The Real Reason Dollywood Was Forced To Close An Hour After Opening
By Kristin Conard
VACATIONS
On July 17, 2024, Dollywood, the popular Dolly Parton theme park in Tennessee, was forced to close its gates just an hour after opening due to a significant water main break.
This incident was highly unusual, as emphasized by park spokesperson Pete Owens, who remarked, "We have never had a large break like this in my 24-year history with the park."
The cause of the break was not immediately clear, but park management responded quickly, deploying repair crews who worked diligently to fix the issue.
By the early hours of the next day, the park was ready to welcome visitors again. The announcement was made via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
To mitigate the impact of the closure, Dollywood offered affected guests refunds or the option to use their tickets later, including for parking, lockers, and TimeSaver passes.