Still No Opening Day Set For Dollywood

The weather's warming and any other year the crowds would be loading up their minivans and streaming down I-75 and I-40 to Dollywood. But the Coronavirus put the brakes on the opening of one of America's top theme parks.

Yes Dolly--we know that feeling: "What are ya gonna do"? Our nearby Holiday World is making plans to open June 17 but Dollywood hasn't set a date yet.

Dolly's park near Pigeon Forge Tennessee usually employs about 3000. The Park has announced that it is in "hibernation" just like the black bears in the nearby Smokey mountains. About 1500  Dollywood employees are being furloughed and the remainder are being given pay cuts of up to 50%. The furloughing will give the theme park the option of bringing them all back to work when it reopens. Dolly's management is continuing to pay health care for all the employees for a few months anticipating an opening soon. The original starting date in mid March was moved to March 28 and now has been moved ahead to an unknown time in June.

But this still depends on how  the Coronavirus infection rate fluctuates. The Tennessee Governor will have the final say. Dollywood attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every season.

Yes, Dolly is asking, "When"? We hope it's soon and every visitor can be safe.

The spa located at Dollywood is also in hibernation but the cabins are open.