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Home Blog News Mount Rushmore-Style Monument to Be Carved into the Great Smoky Mountains

Mount Rushmore-style monument in the Great Smoky Mountains

Mount Rushmore-Style Monument to Be Carved into the Great Smoky Mountains

Posted: Apr 01 , 2017

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is getting a facelift – four faces to be exact! A quartet of America’s most influential figures will be immortalized in the Smokies with a brand new monument patterned after Mount Rushmore. This ambitious new project was announced by the National Park Service in a press release this morning. We have summarized the press release below.

A tweet from GSMNPNews about the new monument in the Smoky Mountains.

Famous Faces in the Mountains

The new monument in the national park will honor four American icons with ties to the Great Smoky Mountains:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt – The 32nd President of the United States dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940.

Dolly Parton – The country music legend and Smoky Mountain native has created thousands of jobs in Sevier County, TN with her Dollywood theme park and other business endeavors.

Peyton Manning – The hugely successful quarterback first came to prominence playing for the University of Tennessee, which is located 40 minutes from the Smoky Mountains.

Donald Trump – The 45th President of the United States received 78% of the vote in Sevier County in the 2016 election and has championed the construction of the monument.

In the National Park Service press release, Emily Davidson, the Sevierville-based artist who designed the monument, explains how these disparate figures were chosen for the sculpture:

“These four people truly embody the essence of the Smoky Mountains’ culture and identity. FDR personifies conservation and protection of our natural resources. Dolly exemplifies our generosity and creativity. Manning captures our competitive drive and perseverance. And President Trump reflects the hard-working, entrepreneurial spirit that has grown the Smoky Mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge”.

Artist's rendering of the Mount Rushmore-style monument in the Smoky Mountains.

Artist’s rendering of the new monument in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Reactions from Dolly Parton, Peyton Manning, and President Trump

When news of the monument broke this morning, Dolly Parton told reporters that she was incredibly flattered to be included in the sculpture:

“This is a very special honor for me. You know, I’ve already been made into a statue in front of the courthouse in Sevierville, but that one is only five feet tall. This new one is going to be 60 feet – and that’s just my face! I may have to get a little more work done to get ready for my closeup!”

Peyton Manning was similarly humbled by the announcement, telling media outlets that he “feels so blessed to be up there with such good company”. Manning also mused that becoming a permanent fixture of the Smoky Mountains “might be even better than winning a Super Bowl…or two”.

President Trump, the other living person to be featured on the monument, took to Twitter to express his delight with the project:

A tweet from President Trump about the new monument in the Smoky Mountains.

“Tennessee is building a 2nd Mount Rushmore with my face and faces of other GREAT Americans. Will be a beautiful monument we can be proud of!”

According to a number of news reports, President Trump was instrumental in procuring federal funding for the construction of the monument. The sculpture is estimated to cost around $17.8 million and is being described by the president as “truly magnificent”.

Construction of the Monument

The new sculpture will be carved into Mount LeConte, the highest mountain peak that is located completely within the state of Tennessee. At 6,593 feet tall, Mount LeConte provides a generous “canvas” that is even larger than Mount Rushmore, which is 5,275 feet tall. Each face on the mountainside will stretch for 60 feet.

Constructing the monument will be a complex undertaking that will require a crew of thousands. In the official press release, artist Emily Davidson gives some insight into the process of carving the mountain:

“First, I will sculpt a six foot tall model of the monument in my studio. If possible, I will have Dolly, Peyton, and President Trump sit for me, so I can get the details of their faces just right. Then, a team of engineers will look over my plans to begin hand-carving the full-scale version into the side of Mount LeConte.”

Davidson hopes to have the designs for the sculpture finalized by the end of spring. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2017 and will likely continue until 2026.

Mount LeConte covered in snow.

Mount LeConte, the site of the new monument, covered in snow.

Track the Progress of the Monument

For the latest updates on the Mount LeConte monument, don’t check back here. This entire story has been an April Fools’ Day joke! The side of Mount LeConte will remain untouched and just as beautiful as always.

Enter to Win a Free 2 Night Stay at The Inn On The River Hotel in Pigeon Forge

Thank you for playing along with us for this April Fool’s Day joke! While the national park may not be getting a new monument, there are so many wonderful things to see and do in the Smokies.

That’s why we’ve partnered with The Inn On The River hotel to give away a free, 2 night stay at their beautiful hotel in Pigeon Forge!  All you have to do is fill out the form below with your information and you’ll be entered to win!

Click here for all official rules and eligibility requirements.

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There are 37 Comments on this post
  • Tammy Kutsey
    April 1, 2017 at 6:09 am

    I love vacationing in TN, love hiking the mountains.

    Leave reply
  • Mike from KC
    April 1, 2017 at 6:29 am

    We’re from KC and love traveling to the Great Smokey Mountains. I love the thought of Dolly and Peyton and I guess even FDR. But seriously the other person please rethink that one.

    Leave reply
    • Shane Eubanks
      April 1, 2017 at 9:12 am

      Be sure to read the full article. 😉

      Leave reply
      • Carla
        April 1, 2017 at 4:29 pm

        It is always wise to monumently honor
        people only after they have passed.
        There have been some really embarrassing situations where honored people turned bad or turned out to be bad.

        Leave reply
        • Carla
          April 1, 2017 at 4:33 pm

          Great joke, btw 😉

          Leave reply
      • Peggy
        April 2, 2017 at 4:36 pm

        Thank God!!!! I was heart broken!

        Leave reply
    • Kim
      April 1, 2017 at 10:35 am

      I think you may need to read the story again….

      Leave reply
  • Patricia Kohut
    April 1, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Putting Donald Trump on this monument is a disgrace to the Great Smoky Mountains. This will destroy the beauty of the mountains. I am so disappointed. This has always been my favorite place in America. Once this has been constructed I will never go back to visit this wonderful peaceful place because it will be destroyed. There are so many more Americans that are much more deserving to be honored in this way. This breaks my heart.

    Leave reply
    • Shane Eubanks
      April 1, 2017 at 9:11 am

      Be sure to read the end of the article to “unbreak” your heart. 😉

      Leave reply
    • Sarah
      April 1, 2017 at 1:26 pm

      I agree Patricia.

      Leave reply
    • Peggy
      April 2, 2017 at 4:33 pm

      I was born in the Smokey mountains and I think that this is disgraceful. How many trees are they going to kill for this monsterouity. Where do we get to vote on who is on a national monument. Please we vote for our favorite Harry Potter stamp but the this we have no input in? Disgusting!!!!!

      Leave reply
  • Jessica
    April 1, 2017 at 8:25 am

    I will not be visiting this or supporting anything with Donald Trump!

    Leave reply
    • Ed S.
      April 1, 2017 at 9:21 am

      Read the entire article. Jokes on you.

      Leave reply
    • Mary Lewis
      April 1, 2017 at 7:23 pm

      I totally agree we go to the smokeys every year and to have that thing put on a monument is terrible there are so many other people worthy of this but not trump

      Leave reply
  • Comilla
    April 1, 2017 at 9:18 am

    I totally agree. Trump’s ugly mug looking down from the beautiful Smoky Mts. Please pick someone that has something to do with the Smokies. Not Trump who probably has never even visited.

    Leave reply
    • Jackie
      April 1, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      Apparently you didn’t read the ENTIRE story

      Leave reply
      • Peggy
        April 2, 2017 at 4:40 pm

        Think of something you really love and then think of someone defiling it! You might not read. The whole thing either before getting upset.

        Leave reply
    • Trey
      April 2, 2017 at 6:04 am

      Chill, and check your calendar next year. April fool’s articles come out every year. This
      Is one of them.

      Leave reply
  • kevin
    April 1, 2017 at 9:22 am

    I GO TO THE SMOKIS AT LSE 8 TIMES A YEAR IF TRUMP PUT UP LIKE THAT I WILL STOP GOING

    Leave reply
    • Trey
      April 2, 2017 at 6:01 am

      April fool’s dude

      Leave reply
  • Joyful_2010
    April 1, 2017 at 10:00 am

    Great joke showing who the fools really are! Good one, TN Guide team. LOL

    Leave reply
  • Hermy
    April 1, 2017 at 10:20 am

    This is so FFunny!

    I will have to explain it to all my friends that are hiding in their safe places with their participation tropies.

    It’s OK to come out, NOW!

    April Fool is So much fun…

    Leave reply
  • Jan
    April 1, 2017 at 10:27 am

    Thank Heavens, it was an April Fool’s Joke. I thought it had to be so glad I read all the way to the end!!!

    Leave reply
  • Suetta Thacker
    April 1, 2017 at 10:43 am

    The Great Smoky Mountains is our favorite place to get away! We would be so blessed to win this amazing giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity.

    Leave reply
  • Nellie Richardson
    April 1, 2017 at 10:48 am

    I think this is a great April Fool’s Joke. But even better if it was completed…..

    Leave reply
  • Linda B.
    April 1, 2017 at 11:47 am

    As soon as I read the headlines and realized Trumpty Dump would be one of the faces, I knew it had to be an April fool’s joke!!!

    Leave reply
  • Sue King
    April 1, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    LOL knew that wasn’t happening

    Leave reply
  • Dot Shultz
    April 1, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    Thank Heaven it’s a joke!!!

    Leave reply
  • erica
    April 1, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    That was so funny…Its making my day watching the idiots rant and rave and its not even true…Thats whats wrong with the world today nobody has a since of humer….

    Leave reply
  • Sandra Bee
    April 1, 2017 at 2:36 pm

    Hope this is April’s Fools joke. To “deface” any mountain is a terrible shame.

    Leave reply
  • Jim Constantine
    April 1, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    I am really HAPPY that this was a April Fools joke…you had me for a minute…

    Leave reply
  • Judy
    April 1, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    Glad today was April 1st!

    Leave reply
  • Carole Campbell
    April 1, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Great joke!! Loved it!

    Leave reply
  • Carole Campbell
    April 1, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    I’m not sure the Smokies have a mountain big enough for Dolly!

    Leave reply
  • Joe Mamma
    April 1, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    So did anyone ask FOR what he thought about it?

    Leave reply
  • Jamie
    April 2, 2017 at 1:40 am

    I am so glad this is a joke!!! I would never go there again if I had to look at Donald Trump’s face. That would be a disgrace!

    Leave reply
  • Mary
    April 2, 2017 at 3:10 pm

    Trump really, don’the you think Rockefeller would be better? FDR and Dolly are understandable, Manning questionable, but Trump??? We knew something had to be up, especially after reading the location. Nice try but next time use people and a location that would be more believable, like Clingman’s Dome parking area.

    Leave reply
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