2012 Park Visits Stay Nearly 15 Percent Ahead - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced strong visitor traffic in April.

The National Park Service said visits last month were up 8 percent over the same month last year. Those 257,000 additional visitors kept year-to-date visitation 14.9 percent ahead of the first four months of 2011.

With no unusual weather or road closures during April in either year, park officials believe the gradual uptick in the economy and a pent-up demand for family getaways could be driving the improved visit figures.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)