UPDATED: Dollywood Under Threat in Smoky Mountain Wildfires
This story has been updated (see bottom).
Over 100 structures have been destroyed, and over 14,000 residents have been evacuated from downtown Gatlinburg and surrounding areas in eastern Tennessee as massive wildfires threaten the area, including Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain resort Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge. A small fire started on Chimney Top Mountain quickly grew from 50 acres to over 500 over Sunday night due to drought-like conditions that are the worst in nearly a decade, and strong winds sometimes reaching over 70 mph ahead of an approaching cold front and storm system. This put the entire region in a perilous situation as local, regional, and national resources were mobilized to try and contain the blaze.
Multiple resorts in the area have sustained significant damage in the wildfire, including Black Bear Falls, which has reportedly lost all of their cabins, and Westgate Resorts. Evacuation orders still remain out for Downtown Gatlinburg, Mynatt Park, Park Vista and Ski Mountain in Gatlinburg, and for the southern portions of Pigeon Forge, which includes portions of the Dollywood Resort.
Dollywood released a statement late Monday evening about the situation:
Uncontrolled wildfires in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains are threatening several areas of Sevier County, Tennessee including the Dollywood park. Dollywood crews and firefighters are working to protect the park areas adjacent to a fire burning on Upper Middle Creek Ridge. There is no damage at the park at this time. High winds continue to spread the fires around the county as the Dollywood resort staff works to protect the Dollywood DreamMore resort, Dollywood Smoky Mountain Cabins and other Dollywood property. Again, there is no damage at this time.
For the safety of our guests, earlier this evening, resort staff evacuated families staying in 50 rooms staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and families staying in 19 cabins at Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins.
We will assist fire fighters and rescue personnel in any way we can and will provide details of any further developments as and when they are available.
According to Dean Flener with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the National guard has been deployed to the area to help clear roads and assist firefighters. “We have had the state of emergency center evacuated in Nashville since the start of these wildfires many days ago. We are in full activation mode,” he tells WATE.
The good news is a large complex of storms blew through the region Tuesday morning, dumping rain on the affected areas, and ushering in cooler, and calmer conditions in the area. However evacuations orders remain in place, and crews continue to battle the fires. With an 80% chance of more rain and thunderstorms Tuesday night into Wednesday, the wildfire situation is expected to continue to improve.
***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***
11-29-16, 7:45 p.m. CST: According to Dollywood, the park itself remains unscathed in the wildfires, but more than a dozen cabins managed through Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins were damaged or destroyed in the blaze. Dollywood has suspended park operations beginning Wednesday, November 30. The park will reopen on Friday, Dec. 2. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort will be open on a limited basis.
Dolly Parton has also released a statement about the fires:
I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken. I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe. It is a blessing that my Dollywood theme park, the DreamMore Resort and so many businesses in Pigeon Forge have been spared. – Dolly Parton
Jen
November 29, 2016 @ 10:32 am
That’s a good ending…hope it will continue to improve. I lived in Portland, TN….it’s just outside of Gatlinburg. The trailer I lived in with the asshole I lived with is right between Gatlinburg and the Kentucky state line. I don’t care about his place, either way, but I do hope Dollywood escapes unharmed.
Charlie
November 30, 2016 @ 5:09 am
Sounds like you got yourself a country song right there.
Jen
November 30, 2016 @ 5:37 am
Lol!That should have read Gallatin! I always used to get those two mixed up!
Greg
November 29, 2016 @ 11:55 am
Praying for everyone in East tennessee
Joseph
November 29, 2016 @ 1:38 pm
Was there just three short days ago; I saw the Chimney Tops fire in progress while leaving Tennessee, which was the fire that spread the next day into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge due to high winds. Definitely hoping for the best.
Chris
November 29, 2016 @ 3:36 pm
I live in Knoxville, around 30 – 35 miles away.
This beats all we have ever seen.
There are going to be a fair amount of fatalities.
FreeTicketGal
November 29, 2016 @ 4:32 pm
Not sure whether we are allowed to share links here, but here are two articles containing information about how to donate and help out.
http://wate.com/2016/11/29/how-to-help-smoky-mountain-fire-
evacuees/http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Red-Cross-providing-help-to-wildfire-evacuees-403520856.html
Please feel free to edit this comment Trigger =)
Erik North
November 29, 2016 @ 9:33 pm
This is a situation which we here in Southern California are all too familiar with: bone-dry conditions in our mountain and desert areas; desiccation of pine trees because of drought and bark beetles; and, where we are, Santa Ana winds, resulting in firestorms the likes of which are now engulfing that part of Tennessee. My heart goes out to the folks in that part of the world, having to see their landscape being incinerated in front of them, and I hope they can pull through.
TwangBob
November 30, 2016 @ 5:50 am
Thankful for the rains that assisted the firefighters in reducing flames and more damage. Prayers to the families and friends of those who perished due to the fires. Prayers to Gatlinburg and its residents for a recovery. I heard the town’s mayor lost his house to the flames.