10 days of the 2013 federal shutdown, the study estimated $1.8 million in lost state taxes across 18 North Carolina and Tennessee counties within 60 miles of the park. That is an estimate of tax revenue not collected, not a transfer of $1.8 million to businesses or a payment to reopen the park. Western Carolina University’s March 2015 account reports the study’s findings.
The same estimate put lost visitor spending at $33 million, lost wages at more than $12 million, and lost local taxes at $1 million over those first 10 days. These are reported study estimates for the region and period, not audited losses assigned to particular businesses.
What happened during the 2025 shutdown
In a different shutdown, outside partners arranged funding to reopen Great Smoky Mountains National Park beginning October 4, 2025. Friends of the Smokies’ account, updated November 4, says Sevier County signed the agreement and fronted the funds, with partner contributions going to the county. The agreement’s initial period ran from October 4 through November 2, 2025. Friends of the Smokies’ account of the agreement describes the arrangement and its context.
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Who contributed
Partners included Tennessee, Sevier, Blount and Cocke counties, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Friends of the Smokies. The organization reported that the first week’s payment included $80,000 from Tennessee and more than $45,500 from each of the other listed partners. Those figures describe reported contributions for that week, not the total cost of operating the park throughout the shutdown.
What reopening restored
The 2025 closures did not make every part of the park inaccessible: many roads, trails and campgrounds remained accessible, while specific facilities and destinations were closed before reopening. The partner-funded arrangement enabled the park to reopen; it should not be confused with a payment to local businesses or with the 2013 tax-loss estimate.
Why partners chose to fund an October reopening
October is an important visitor month for the surrounding economy. Friends of the Smokies reported more than 1.64 million average October visitors from 2020 through 2024. It also cited National Park Service data showing 12,191,834 recreation visits in 2024 and more than $2 billion in visitor spending in nearby communities that year. These measures help explain the stakes of a closure, but they do not establish how much any particular business earned or lost.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was the 2025 money guaranteed to be repaid?
No. In its November 4, 2025 update, Friends of the Smokies said reimbursement was not guaranteed and would require congressional approval. The account also described a later reduced-funding arrangement through January 4, 2026, but does not establish what ultimately happened after the shutdown or whether the outside funds were repaid.
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