Credit: DollywoodDollywood is one of the most beloved theme parks in the country, and it earned that reputation the hard way. Nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the park that Dolly Parton built from a regional attraction into a world-class destination has a way of making guests feel like they found something genuinely special rather than something manufactured for them. The food is real, the entertainment is rooted in Southern Appalachian tradition, and the natural setting is unlike anything else in the theme park industry. People do not just visit Dollywood. They go back, year after year, because it feels like a place that actually means something.
Which is part of why when a storm rolled through the Smokies overnight on April 18, causing real damage to one of the park’s most unique and meaningful attractions, it hit differently than a typical ride closure notice.
Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is not a roller coaster or a water feature. It is an outdoor aviary that houses rescued bald eagles in partnership with the American Eagle Foundation, and the Wings of America shows that take place there are among the most distinctive live entertainment offerings at any theme park in the United States. Watching trained handlers work with birds that cannot be released to the wild, learning about bald eagle conservation, and seeing those animals up close is the kind of experience guests remember long after the ride thrills fade. It is genuinely one of Dollywood’s crown jewels.
On April 19, Dollywood announced via Instagram that overnight storms had uprooted a tree near Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, damaging the aviary building and forcing the closure of surrounding park areas. The American Eagle Foundation moved immediately to remove the eagles from the compromised structure and transport them to their own facilities for safekeeping while repairs are completed. All Wings of America shows for Sunday, April 19 were canceled.
Today, Monday, April 20, Dollywood confirmed on Instagram that the situation has not yet been resolved. “All Wings of America shows for today (Monday, April 20) have been canceled as repair work continues at the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.” The surrounding park areas near the aviary remain closed as well.
What Dollywood Said
Dollywood’s official statement from Sunday laid out the situation clearly: “Due to storms overnight, a tree near Eagle Mountain Sanctuary was uprooted, causing the aviary to be compromised. Staff from the American Eagle Foundation will remove the eagles from the aviary and will house them at their facilities until the netting can be repaired. The area of the park near the aviary will be closed, and all Wings of America shows for today (Sunday, April 19) have been canceled as necessary work is completed.”
The park has not provided an estimated timeline for when the aviary netting repairs will be finished or when the eagles will return. No additional attractions or guest experiences beyond Wings of America have been affected by the storm damage, and the rest of Dollywood is operating normally.
What Is Still Happening at Dollywood Right Now
Dollywood officially kicked off its annual Flower and Food Festival on April 18, just one day before the storm damage was reported. The festival runs through June 7 and is one of the park’s signature seasonal events. Guests can explore floral displays, landscaping installations, and decorative features throughout the park, including the Umbrella Sky installation that has become a social media staple. A Tasting Pass is available and includes up to five select culinary offerings from the festival’s limited-time food and beverage lineup. For guests who love the food side of Dollywood, the Flower and Food Festival is one of the better times to visit.
Dollywood is also building toward the debut of NightFlight Expedition, a brand-new attraction in the Wildwood Grove area of the park. The ride is billed as the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, combining four distinct attraction experiences into a single journey. Guests will soar through the sky, sail on a whitewater river raft, traverse a mountain ridge on a roller coaster, and navigate a shimmering lake by boat, all within one experience. No exact opening date has been announced, but the debut is expected sometime this spring.
How This Affects a Dollywood Vacation
For guests visiting Dollywood this week, the practical impact depends entirely on what was most important to their trip. If Wings of America was a highlight of the itinerary, particularly for families with children who were excited about the eagle encounter, the honest reality is that the show is currently canceled with no confirmed return date. The park has not given a timeline for repairs, and given that the aviary netting needs to be fully secured before the eagles can return, it is reasonable to expect the closure extends at least a few more days.
Everything else at Dollywood is running normally. Rides, food, the Flower and Food Festival, live music, and all other entertainment are unaffected. Guests who built their trip around the broader Dollywood experience rather than Wings of America specifically will find the park in full spring swing.
For anyone who has not yet booked and was planning to make Wings of America a centerpiece of the visit, watching Dollywood’s official Instagram for the reopening announcement before finalizing travel dates is worth the few seconds it takes. The American Eagle Foundation is involved in the recovery effort and both organizations have strong incentive to move quickly, but storm repair timelines are not always predictable.
The Flower and Food Festival running through June 7 gives Dollywood visitors a wide window to catch both the seasonal event and, once repairs are complete, the Wings of America shows together in the same trip.
If Dollywood is on your spring travel radar, keep an eye on their Instagram account for the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary reopening update before you head out. It is the fastest place they are posting real-time park conditions. And if the Flower and Food Festival is what you are coming for, now through June 7 is the window, with or without the aviary situation. It is a genuinely great time to be at the park.
