Credit: Kristopher Harris, FlickrSummer has officially arrived at Dollywood, and normally, that means long lines for water slides, packed walkways, and families flooding into the Smoky Mountains for one of the busiest times of the year. This week marked another major milestone for the resort as Dollywood’s Splash Country officially reopened for its 26th summer season, kicking off what is traditionally one of the park’s biggest stretches of the calendar.
But while guests are diving into wave pools and preparing for late-night events like Neon Nights, a very different kind of race is happening behind the scenes.
More than two weeks after severe storm damage struck the property, two bald eagles remain missing from Dollywood’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. With the resort entering peak summer operations, time is becoming increasingly important as search teams continue trying to safely recover the birds.
Dollywood’s Summer Season Is Officially Underway
Dollywood’s Splash Country reopened on May 16 for another busy summer in the Smokies. The water park introduced new offerings this year, including the after-hours Neon Nights event featuring glow experiences, nighttime entertainment, lighter crowds, and exclusive food offerings.
The reopening is always a major signal for the broader Dollywood Resort. Once Splash Country returns, the entire destination effectively shifts into summer mode. Families begin arriving in larger numbers, seasonal entertainment ramps up, and Dollywood enters one of its most important tourism periods of the year.
This season already carried extra momentum thanks to new food items, returning Splash Bash LIVE performances, upgraded cabanas, and expanded guest offerings throughout the water park.
At the same time, however, another major story continues unfolding just outside the typical summer excitement.
Storm Damage Created a Serious Situation
Back on April 19, severe storms caused major damage at the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary inside Dollywood. According to reports, a tree was uprooted during the storm, damaging part of the sanctuary and allowing three bald eagles to escape.
The American Eagle Foundation, which oversees the sanctuary, immediately launched a large recovery effort.
One eagle named Caesar was eventually found after being spotted in a cow pasture. Officials identified him through his orange leg band before safely securing and transporting him to a rehabilitation facility as a precaution.
Unfortunately, two other eagles, Rockland and Wesley, remain missing.
And that is where the concern has continued growing.
Why Time Matters So Much
According to Lori Moore, CEO of the American Eagle Foundation, both remaining eagles have injuries that limit their ability to survive in the wild long term.
“It doesn’t mean that they cannot completely fly, but it also absolutely inhibits their ability to be able to survive in the wild,” Moore explained.
That detail changes everything about the search effort.
This is not simply a case of healthy birds wandering away from a habitat. The foundation says both eagles require assistance, and officials have been actively tracking sightings across the Southeast while relying heavily on community tips.
Moore also revealed that Rockland appeared to have visible injuries, including bruising and damage near the beak area.
As summer temperatures continue rising and crowds increase around the region, the pressure to locate the birds safely only becomes more urgent.
A Difficult Reality During Dollywood’s Biggest Season
The timing could not be more challenging for Dollywood.
Summer is one of the resort’s most important operational periods. Splash Country is now running daily operations, Dollywood itself is packed with vacationers, and thousands of guests continue pouring into Pigeon Forge every week.
That creates a strange balancing act for the resort and the American Eagle Foundation. On one side, Dollywood is celebrating the launch of another major summer season filled with new entertainment and family experiences. On the other, teams are still searching for two missing birds connected to one of the park’s most respected animal habitats.
In a way, the “cut” to the summer season is not necessarily about attendance or operations. It is about the absence of the eagles themselves.
The sanctuary is still feeling the effects of the storm damage, and until Rockland and Wesley are safely recovered, the situation remains unresolved.
Guests Continue Watching for Updates
The story has quickly gained attention among Dollywood fans because Eagle Mountain Sanctuary has long been one of the park’s most emotional and respected experiences. The sanctuary serves as home to non-releasable bald eagles that cannot survive independently in the wild.
That makes the search especially emotional for many longtime visitors.
Community tips have reportedly become one of the most important tools in helping the recovery effort. Officials say sightings and quick reporting from residents across the region continue helping search teams narrow down possible locations.
For now, Dollywood’s summer season moves forward with packed crowds, water slides, nighttime events, and all the excitement that normally comes with this time of year.
But behind the scenes, there is still a race against time unfolding in the Smoky Mountains.
