Dollywood Deluge: Flash Floods Turn Theme Park into Water Park, Fans Paddle to Safety
(Photo by Jacob Biba for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
(Photo by: Katherine Bomboy/NBC via Getty Images)
Pigeon Forge, Tenn., turned into a real-life adventure zone on July 28 when torrential rains transformed Dollywood into an unexpected water park. Dollywood enthusiasts, hoping for a delightful day at the Dolly Parton-themed attraction, found themselves in a flash flood, wading through nearly waist-deep water to reach their cars.
Social media buzzed with photos and videos showing brown water rushing through pedestrian areas and pooling in the parking lot. "Craziest Dollywood experience in my almost 32 years of going," one person exclaimed on TikTok, capturing the storm’s dramatic exit scene with poncho-clad crowds.
Dollywood's social media reported one minor injury amidst the chaos. Pigeon Forge fire and police teams worked overtime, guiding guests to safety as the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning that lasted from 5:39 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Up to 5 inches of rain led to "multiple road closures, washouts, and even mudslides."
"While the volume of rain was challenging for both the park’s and the city’s infrastructure, the fact we have only one minor injury shows how well our hosts handled the situation and how well our guests followed their directions," said Dollywood PR director Wes Ramey.
With more showers and storms forecasted, Dollywood braced for potential additional flooding, as some areas could receive another 3 inches of rain.
Sevier County's vice mayor, Bryan McCarter, noted "significant flooding" in the area, with several roads, including one near Dollywood, closed due to water or washouts.
Social media lit up with stranded visitors sharing their plight. "Didn't have being stranded in the @Dollywood parking lot due to major flooding on my 2024 bingo card," one person tweeted, showing cars navigating flooded streets.
Dollywood reassured guests that they were supporting those affected by the floodwaters and would honor tickets with Sunday’s date for a future visit. The park also issued rain checks and reopened less than 24 hours after the deluge.
"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," Ramey added.