In March 2005, the LIFESTAR base at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport was opened to provide a faster response time to Sevier County emergencies.

The new base allows emergency staff to respond from Sevier County instead of from the Knoxville base, which will cut the response time in half and, therefore, increase patient chances of survival. Of the 2,230 calls for LIFESTAR in 2004, 375 were made from Sevier County, making it the number-one area for the most responses. The second most responses came from Monroe County with 225.

Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the University of Tennessee Medical Center partnered to create the new base by contributing to the refurbishment of a maintenance room. The new base offers a hangar, helipad and offices as well as sleeping quarters, living area and necessary equipment for the crews. The new base serves the area part time during the time when LIFESTAR receives the most calls – Friday through Sunday.