Dollywood To Permanently Close Beloved Eagle Mountain Sanctuary After 35 Years
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For 35 years, visitors to Dollywood have enjoyed seeing bald eagles at the theme park, but now the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is set to close.
The eagles will be permanently housed at the American Eagle Foundation’s 50-acre education and conservation campus in Kodak, Tennessee, instead.
The big change comes just a few months after Dollywood’s sanctuary was damaged during a severe storm. Strong winds caused a tree to fall, which landed on the sanctuary and created a large opening. Three of the non-releasable eagles unfortunately flew away.
Concern for the birds grew as weeks went by without anyone being able to find them. Each eagle at Dollywood’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary was brought there because of permanent injuries that would make it hard for them to survive in the wild, so finding them was especially important.
The three eagles that escaped are named Caesar, Rockland, and Wesley. In May, Caesar was safely found and brought to the American Eagle Foundation for extra care and a new home.
As of now, August 24, the other two eagles are still on the loose.
Why Are The Eagles Permanently Leaving Dollywood?
After the storm damage left Dollywood’s sanctuary unusable, all of the eagles were moved to the American Eagle Foundation’s campus until repairs could be made.
However, that plan did not work out. Officials determined that the sanctuary couldn’t be safely rebuilt in its original location.
“Eagle Mountain Sanctuary has played an extraordinary role in our history and in helping generations of people understand and appreciate these magnificent birds,” said American Eagle Foundation CEO Lori Moore in a statement, per Knox News.
She continued, “As we look to the future, our Kodak campus gives us an exciting opportunity to build upon that legacy, expand our conservation and educational work, and provide an outstanding permanent home for the bald eagles in our care. We are tremendously grateful for Dollywood’s partnership over the past 35 years and are excited about what we can continue to accomplish together.”
Keep An Eye Out For Wesley And Rockland
The search to bring Wesley and Rockland home safely is still underway. If you live in the Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge area, it’s good to keep an eye out.
Wesley should be wearing a black band on his leg, while Rockland has an orange band.
If you spot either eagle, it’s important to keep a safe distance and not try to capture them yourself. You should call the American Eagle Foundation right away at (865) 429-0157.
