Dedication Ceremony of New Facilities at Sugarlands Riding Stables

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials dedicated new concession facilities at the Sugarlands Riding Stables near Gatlinburg, Tenn., during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. The public was invited to attend and tour the new buildings which have a number of innovative features. 
Several new structures were built during 2008 and 2009 under the terms of a new 10-year concession contract with Kenny Kear, President of the Sugarlands Riding Stables, Inc. The concession operation provides guided horseback rides in the Smokies backcountry, and the new facilities will allow for expanded visitor services. 

The concession operation improvements include a modern wood and steel horse barn, an office, hay shed, wash rack, hitch rails and fencing, feed bin, and covered manure pad. The 10,940 square foot barn is the centerpiece of the new facilities and is the first permanent horse barn to be built since the Park began offering horseback riding services in the 1960s. The custom designed barn stalls with sliding dividers and an innovative automated horse watering system are among the many unique design features now located at the Sugarlands Riding Stables. The stall concept, which is only found in a small number of barns in the United States, allows for a highly functional and efficient operation that reduces the time and labor required to maintain the stalls. The new office space with an attached covered porch and deck with picnic tables provides a comfortable gathering area for the public.

Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said, “We are pleased to reopen the Sugarlands Riding Stables during the Park’s 75th Anniversary year showcasing these new accommodations. We were glad the public could join us to see firsthand the benefits of the newly constructed buildings which will create an enhanced visitor experience, a more efficient operation for the concessioner, and a better environment for the horses for many years to come.” Light refreshments were available, courtesy of Kenny and Sherri Kear.  

The Sugarlands Riding Stables is one of four guided horseback operations in the Park and is located approximately 1 mile south of Gatlinburg on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441).