At most theme parks, summer is supposed to be about excitement. Water parks reopen, crowds surge through the gates, and resorts enter the busiest stretch of the entire year. That is exactly what is happening right now at Dollywood as the Tennessee destination launches another packed summer season.
But while guests rush toward wave pools and roller coasters, Dollywood is simultaneously dealing with an unexpected emergency that began weeks ago and still has not been fully resolved.
Two bald eagles remain missing after storm damage tore through the park’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary earlier this spring, forcing an urgent ongoing recovery effort during one of the resort’s most critical seasons.
Summer Officially Begins at Dollywood
Dollywood’s Splash Country reopened for its 26th season on May 16, bringing the return of summer crowds to Pigeon Forge.
The water park debuted several new offerings this year, including Neon Nights, a special after-hours experience featuring glowing lights, nighttime entertainment, exclusive snacks, and reduced wait times for attractions.
New food options, upgraded guest amenities, and returning live entertainment are all part of Dollywood’s larger summer strategy for 2026.
Normally, this time of year is focused entirely on vacation excitement.
Instead, many guests have also been following a very different story connected to the park.
What Happened at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary
Back in April, severe storms swept through the area surrounding Dollywood and caused significant damage inside Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.
According to reports, a tree crashed into part of the sanctuary, creating an opening that allowed three bald eagles to escape from the habitat.
The American Eagle Foundation quickly began searching for the missing birds.
One eagle named Caesar was eventually found after being spotted in a pasture. Staff members identified him through an orange leg band before safely securing him and placing him into rehabilitation care.
Unfortunately, two additional eagles — Rockland and Wesley — are still missing.
That reality has created growing urgency behind the scenes.
Why This Situation Is So Serious
The missing birds are not healthy wild eagles capable of surviving indefinitely on their own.
Officials say both Rockland and Wesley have existing injuries involving wings or shoulders that severely impact their ability to survive in the wild. While the eagles can still fly to some extent, the foundation says they rely heavily on protected care.
Search crews have continued tracking sightings and investigating tips from across the Southeast.
The foundation also shared that Rockland appeared to have additional injuries following the storm, including bruising near the beak area.
Every passing day adds more pressure to the recovery effort.
Summer heat, growing tourism traffic, and the birds’ physical limitations all contribute to why officials are treating this as an active emergency situation rather than a simple wildlife sighting.
A Complicated Start to Summer
The difficult part for Dollywood is that the crisis is unfolding during one of the most important times of the year for the resort.
Splash Country has reopened. Families are arriving from across the country. Seasonal offerings are ramping up across the property. Pigeon Forge itself is entering one of its busiest tourism stretches of the year.
Yet behind all of that excitement, recovery teams are still searching for two missing sanctuary eagles.
For many fans, Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is one of the most meaningful experiences inside Dollywood. The sanctuary represents conservation, rehabilitation, and education — values that have become closely tied to the park’s identity over the years.
That emotional connection has made the ongoing search especially difficult for longtime visitors to watch.
Dollywood Hopes for Positive News
For now, Dollywood’s summer season continues moving forward exactly as planned on the guest side. Water attractions are operating, nighttime events are launching, and the resort remains packed with visitors enjoying the Smoky Mountains.
But the storm damage from earlier this spring continues casting a shadow over part of the season.
As search teams continue working to locate Rockland and Wesley, many Dollywood fans are hoping the resort eventually receives the positive ending everyone is waiting for.
