Cades Cove Survey Descriptions
Not-in-Cades Cove Survey
The main purpose of the Not-in-Cades Cove survey was to assess the reasons why visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park decide to visit or not visit the Cades Cove area, what experiences draw visitors to Cades Cove, and whether Cades Cove satisfactorily provides those experiences. One of the objectives of this survey was to capture information about park visitors who may be displaced from Cades Cove and determine the reasons for that displacement. This survey was administered at both the Sugarlands (Gatlinburg, TN entrance) and the Oconaluftee (Cherokee, NC entrance) visitor centers. According to visitor counts taken during the study period, on average 3900 visitors went to Sugarlands Visitor Center daily and 1800 visitors went to Oconaluftee Visitor Center daily. A touch-screen machine was used to administer the survey with paper copies of the survey available for visitors who did not feel comfortable using the touch screen equipment.
459 visitors participated in the Not-in-Cades Cove survey.
Cades Cove Exit Survey
The Cades Cove Exit Survey was conducted to assess the overall satisfaction of visitors to Cades Cove and to update/baseline this factor for use as a Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) key indicator for future monitoring. Additionally, the Exit Survey was designed to assess the effectiveness of interpretation provided for visitors to Cades Cove and to assess visitors’ impressions of crowding and other issues at Cades Cove. Cable Mill was selected for this interview survey because it is a center of activity where many visitors to the Cove stop. During the study period an average of 1990 visitors stopped at the Cable Mill Visitor Center daily.
284 visitors were interviewed for the Cades Cove Exit Survey.
Cades Cove Visitor Diary
The main purpose of the Cades Cove Visitor Diary was to discern travel patterns at Cades Cove including the activities experienced by visitors, the frequency and duration of stops, and the location and type of problems encountered. Visitor Diaries were distributed at the Orientation Shelter (information kiosk) near the beginning of the Loop Road, and the diaries were self-administered and returned at the end of the Loop Road or at the Campground Store. During the study period an average of 1930 vehicles drove the Loop Road daily.
136 visitor groups completed and returned a Cades Cove Visitor Diary.
Non-Respondent Groups
While the survey effort sought to sample as wide a cross-section of Cades Cove visitors and potential visitors as practicable, several groups of visitors are not represented in the survey results:
- Visitors who did not stop at a survey location;
- Visitors who declined to participate in a survey (overall, 25% of visitors contacted);
- Visitors who were at Cades Cove either early in the morning or late in the afternoon/evening when the surveys were not being administered; and
- Visitors, predominantly repeat visitors and local residents, who avoid Cades Cove during peak visitation periods.
Survey Results
VERP
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