House Joint Resolution 751, sponsored by Atchley, recognizes the City of Gatlinburg as the official Gateway to the Smokies. The resolution highlights Gatlinburg's strategic location bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which includes multiple park entrances, notably the Sugarlands entrance. This positioning makes Gatlinburg the most direct and popular access point for the park, which is the most visited national park in the United States, attracting over 13 million visitors annually. The city serves as a primary basecamp for park exploration, surrounded by mountains and providing immediate access to key trails, visitor centers, and scenic routes.

The resolution emphasizes Gatlinburg's role along U.S. Route 441 as the busiest and most tourist-oriented entryway to the park, facilitating the majority of visitor traffic from the Tennessee side. By designating Gatlinburg as the official Gateway to the Smokies, the resolution aims to acknowledge the city's significance in supporting the park's status as a premier destination for millions of visitors each year.