Graffiti at Sinks on the stone wall. (Source: National Park Service)

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A popular area inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park was found defaced and now park officials are offering a reward for information.

Park rangers say natural stone features and masonry stone walls at the Sinks was found with spray painted with pictures and profanity. The Sinks is a popular roadside waterfall located on Little River Road between Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and the Townsend Wye.

“This was not a minor act of tagging by someone with a can of spray paint,” said Chief Ranger Clay Jordan. “The amount of damage maliciously caused to this beautiful setting is disheartening.”

The park is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the graffiti.

The Sinks was renovated in 2010 to allow easier access to the 15-foot cascade water fall.

Park employees spent several hours removing the offensive language and images using a variety of techniques to remove the paint without causing further resource damage.