Oconaluftee Visitor Center

At last, I got to see the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center In Great Smoky Mountains National Park!

We just got back from one of our many trips happening this fall.  This time we were in Hickory, North Carolina, area so The Farmer could see our grandson playing football at Lenoir-Rhyne University. On the way home I finally got the wish I've had since April 1st (no fooling!).  We dropped down from Hickory to the Cherokee, North Carolina, area so we could stop at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Why was I so set on seeing this particular visitor center?  I mean, it's a nice visitor center and all, but there are lots of them, right?

All true, but this one has something no other visitor center has . . .

It has this storyboard about elk in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Nice, huh?

But here again, you  might wonder why this particular storyboard is so special.  Well, it is REALLY special to ME because of this part right here . . .

"And why is that???" you are no doubt wondering. 
Well, glad you asked.
It's so special to me because I took that picture!!!

I've been eager to see it for months, way back before the visitor center was even finished.  Since I first talked with Jim Engelhardt, then Angie Jabine, from this really neat company called Formations that goes around and creates exhibits.  Talk about a neat career!  And they did a fantastic job with the Oconaluftee Visitor Center!  It's bright and spacious and full of great exhibits such as these:

This is just a sampling of the many exhibits on display.  We had a great time looking through the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.  If you're ever in the area, stop by and enjoy yourself.  The guys from Formations outdid themselves!

And don't forget to look for my elk picture!

Tagged as: elk, North Carolina, Oconaluftee Visitor Center