Dollywood is bidding farewell to its bald eagles. After more than 30 years at the famed conservation.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Dollywood Parks & Resorts, which is co-owned by late country music star Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Enterprises, made the announcement back in August.
Dollywood Makes Major Shakeup
The move comes after the Eagles Mountain Sanctuary section of the conservation area suffered storm damage earlier this year. Their new home will be the American Eagle Foundation's educational and conservation campus in Kodak, Tennessee. A 50-acre conservation area. That sits roughly 15 minutes away from Dollywood.
In a statement following the move, Lori Moore, chief executive officer of American Eagle Foundation, said that relocating the birds to the American Eagle Foundation's campus presents an "exciting opportunity" for them going forward.
"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," she said in a release. "We are tremendously grateful for Dollywood's partnership over the past 35 years. And we are excited about what we can continue to accomplish together."
She also added:
"The transition marks both a celebration of Eagle Mountain Sanctuary's remarkable legacy and the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between the American Eagle Foundation and Dollywood—one focused on continuing conservation, education, and stewardship for generations to come," the organizations said in a statement.
Parton passed away back in August at 80 years old. She had reportedly been dealing with a series of health-related issues in the months leading up to her death.
In a statement following her passing, reps for the country music star revealed that she passed away on Tuesday after a "brief battle with cancer." However, they do not go into detail about what type of cancer the star had been diagnosed
