Is Dollywood closed? When will the park reopen after Helene rivets East TN

According to park spokesman Wes Ramey, the remnants of Hurricane Helene are leaving East Tennessee and Dollywood is returning to its normal schedule.

Dollywood will open on September 28 at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., allowing guests to fully experience the Harvest Festival following Helene’s impact, which has disrupted park operations over the past few days.

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort will also remain open with regular opening hours.

According to the National Weather Service, the Pigeon Forge area is under a flood warning until midnight September 28. Parts of Great Smoky National Park in eastern Tennessee have received more than 3 inches of rain in recent days, according to a Sept. 27 National Park Service report.

As the NWS notes, flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations remains a major concern. Crossings at low water levels are flooded and may be impassable.

The popular Pigeon Forge theme had a delayed opening on September 27 and a full day closure on September 26 due to Helene-related rain and wind and a late summer storm system earlier that week.

What is Dollywood’s rain policy?

It is park policy that Dollywood guests are always entitled to a rain check or refund if their theme park visit ends early due to weather. Rain checks can be ordered at any ticket office and are valid until the end of the season.

The NWS 7-day forecast puts the chance of rain at 30% on Saturday and at 70% on Saturday evening.

Dollywood summer flood

Dollywood was flooded earlier this year. The park came to a standstill this summer when water flooded Dollywood guests on July 28 after heavy downpours dumped more than 4.5 inches of rain in the Pigeon Forge area.

Photos and video footage showed floodwaters covering the park’s parking lots and even flowing into some buildings.

One person suffered minor injuries, but there was no property damage. The park opened late the next day to finish cleaning up after the rain.

Devarrick Turner is a popular news reporter. E-mail [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.

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