Devastating Flood Hits Dolly Parton's Dollywood Theme Park in Tennessee
The picturesque Dollywood theme park, founded and named after country music legend Dolly Parton, has been struck by a powerful flash flood following a strong thunderstorm in the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee.
Eyewitness video footage from inside the park shows raging torrents of water cascading past popular rides and attractions, submerging walkways, stores, and parking lots under several feet of rushing water. Panicked visitors can be seen wading through waist-deep floodwaters in a desperate attempt to reach their partially submerged vehicles.
In a statement, Dollywood management confirmed that guests were promptly "directed to safety during the storm," and reported that one person had sustained minor injuries. The park said it is now focused on supporting affected guests and deploying clean-up crews to assess the extent of the damage and determine when normal operations can resume.
"Dollywood is supporting guests whose vehicles were affected by this weather event, and clean-up crews have been deployed," the statement read. "We will continue to evaluate conditions and make announcements regarding the park's status for Monday as more information becomes available."
Several visitors took to social media to share their harrowing experiences. One X user said that patrons had to physically dismantle a fence to reach their cars after a fallen tree blocked the main exit. "I still love Dollywood... but we barely escaped today," wrote another shaken guest. "Hope everyone gets out alright."
This is the second water-related incident to hit the popular theme park in recent weeks. Just two weeks ago, Dollywood was forced to close for a day due to a burst water main, underscoring the increasing vulnerability of outdoor entertainment venues to extreme weather events linked to climate change.
Knoxville Police issued a severe weather warning early Monday morning, urging residents and travelers to "use caution on the roads, watch out for standing water, and be aware of the potential for flash flooding." The advisory reiterated the crucial safety message: "Turn around, don't drown."
Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is a beloved destination that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the region through its thrilling rides, craft demonstrations, live music performances, and of course, the iconic presence of Dolly Parton herself. This latest natural disaster is a sobering reminder of the pressing need to strengthen the resilience of tourist attractions and infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
As clean-up and recovery efforts commence, all eyes will be on Dollywood's ability to bounce back from this unexpected flood, and the park's long-term plans to safeguard against future extreme weather events that may become increasingly common in the years ahead.
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