“Craziest Dollywood experience in my almost 32 years of going,” one person wrote in a TikTok video that showed torrential rains and crowds in ponchos exiting the park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
The resort, which is co-owned by country music superstar Dolly Parton, reopened at noon on Monday after visitors were forced out by the rushing waters Sunday. Two rides that need additional cleanup will be delayed, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
In a statement on social media, Dollywood wrote that one minor injury had been reported amid the thunderstorm and flash flooding. Fire and police workers from Pigeon Forge helped direct “guests to safety during the storm,” the statement said.
The flooding came as slow-moving thunderstorms passed over the area Sunday evening. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 5:39 p.m. that remained in effect until 10:45 p.m. The Weather Service said up to 4 to 5 inches of rain caused “multiple road closures, washouts, and even mudslides” in the area.
“While the volume of rain was difficult for both the park’s and the city’s infrastructure to manage, the fact we have only one minor injury illustrates how well our hosts handled the situation and how well our guests followed their directions,” Dollywood public relations director Wes Ramey said in a statement.
The forecast calls for the possibility of repeated showers and storms between Monday night and Tuesday night that could bring damaging winds in addition to more flooding. Some areas could see an additional 3 inches or more rainfall, the Weather Service said.
Bryan McCarter, vice mayor of Sevier County, wrote on his Facebook page Sunday night that “significant flooding” was occurring in parts of the county. He wrote that several roads — including one near Dollywood — were closed because of water or washout.
Several people wrote on social media accounts that they were not able to leave the parking lot because of the floods.
“Didn’t have being stranded in the @Dollywood parking lot due to major flooding on my 2024 bingo card,” one person wrote on X with a video of cars driving onto flooded streets as rain continued pouring.
“Dollywood is supporting guests whose vehicles were affected by this weather event,” the park’s statement said.
The theme park is eight miles north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 35 miles southeast of Knoxville, Tenn.
Ramey said in the statement that the park will honor tickets with Sunday’s date for a future visit. The park will also accept rain checks that were provided.
“We will evaluate the response to determine if any changes are needed moving forward, but we are proud of our maintenance and operations teams for their hard work that allowed us to reopen less than 24 hours after an unprecedented flooding event like this one,” he said.
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
