Thursday, May 31, 2012

Firefly Viewing Affected by Warm Temperatures

Due to the unseasonably warm spring, the synchronized fireflies found in Elkmont at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are presenting earlier than ever recorded according to park officials. The shuttle service to the event site is still scheduled to take place from June 2-10 for ticketed reservation holders only. Park biologists are predicting that there may still be some activity during the weekend of June 2nd, but the display will be past peak and may taper off significantly well before the following weekend.  Those with reservations are being advised of the possibility that the display will not be as good as in previous years.

This early showing has prompted the Park to close the Elkmont entrance road to motor vehicles and pedestrian use every evening from Wednesday, May 30-Sunday, June 10. Only registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground will be allowed to access the road.

The Park had set aside 25 parking passes aside to make available the day before the event though www.recreation.gov. These passes may be withdrawn depending on the activity of the fireflies. Please visit www.recreation.gov for current status on these passes.

The popularity of the annual firefly event has made it necessary to close access to the Elkmont viewing area to protect park resources and visitor experiences. This closure requires the availability and coordination of a large number of park staff and the shuttle service provider. The event is generally scheduled based on the recorded timing of firefly appearances in the past years, but Spring 2012 was uncharacteristically warm and made it difficult to accurately predict well in advance. Due to the logistics involved, the Park does not have the flexibility to switch the event operations forward or backwards to match the peak firefly activity.

For more details on the fireflies, please visit the park s website www.nps.gov/grsm and click on  synchronous fireflies.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Valentine's Day at Laurel Valley Restaurant



Laurel Valley Restaurant Valentine's Day Menu
6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Reservations Only
865.448.6001

Soups
French Onion  $5
Benton's Tomato Bisque  $5

Salads
Spinach Salad  $5
Spinach, Feta Cheese, Toasted Almonds, Dried Cranberries & Warm Benton's Bacon Vinaigrette
Cobb Salad  $5
Spring Greens, Benton's Bacon, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Hard Boiled Eggs, Fresh Avocados & Cobb Dressing

Appetizers
Crab Cakes  $7
 Cucumber Slaw &  Lemon Caper Aioli
Macaroni & Cheese  $6
Topped with Benton's Bacon & Diced Tomatoes
Avocado Deviled Eggs  $6
Cayenne pepper, Chives & Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Entrées
Chicken Athena Pasta  $15
Panko Breaded Chicken Breast Atop Angel Hair Pasta With Fresh Spinach, Artichokes, Red Onions, Olives, Capers & Fresh Tomatoes In a Chardonnay Cream Sauce.
Fish & Grits  $16
Blackened Wild Caught Salmon Atop Cheddar Grits, Corn &  Red Pepper Chardonnay Cream Sauce. Served With Grilled Asparagus.
Steak & Potatoes  $18
6oz Peppercorn Filet  Served With Grilled Asparagus,  Blue Cheese Potato Au Gratin, and Red Wine Demi-Glace.

Desserts
Strawberry Fields Forever  $6
Strawberries, Balsamic Vinaigrette & Basil On Sweet Pound Cake. Topped With Chantilly Whipped Cream. Served With Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Double Chocolate Walnut Fudge Brownie Al a Mode  $6
Fudge & Carmel Drizzle, Topped With Chantilly Whipped Cream.
Served With Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Friday, January 6, 2012

Laurel Valley Resort announces Director of Fitness

Laurel Valley Resort is pleased to announce Penny McIntosh as it's newest team member and Director of Fitness at the Laurel Valley 24 hour Fitness Center. Penny is a Duke trained Health Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, and Nutritionist.

Penny will be available for FREE orientations to past members, as well as those considering joining the LV Fitness Center, at scheduled times. She begins Jan 6, 2012 and will be available by appointment 7AM-2PM Monday-Friday. She will also offer additional services such as group sessions, classes, personal training, and nutrition monitoring ...as well as designing health conscious menu items for the Laurel Valley Restaurant.
You may learn more about Penny and the additional services she offers by visiting her virtual training site at www.healthcoachpenny.com or by calling her directly at 865.740.4182.

The 2012 Laurel Valley Resort Membership packages are in the mail, but you can get a head-start on our NEW "Social Membership", which includes access to the Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, and other social events for only $250/year per household. Call Janet Latham at 865.448.6690 for credit card payments and/or installment plans ...or mail to: Laurel Valley 702 Country Club Drive, Townsend, TN 37882.