After 40 Years, Dollywood Announces Immediate Closure

Dolly Parton’s iconic Smoky Mountain theme park, Dollywood, is celebrating 40 years of family fun and unforgettable entertainment. But guests visiting the Pigeon Forge theme park this week might notice that one of its most popular attractions is suddenly closed for maintenance.

In 1986, Dolly Parton became co-owner of an existing Tennessee theme park, Silver Dollar City (originally known as Rebel Railroad), and renamed it Dollywood. The country music icon explained that she always wanted to use her success to create jobs and give back to her hometown. Almost 40 years later, Parton’s theme park is the largest employer in its county, and has expanded with the Splash Country water park, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.

A lot has changed at Dollywood over the years, but one attraction has remained since the original Rebel Railroad opened in 1961: the iconic steam train, now known as the Dollywood Express. The 110-ton coal-fired steam engine takes guests on a 20-minute, five-mile journey through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, harkening back to a time when travel in and out of Pigeon Forge relied on similar trains.

Unfortunately, the Dollywood Express has abruptly closed for maintenance. On Wednesday, May 21, Dollywood posted an immediate notice to its Instagram story: “PARK UPDATE: The Dollywood Express currently is closed for maintenance. Thank you for your understanding–we look forward to having it back on track soon! We hope you’ll enjoy our other award-winning attractions and entertainment offerings.”

The Pigeon Forge theme park’s website warns that the steam train could close anytime due to sudden maintenance or inclement weather.

“Special Attraction Information: The Dollywood Express schedule is subject to change and closures may also occur due to maintenance or inclement weather conditions, including lightning,” a permanent notice on the website reads.

At this time, Dollywood hasn’t announced a reopening date for its iconic steam train. Keep an eye on the park’s official website and social media channels for updates on this project and other attraction maintenance throughout the theme park.

Have you ever visited Dolly Parton’s Tennessee theme park? Share your favorite memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!