One of Dollywood’s longest-running traditions has quietly reached its final chapter.
The Tennessee theme park has changed significantly since Dolly Parton became involved in 1986. Modern roller coasters and multimillion-dollar expansions now sit alongside attractions, entertainment, and experiences designed to reflect the culture and natural environment of the Great Smoky Mountains.
That evolution accelerated again this month. Dollywood officially opened NightFlight Expedition on August 19, following several days of previews for the ambitious new attraction.
The $60 million ride is among the biggest investments in Dollywood history, although its opening week has not been entirely smooth. NightFlight Expedition has experienced technical difficulties and periods of downtime since welcoming its first guests.
Yet while attention has focused on Dollywood’s newest addition, another development elsewhere in the park marks the end of something far older.
A partnership dating back to 1991 is changing, and an attraction that introduced generations of visitors to America’s national bird will not return.
A 35-Year Dollywood Tradition Comes to an End
Dollywood has confirmed that the bald eagles previously housed at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary are leaving the theme park permanently.
The decision comes months after the theme park's sanctuary sustained damage during severe weather in April. Since then, its non-releasable eagles have been housed at the American Eagle Foundation’s campus in Kodak, Tennessee.
Those birds will now remain at the Kodak facility rather than returning to their former Dollywood home.
Three eagles escaped during the April storm. Caesar was recovered the following month, while Rockland and Wesley remained unaccounted for as of August 21.
The permanent relocation effectively ends Eagle Mountain Sanctuary after 35 years at Dollywood.
“For 35 years, our partnership with the American Eagle Foundation has allowed millions of Dollywood guests to learn about and appreciate the bald eagle and other birds of prey,” Dollywood President Eugene Naughton said in a press release.
“We're incredibly proud of what this partnership has accomplished. We look forward to continuing our work together, and we plan to continue inspiring our guests to care for these remarkable birds and the natural world around us.”
Eagle Mountain Sanctuary offered a very different experience from Dollywood’s roller coasters and family rides.
The exhibit housed bald eagles unable to survive independently in the wild, giving visitors the opportunity to observe the birds while learning about rehabilitation, conservation, and the challenges facing birds of prey.
At one point, the attraction was promoted as the world’s largest exhibit of nonreleasable bald eagles.
You can find the world's largest exhibit of bald eagles @Dollywood!
You can find the world's largest exhibit of bald eagles @Dollywood! pic.twitter.com/Nv8QiKnkxz
— themeparkreview (@ThemeParkReview) July 27, 2017
The sanctuary became one of the most visible elements of Dollywood’s decades-long relationship with the American Eagle Foundation.
That partnership began in 1991 and has helped introduce millions of theme park visitors to bald eagles and other raptors over the ensuing decades.
Dollywood has now removed the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary page from its official website.
Dollywood’s Eagle Partnership Is Not Over
Although the sanctuary itself is gone, Dollywood is not eliminating its birds of prey programming.
The park’s Wings of America Birds of Prey show will continue at the Wings of America Theater, where visitors can see raptors up close and learn more about the animals and their conservation.
The American Eagle Foundation will also continue to have a presence at Dollywood through the show.
That arrangement will allow guests to continue seeing eagles and other birds of prey while giving the foundation another platform to discuss conservation and the role these animals play in the natural environment.
“Eagle Mountain Sanctuary has played an extraordinary role in our history and in helping generations of people understand and appreciate these magnificent birds,” American Eagle Foundation CEO Lori Moore said.
“We are tremendously grateful for Dollywood’s partnership over the past 35 years and are excited about what we can continue to accomplish together.”
The change arrives during a particularly transformative period for Dollywood.
NightFlight Expedition represents the park’s latest attempt to expand its attraction lineup, while recent years have brought continued investment across the resort.
What do you think of Dollywood saying farewell to its bald eagles?
