The rainy weather has kept a popular spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open because it kept workers from being able to finish up a major rehabilitation project.
Park officials say the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower supposed to be closed Monday, June 4. It was expected to reopen on Friday, June 15 but due to the weather, workers were not able to apply a final surface overlay along the tower ramp.
The park says the tower has remained open and they don't have a schedule yet for when they will try again.
However, while visitors won't be able to climb the tower, the Clingmans Dome parking overlook area will remain open and offers outstanding mountain top views. The visitor center and store, the trail up to the tower, and all access to the trailheads in the vicinity will also remain open.
Last year, contractors worked to rehab the aging tower, stabilizing and repairing the concrete columns and walls and repairing stone masonry. This work was made possible with $250,000 grant from Partners in Preservation (PIP). The money was awarded in 2016 to the Friends of the Smokies on behalf of the park after being one of the top nine, most voted for parks in the Partners in Preservation: National Parks Campaign.
Straddling the North Carolina and Tennessee state line at 6,643 feet, the tower is a prominent landmark and destination as the highest point in the park. Since 1959, millions of visitors have climbed the tower, where they can see distances of up to 100 miles over the surrounding mountains and valleys.