Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – Dollywood patrons faced a chaotic scene as severe storms swept through the Tennessee theme park over the weekend, leaving floodwaters inundating the park grounds. Visitors were forced to navigate through waist-deep waters to reach safety as torrential rains caused flooding in the park’s pedestrian areas and parking lot.

Social media buzzed with photos and videos capturing the brown, rushing waters inundating Dollywood, co-owned by country music icon Dolly Parton. Despite the tumultuous conditions, the park reopened on Monday after being closed due to the flood damage, with some rides requiring additional cleanup before they could operate again.

In the midst of the storm, one minor injury was reported, and emergency responders from Pigeon Forge worked diligently to guide guests to safety. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning as the slow-moving thunderstorms drenched the area with up to 4 to 5 inches of rain, leading to road closures and mudslides.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by the heavy rainfall, Dollywood’s public relations director commended the park staff and guests for their response to the situation, which resulted in only one minor injury. Looking ahead, the forecast warned of the possibility of more showers and storms in the region, bringing potential for damaging winds and additional flooding.

Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter of Sevier County highlighted the widespread impact of the flooding in various parts of the county, including road closures near Dollywood. Social media posts reflected the frustration of some individuals stranded in the park’s parking lot due to the flooding.

Despite the upheaval, Dollywood assured guests that they would assist those whose vehicles were affected by the inclement weather. The park, located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offered to honor tickets for a future visit and accept rain checks issued during the closure. Park officials expressed pride in the maintenance and operations teams for their efforts in swiftly reopening the park following the unprecedented flooding event.