Dollywood's 2026 season is barely underway, and the Pigeon Forge theme park is already calling it an early night.
Closing Three Hours Ahead of Schedule
Dollywood announced Monday via Instagram story that inclement weather would force the park to shut its gates at 5:00 p.m. on March 16, three hours before its scheduled 8:00 p.m. closing time. The park's official statement read:
PARK UPDATE.
Due to current weather conditions, Dollywood will close at 5 p.m. tonight, March 16.
Dollywood will open tomorrow (3/17) with regular operating hours as scheduled.
The early closure is expected to be a one-day disruption. Dollywood is set to reopen on Tuesday on its normal schedule, with the ongoing “I Will Always Love You” Music Festival continuing as planned.
A Season That Started on a High Note
Dollywood only opened for its 2026 season three days ago, on Friday, March 13, capping a winter hiatus that began in January. The kickoff was a memorable one, with Dolly Parton herself appearing in the opening-day parade in her role as the park‘s Dreamer-in-Chief.
View this post on Instagram
Parton's presence carried extra weight given that she has cancelled several appearances in recent months due to health concerns. The music legend addressed those struggles directly with the crowd during opening-day festivities, speaking candidly about a difficult stretch that included the death of her longtime husband, Carl Thomas Dean.
“I've had a few little health issues,” Parton told the crowd, noting that she has been focusing on healing “spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
She was quick to put fans at ease, though. “All is good,” Parton added, signaling that she has no intention of stepping back from the spotlight anytime soon.
Have you ever visited Dollywood? Share your favorite memories with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
