Visit Smokies, the regional tourism promotions organization, announced the return of Find Carl, the family-friendly sasquatch search that invites locals and visitors to explore the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina in a fun, clue-solving adventure.
Beginning June 1 and running through September 21, Carl the Sasquatch will hide across the Southern Smokies for his second season.
This year’s campaign includes more prizes, collectible sticker tokens, and a growing Facebook community of nearly 400 active explorers ready to follow clues, visit local businesses, and find Carl in places they may not have discovered before.
Good fun for good business
Find Carl is designed to encourage regional exploration across the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary. He will appear in only one official hiding place at a time, staying at each location for two weeks before moving on to his next stop.
“Find Carl brings together the fun of a scavenger hunt with the heart of regional tourism,” said Mici Canales, or Visit Smokies. “It gives families a reason to explore, helps businesses welcome new visitors, and turns the Southern Smokies into one big adventure.”
The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina Travel Guide serves as the map for the adventure, as each official hiding place is featured. However, explorers will need clues to solve Carl’s location. Participating businesses will help share those clues with guests, encouraging visitors to stop in, explore, and learn more about destinations throughout the region.
When explorers find Carl, they should check in, take a photo, collect that location’s sticker token, and enter the raffle for that hiding place. Each stop gives families and visitors another reason to discover local attractions, shops, cultural sites, outdoor adventures, and mountain-town favorites throughout the Southern Smokies.
Visit Smokies is also inviting businesses to get involved throughout the season. Businesses can participate by sharing official clues with guests, promoting sasquatch-themed merchandise, offering prizes, or inviting Carl to make a special “pop-in” appearance on his way to the next hiding place.
The hunt officially begins June 1.
The first clue
Where mountain air thins and brave feet rise,
Carl watches the treetops touch the skies.
Not every Explorer will choose to fly,
but some will cross where the cables lie.
Find the place where adventure starts:
H________ A_____ P____
Check out the Visit Smokies website for information and clues.
Visit Smokies promotes travel, exploration, and regional tourism throughout the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. Through destination marketing, storytelling, visitor resources, and collaborative campaigns, Visit Smokies encourages travelers to discover the natural beauty, mountain towns, outdoor adventure, culture, and local businesses of the Southern Smokies.