Dollywood back in business July 18 after abrupt closure. What to know

Dollywood is back in business. The theme park opened as scheduled July 18 after being forced to close early the day before due to a water main break.

“We are happy to share that the water main break has been repaired, and the park will reopen for regular hours today at 10:00 a.m.,” Dollywood announced Thursday morning on its website and social media platforms.

“We sincerely apologize to all guests who were impacted by the water main break. The closure prevented us from creating memories worth repeating for you and your families yesterday, and we want to make it right,” the message continued.

Dollywood says that all admission tickets, TimeSaver passes, parking, and locker receipts from July 17 will be honored upon the next visit for those guests. The guests who had to leave Dollywood early that day or who never made it to the park can request refunds by calling 1-800-Dollywood.

What are Dollywood hours?

Dollywood returned to its regular hours July 18, opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m.

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General admission tickets to the theme park are $92 for adults and $82 for children and seniors. Tickets are available at dollywood.com.

Why did Dollywood close early July 17?

A water main break occurred at Dollywood barely an hour after the theme park opened July 17. The park was forced to close, sending guests elsewhere before they had a chance to enjoy any rides or cinnamon bread.

“We have never had a large break like this in my 24-year history with the park,” Dollywood spokesperson Pete Owens told Knox News.

Dollywood maintenance teams and City of Pigeon Forge crews worked together until the early morning hours, completing the water main repair around 2:30 a.m. July 18, according to Owens. The cause of the break is still unknown.

Dollywood provided rain checks and refunds as soon as the park closed early the morning of July 17, Owens noted.

Dollywood’s Splash Country water park and the two Dollywood resort properties, DreamMore Resort and HeartSong Lodge were not affected by the water main issue.

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Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208. 

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