North Carolina community turns to elk lure tourists

CATALOOCHEE, N.C. -- With the return of elk to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, local business owners and town officials have carved a new niche: elk marketing.

Elk were hunted out of existence in the Smokies in the 1800s, but were reintroduced to the half-million-acre park on the North Carolina-Tennessee border in 2001. Their return is attracting tourists to the Maggie and Cataloochee valleys in droves -- and causing a growing demand for elk information, pictures and memorabilia.

"More and more guests want to know when or where they can see the elk," said Jeff Smith, owner of the Jonathan Creek Inn in Maggie Valley. "Our staff now knows where the best spot is to catch them, what are the best times to see them. We send people up in the evening with a picnic dinner to catch them at dusk."

Park visitation increased from 65,000 in 2000 to 142,839 in 2002, according to park officials.

At the park visitors center, there are elk T-shirts with drawings of the 700-pound beasts and the slogan: "The Elk Are Back!" There are also elk dolls, books, postcards and brochures.

The Maggie Valley visitors center even bought space on six area billboards. The signs encourage people to visit Cataloochee Valley by featuring photos of grazing elk. Some Maggie Valley hotels have created advertisements saying they are the "closest hotel to the elk!"

The town will host the first annual Great Smoky Mountain Elk Rendezvous, a festival in July and August that organizers estimate will attract 20,000 people to the region. The three-day event will feature bluegrass music, elk educational seminars, elk calling and wildlife art.