Who were those people? And how did this huge chunk of the southern Appalachian Mountains become protected real estate, basically, a national park back in 1934?

Yeah, so people have been living in the Smokies for thousands of years.

Going back to the Cherokee people that lived in and around the Smokies and are still an important part of the park and local communities.

And then later the mountain families who built homes and homesteads throughout what is now the National Park.

Later, the long history that involved logging and eventually led to grassroots efforts that called for a national park in the eastern United States, similar to the many that we see out west.

And it was really local people coming together, advocating for this land to be protected.

That led to the park being established in 1934.

Is that right?

What are some of those things that are kind of locations that you think people should check out?

Yeah, like you said, we have 12 million visitors.

But I do think you don't have to work that hard to find a quieter, less crowded spot in the Smokies.

So a few of my favorite areas that are a little quieter, one would be Cosby.

Cosby is not that far of a drive from Gatlinburg.

And it's just this densely forested area.

It's quiet.

What are you guys doing with those passes or the money from the passes? How is that being spent and used? I'd love to hear a little bit more about that.

we going? Would you mind describing the

scene? But we'll see.

There's about 81 grave sites up here.

A lot of people already came up, placed flowers, flags.

Kept hiking and eventually we made it to the cemetery.

This is Bone Valley Cemetery.

And explain to people as best you can in terms we all understand how the synchronous fireflies, what it's all about.

So the synchronous fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies in the Smokies.

And they're one of the most famous species.

uh species in the smokies and they're a first sign of summer so they're unique and that they uh flash with some synchrony so the and it's all part of their mating um so this species so tinus carolinas the synchronous firefly of the smokies uh they'll flash about five to eight times at a five second interval So you'll see some synchrony and then they'll all pause and they pause for about eight to 12 seconds.

So you'll just see eight to 12 seconds of darkness and then they'll start that pattern again.

And the males are flashing to try to attract the females.

The females are on the ground and they're not nearly as bright as the males, but the males are trying to point out to the females who they are.

If you've never done that, everybody should.

And explain to people as best you can in terms we all understand how the synchronous fireflies, what it's all about.

So the synchronous fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies in the Smokies.

And they're one of the most famous species.

species in the Smokies, and they're a first sign of summer.

So they're unique in that they flash with some synchrony.

And it's all part of their mating.

So this species, Photinus carolinus, the synchronous firefly of the Smokies, they'll flash about five to eight times at a five-second interval somewhat together.

So the park, how many people are actually in that lottery get to go and do the observation in the area where you all have?

The synchronous fireflies, and explain to people as best you can, in terms we all understand, how the synchronous fireflies, what it's all about.

So the synchronous fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies in the Smokies.

And they're one of the most famous species in the Smokies.

And they're a first sign of summer.

So they're unique in that they flash with some synchrony.

And it's all part of their mating.

So this species, Photinus carolinus, the synchronous firefly of the Smokies, they'll flash about five to eight times at a five-second interval.

So the park, how many people are actually in that lottery get to go and do the observation in the area where you all have?

The synchronous fireflies, and explain to people as best you can, in terms we all understand, how the synchronous fireflies, what it's all about.

So the synchronous fireflies are one of 19 species of fireflies in the Smokies.

And they're one of the most famous species in the Smokies.

And they're a first sign of summer.

So they're unique in that they flash with some synchrony.

And it's all part of their mating.

So this species, Photinus carolinus, the synchronous firefly of the Smokies, they'll flash about five to eight times at a five-second interval.

So the park, how many people are actually in that lottery get to go and do the observation in the area where you all have?