How Dolly Parton helped save bald eagles through Dollywood’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary

Dolly Parton’s legacy extended far beyond music, film and entertainment. Through Dollywood, she also played a significant role in supporting bald eagle conservation, helping generations of visitors learn about the recovery of America’s national bird.

For more than three decades, Dollywood’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary provided a permanent home for bald eagles that were unable to survive in the wild because of injuries or other conditions. The sanctuary was created through Dollywood’s longstanding partnership with the American Eagle Foundation, which began in 1991.

The sanctuary became one of the most notable wildlife attractions at Dollywood, allowing visitors to see bald eagles up close while learning about their behaviour, rehabilitation and conservation. The American Eagle Foundation has said the partnership helped introduce millions of Dollywood guests to bald eagles and the importance of protecting birds of prey.

Parton’s involvement in eagle conservation also earned her a Partnership Award from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2003, recognising her contribution to efforts to protect the species.

The sanctuary’s work became part of the remarkable recovery story of the bald eagle in the United States. The American Eagle Foundation says it has successfully released more than 400 bald eagles into the wild since its partnership with Dollywood began, contributing to conservation efforts for a species that was once severely threatened.

The Eagle Mountain Sanctuary's chapter at Dollywood came to an end in 2026 after a severe storm damaged the facility in April. The non-releasable eagles were moved to the American Eagle Foundation’s 50-acre educational and conservation campus in Kodak, Tennessee, where they will now remain permanently.

Three eagles escaped after the storm damage, although one was later recovered. The relocation marked the end of a 35-year tradition at Dollywood, but the partnership between the park and the American Eagle Foundation continues, with bird-of-prey educational experiences still planned at the theme park.

The move was announced shortly before Parton’s death at age 80 on August 25, 2026, adding another poignant chapter to the story of a conservation project closely associated with her name. Her support helped make eagle education part of the Dollywood experience for millions of visitors.

While the eagles will no longer be housed at Dollywood, the conservation work Parton helped champion continues. The American Eagle Foundation’s Kodak campus will provide the birds with a permanent home while allowing the organisation to expand its rehabilitation, education and conservation programmes.

Parton’s connection to the sanctuary ultimately reflected something broader about her legacy: her influence was not limited to the stage. Through Dollywood and her philanthropic work, she helped support education, wildlife conservation and efforts to preserve the natural heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains region.