Dollywood, the celebrated theme park in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, was the site of a dramatic emergency recently, with an off-duty police officer coming to the rescue of a young guest in distress.
Known for its blend of thrilling rides, vibrant performances, and deep ties to Dolly Parton’s own career and Appalachian roots (which will soon also be explored in a Broadway production), Dollywood is one of the nation’s top attractions. Since opening in 1986, the park has become a must-visit destination, regularly outshining other renowned parks like Disney’s resorts.
Dollywood’s attractions, including high-speed rides like Lightning Rod (which was once the world’s fastest wooden roller coaster before it transitioned to a wood-steel hybrid) and The Wild Eagle, are complemented by a rich cultural experience that immerses visitors in Dolly Parton’s legacy.
Earlier this year, the Dolly Parton Experience replaced the Chasing Rainbows Museum, offering an even more in-depth exploration of the icon’s life and career.
Medical Emergency Strikes Dollywood
Despite its impressive reputation, Dollywood, like any large theme park, faces the occasional incident. The most recent of these incidents prompted a heroic response from Sergeant Paul DeSousa, an off-duty police officer vacationing at the park.
According to reports from The Oakland Press, Sergeant DeSousa quickly sprang into action when he saw a Dollywood employee struggling to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a young boy who had stopped breathing.
After assessing the boy’s condition, DeSousa found no visible obstruction in his throat but noticed the boy’s face had turned blue. Acting swiftly, he began CPR, and an off-duty paramedic visiting Dollywood joined him.
Together, they managed to restore the boy’s breathing, and his color returned. The two stayed with the child until an ambulance arrived, ensuring his safety.
This emergency is just one of several emergencies faced by Dollywood in 2024. In July, a severe thunderstorm caused flash flooding in the park, resulting in one guest’s injury and several cars being submerged. Some visitors expressed frustration with the park’s response, criticizing the lack of staff direction during the crisis.
As per one disgruntled guest who responded to the park’s closure announcement, “The park was not prepared for that, as soon as the flooding started, most employees disappeared, and the few you could find were totally lost with no direction from management. Shocked not to see any security guards or any staff direction people out of the park or to safety.”
Earlier in the same month, a water main leak forced an unexpected closure, and Dollywood also had to close early during an extreme cold snap this December.
Are you planning a visit to Dollywood this holiday season?
