Signal Point is closed until further notice due to the government shutdown.
Federal park police locked access to the park Friday night, according to the Signal Mountain Police Department.
The popular hiking access point is operated by the National Park Service. Despite the closure, some National Parks will remain open during the shutdown. However, some will not be staffed and none will be fully staffed. A message on the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Facebook page advises guests to call 911 if there's an emergency due to the lack of on-site staffing.
Park activities have been cancelled nationwide. Visitor services including restrooms, trash collection, facilities, road maintenance, campground reservation, check-in/check-out services, permits and public information have been suspended throughout the shutdown, according to the National Park Service Contingency Plan.
Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors, but there will be no NPS-provided visitor services, according to the plan. There is no word on why Signal Point was closed and park officials could not be reached for comment due to the shutdown.
A message on the National Park website says the following:
During the federal government shutdown, this website will not be updated and may not reflect current conditions. Some national parks may remain accessible to visitors; however, access may change without notice. Some parks are closed completely. Some visitor services may be available when provided by concessioners or other entities. For most parks, there will be no National Park Service-provided visitor services, such as restrooms, trash collection, facilities, or road maintenance. For more information, see www.doi.gov/shutdown and the park website.