Pigeon Forge Is First Tourism Destination In US To Reopen May 1

Pigeon Forge Is First Tourism Destination In US To Reopen May 1 | Classic Country Music | Legendary Stories and Songs Videos

YouTube / Ben Childers

Tennessee will not be extending the stay-at-home order beyond April 30, 2020, and businesses are expected to start reopening as soon as May 1, 2020.

With Tennessee lifting the stay-at-home order, it is allowing businesses the opportunity to reopen and attempt to resume business with a “new normal.”

Tennessee is home to Pigeon Forge, which is one of the top tourist destinations in the country that features resorts, amusement parks, museums, and theaters throughout.

Dollywood is just one of the many attractions located in Pigeon Forge. The amusement park opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad and had rebranding with name changes in 1970 and 1976.

In 1986 Dolly Parton purchased an interest in the park and rebranded and renamed it as Dollywood. Dollywood has become an extremely popular tourist attraction within Tennessee, bringing in 3 million visitors annually.

Dollywood made the decision to close its doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic on March 24, 2020. As of press time, the park has not released a statement as to when it plans to reopen.

According to Theme Park University the businesses that are opening as of May 1, 2020, are listed below.

  • Crave Golf Club
  • TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena
  • Courtyard by Marriott Pigeon Forge
  • RiverStone Resort & Spa
  • Quality Inn Pigeon Forge
  • LaQuinta Inn & Suites
  • Econo Lodge Riverside
  • River Chase Lodge
  • Prime Time Vacation Rentals
  • Bear Crossing Condos on the River
  • Hapey Cabin Rentals
  • Whispering Pines
  • Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant
  • Country Cascades Water Park

With Pigeon Forge expected to be the first major tourist attraction of its size to reopen all eyes are sure to be set on them. Especially since they will more than likely set the precedent of how-to and possibly how-not-to reopen after a pandemic of this sort.

We are all experiencing these unprecedented times together and anxiously awaiting it to return to normal, whatever that may be.

Watch drone footage of a usually jam-packed Pigeon Forge looking like a ghost town below.

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