GSMNP - September 25, 2002 -- Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have scheduled a public workshop on the Elkmont Historic District on Saturday, September 28, at the Main Campus of the Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Knoxville. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the cafeteria of the J. L. Goins Building and end at 4:30 p.m.

Participants will break up into small, facilitated working groups to begin developing preliminary alternatives for the future management of the 74 buildings (including cabins and a hotel) that are located in the Elkmont Historic District of the Park. Development of a range of appropriate uses of the structures will be based on information gained during previous meetings held in May and August as well as considering management objectives, baseline studies on cultural, natural, and infrastructure resources, and visitor experience goals.

Participants are also invited to bring any old photographs of the Elkmont community. The National Park Service is interested in photographs from 1908 to 1940 that may help identify and describe the historic cultural landscape of Elkmont. A photographer will be on hand to make copies.

Lunch will be between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Fast-food restaurants are located near the campus or participants can bring their own lunch. Drinks will be provided.

Comments that the Park has received since the first meetings in May indicate that a majority of respondents feel that the protection of the cultural and natural environments are important to the future of Elkmont and 89 percent are in favor of some form of restoration of the district.

The end product of this planning effort will be an amendment to the Park's General Management Plan, which initially called for the removal of all structures, and a Environmental Assessment currently scheduled for June 2003. A 30-day public comment period will follow the public release of these documents.