Final notice: Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s theme park, is suspending all operations without refunds

Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park is officially closing its doors after a special statement confirmed the park was operating in unsafe conditions.

Dollywood is one of America’s most popular theme parks and is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. While the park is known for its rides, food and entertainment, it also features the life and career of country music legend Dolly Parton, who grew up in the area, making Parton the main attraction for many.

Some of the most famous rides include the Lightning Rod, a wooden roller coaster known for its speed and steep drops, Blazing Fury, a runaway mine train roller coaster, and the Dollywood Express, a scenic train ride through the mountains; and the Wild Eagle, the first wing coaster in the United States, offering riders a unique flying experience.

In addition to its rides and attractions, Dollywood is also home to several theaters that offer live entertainment, including musical performances, comedy shows, and theatrical productions. The park’s entertainment often includes country, bluegrass and gospel music, reflecting the musical roots of Dolly Parton. The theme park also has two resorts: Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa.

In terms of attendance, Dollywood typically attracts millions of visitors each year, making it one of the most popular theme parks in the southeastern United States. The exact number of visitors may vary from year to year, but the park consistently ranks among the top tourist destinations in Tennessee.

That’s why the latest news about the closure of the theme park is likely to cause great anger among many guests.

Severe thunderstorms are currently occurring in Tennessee, with Pigeon Forge being hit hard, NWS Morriston has confirmed.

A Special Weather Statement has been issued for Maryville TN, Pigeon Forge TN and Gatlinburg TN until 2:15 PM EDT

A special weather statement has been issued for Maryville TN, Pigeon Forge TN and Gatlinburg TN until 2:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/pWSiPOd6A0

– NWS Morristown (@NWSMorristown) May 8, 2024

News channel Wate also reported on the severity of the ongoing weather situation: “We have already seen several severe thunderstorm warnings and even a tornado warning today. Several rounds of severe weather are still possible. The important takeaway is that severe weather is possible throughout the day, particularly this afternoon and tonight.

Our risk of severe weather will remain elevated through midday and continue into the afternoon and evening with the “first round of storms.” A second round will begin this evening and continue into the overnight hours. That’s why today we are Weather AWARE.”

With this in mind, Dollywood has decided to close early.

The Dollywood Parks & Resorts account 9 at 10am”

PARK UPDATE: Due to severe thunderstorms approaching Pigeon Forge this afternoon and throughout the evening, Dollywood will be closed today (Wednesday, May 8) at 4:00 p.m. The park will reopen on Thursday, May 9th at 10:00 a.m

— Dollywood Parks & Resorts (@Dollywood) May 8, 2024

The Dollywood website does not list information about the closure or whether guests can receive a refund for unused tickets or for having their day shortened. Typically the park closes at 8:00 p.m., shortening guests’ park day by four hours.

Considering the location is such a heavily touristed location, this closure will likely impact many vacation trips.

A study conducted by InsureandGo, a UK-based travel insurance provider, found that Dollywood had the highest “Come Back” rating among over 450 attractions worldwide. InsureandGo’s report also ranked countries and cities, with Japan the top-ranked country and London the top-rated city.

When compiling the list of attractions, the company analyzed thousands of online reviews, taking into account factors such as content, attraction rating and guest reviews that expressed a desire to visit again. Using a weighted rating system, InsureandGo gave attractions “Come Back” ratings on a scale of 1 to 100. Dollywood secured the top spot with a rating of 94 out of 100.

That being said, there are probably some tourists who don’t like the theme park as much after today.

The weather that causes a theme park to close is something we typically see at more regional theme parks, such as: B. Knott’s Berry Farm in Anaheim, which experienced a series of inclement weather closures in 2024. Typically, Cedar Fair and Six Flags theme parks are closed due to weather. Guests are granted an additional month to use their ticket if they close early, but no full refunds are offered.

The Disney and Universal parks, on the other hand, typically require very severe weather, such as a hurricane, to close their gates.

On the positive side, guests can soon look forward to a large portion of Dolly! The Dolly Parton Experience replaces the Chasing Rainbows Museum and promises to be three times bigger and better on May 24, 2024. This immersive experience isn’t just an exhibition – it’s an interactive journey through Dolly’s life, taking you from her humble beginnings in 2024 Locust Ridge to the bright lights of international stages.

The entire Adventures in Imagination area will be transformed to accommodate this exciting new attraction. The Dolly Parton Experience will be divided into three distinct sections, each using cutting-edge interactive technology to tell Dolly’s story in a way never seen before.

You can watch the official promo on Dollywood’s Instagram reel below:

Get ready for the music (and the sparkles) because the Dolly Parton Experience opens May 24th! 💅✨🎵🦋

The Dolly Parton Experience offers guests more Dolly than ever before with interactive elements across multiple buildings that take guests on Dolly’s journey from Locust Ridge to stages around the world.

At Behind the Seams, guests get a sneak peek into how Dolly’s iconic looks come to life!

Dollywood has had to temporarily close its doors in the past due to an outbreak of fire that endangered guests; Luckily, the closure was quick and no one was injured.

Have you ever experienced an amusement park closing early and without warning due to the weather?