Press release from Haywood County Emergency Management:
The Smoky Mountain Event Center has been an excellent host for the mass vaccination clinics over the last few months, but as event season ramps up there will be some dates that the fairgrounds will be unavailable for clinic use.
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center has graciously offered space at Lambuth Inn for the county to use as a temporary site while the fairgrounds are unavailable.
For the week of March 15, the county’s mass vaccination clinic events will be temporarily moved to Lambuth Inn on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. Please refer to the attached map for the exact site location.
Those with appointments who are directed to report to Lambuth Inn will enter Lake Junaluska Assembly property at the North Entrance, located on US-19 / Dellwood Road. Proceed past the Bethea Welcome center and continue right on North Lakeshore Drive. Pass the Rose Walk and The Terrace Hotel and continue uphill on North Lakeshore Drive, toward Inspiration Point, the cross landmark, and Lambuth Inn.
As with other clinics, there will be a checkpoint to verify appointments before entering the vaccination site.
Those with appointments will be directed through the site by attendants.
Anyone with questions or concerns about appointments should call the Haywood County vaccine hotline at 828-356-2019.
Please note that the bridge over the dam will be closed during the days that vaccination clinics are taking place (Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) to maintain a safe traffic flow through the area.
Residents, recreational users, and visitors to Lake Junaluska are encouraged to avoid the area of the Lambuth Inn on the planned clinic days to prevent traffic congestion.
Residents and visitors can also expect increased traffic from emergency vehicles (including ambulances, emergency management trucks, and trailers, and staff vehicles) throughout the week in support of the mass vaccination clinics.
Some equipment related to the clinic will remain at Lambuth Inn all week and the hotel area will be blocked off to the public when not in use for the clinics. Additional site security will also be in place during this time.
All other areas will continue to be open to the public and will function as normal.
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