Strong thunderstorms caused flash flooding at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Officials from the park, along with local police and fire departments, ensured the safety of guests on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, only one minor injury was reported during the incident. The park is assisting guests impacted by the flooding, and cleanup crews have been dispatched. Dollywood was set to reopen at noon on Monday, while its Splash Country section remained unaffected and opened as scheduled.
Following the severe weather, McCarter Hollow Road near the entrance to Dollywood experienced a road collapse, prompting its closure. Despite the challenges, some visitors like JeMiale McKinney of Knoxville and his family, who are season pass holders, were on their way to the park on Sunday. McKinney mentioned that visiting during bad weather can sometimes lead to shorter wait times as people leave, but they found themselves trapped in the parking lot due to the rapidly rising water levels. After a couple of hours, a crew assisted in clearing an exit path for stranded visitors.
Approximately 5 inches of rain fell in the area within an hour, creating difficulties for both the park and the city’s infrastructure to handle. Dollywood spokesperson Wes Ramey praised the swift actions of staff and guests during the flooding, noting that despite the challenging conditions, there was only one minor injury. Ramey mentioned that the park will assess the response to the incident to determine if any adjustments or improvements are necessary in their protocols.