Project Links
Clingmans Dome Vault Toilets
Great Smoky Mountains National Park » Clingmans Dome Vault Toilets » Document List
When the Clingmans Dome Area reopens for the season in the spring of 2010, visitors will find that the Park has permanently relocated the public restrooms from the original, 1930's Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed stone building along the tower trail to three new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible vault toilets in the parking area.
The decision to substitute vault toilets for the existing flush toilets was based upon several factors including: accessibility by the disabled, managing wastewater disposal with increased visitation, maintaining a potable water system, changes in permitting requirements for both and operational costs.
Since these facilities were originally constructed, managers at the Park have either implemented or evaluated a series of different solutions to the problem of how to dispose of the wastewater generated by flush toilets. The area is over 20 miles from any municipal sewerage connection and is compounded by the system being located in steep terrain, on thin, rocky soils, and subject to extreme (cold) temperatures and high annual precipitation amounts. Vault toilets will eliminate the wastewater problem and environmental impacts while reducing operational costs.
Due to the steepness of the paved walkway from the handicapped parking spaces to the existing restroom, the facility has never fully met (ADA) standards. The vault toilets placement and design will ensure that they blend in with the surrounding environment and not obstruct the views from the parking area while being accessible to all users.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Rd.
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
The decision to substitute vault toilets for the existing flush toilets was based upon several factors including: accessibility by the disabled, managing wastewater disposal with increased visitation, maintaining a potable water system, changes in permitting requirements for both and operational costs.
Since these facilities were originally constructed, managers at the Park have either implemented or evaluated a series of different solutions to the problem of how to dispose of the wastewater generated by flush toilets. The area is over 20 miles from any municipal sewerage connection and is compounded by the system being located in steep terrain, on thin, rocky soils, and subject to extreme (cold) temperatures and high annual precipitation amounts. Vault toilets will eliminate the wastewater problem and environmental impacts while reducing operational costs.
Due to the steepness of the paved walkway from the handicapped parking spaces to the existing restroom, the facility has never fully met (ADA) standards. The vault toilets placement and design will ensure that they blend in with the surrounding environment and not obstruct the views from the parking area while being accessible to all users.
Contact Information
SuperintendentGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Rd.
Gatlinburg, TN 37738