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Published on: 06/12/2026

Gatlinburg receives Municipal League’s Innovation Award

Gatlinburg trout facility
Gatlinburg's Trout Facility and Trout Program is a trout rearing facility, producing and stocking approximately 40,000–50,000 trout annually into Gatlinburg’s streams while integrating education and conservation into recreation. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

Known as the gateway to the most visited national parks, Gatlinburg plays a unique role in outdoor adventure and recreation for millions each year while still balancing quality-of-life amenities for local residents.  

Gatlinburg trout rearing facility
Approximately 40,000–50,000 trout are stocked in local waterways each year by the city, meaning that municipal employees take an active role in fish production, stream management, and recreation. One of the facility's other major roles is in education, teaching the public - and especially youngsters - about conservation, sustainability, fish biology, aquatic ecosystems,  and water quality. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

One of the city’s more unique municipal initiatives is the Gatlinburg Trout Facility and Trout Program, a trout rearing facility, producing and stocking approximately 40,000–50,000 trout annually into Gatlinburg’s streams while integrating education and conservation into recreation. 

For managing a unique program that combines sustainable resource management, public recreation, and experiential education, the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) is pleased to present the city of Gatlinburg with the Innovation Award. The award will be presented at the 86th Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) held at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn. 

Established in the 1980s to ensure a consistent, high-quality fishing experience for both residents and visitors, the thriving fishery facility also serves as a hands-on learning environment and hosts thousands of students and visitors annually through school field trips, tours, and outreach efforts. Visitors learn about fish biology, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, and environmental stewardship. 

Managing the facility in-house has also saved the city money, reducing reliance on third-party suppliers and allowing better control over fish health, size, and stocking schedule. This allows the city to respond quickly to seasonal demand and environmental conditions. 

The program combines fish production, stream management, recreation, and education within the city’s parks and recreation department. Staff can serve dual roles as technicians and educators, extending the value of city resources without need for expenditures on additional staff or separate programs.   

Gatlinburg fishing
Fishing in local rivers is one of the many outdoor pursuits that draw people to Gatlinburg. To both ensure anglers enjoy their visit and fish populations are sustainabily maintained, the city of Gatlinburg developed its own trout facility, one of few such municipal facilities in the country. (Photo by Gatlinburg)

This also keeps Gatlinburg as a premier fishing destination for locals and visitors, allowing for consistently stocked streams and supporting the tourist-driven economy. The program has directly contributed to visitor spending in terms of fishing license and supply purchases. As the program has operated for more than 40 years, it has also demonstrated its long-term suitability, adaptability, and the commitment of the municipality. 

The program also requires the sustainable management of waterways throughout the city, ensuring that natural assets are accessible and healthy for residents and visitors alike. This also has down and upstream impact on the waterways that flow into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Gatlinburg is the only city in Tennessee and one of a handful nationwide that operates a municipal trout facility of this scale. Most importantly, the firsthand knowledge gained in the conservation and environmental practices at the facility has cultivated tens of thousands of future stewards of Tennessee’s natural resources, ensuring the unique natural beauty that fuels Gatlinburg’s tourism economy will be maintained for generations to come.  

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