It has been more than two weeks since a spring storm rolled through Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, uprooted a tree near Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood, and set off one of the more unusual and emotionally resonant stories to come out of a theme park in recent memory. Three bald eagles, rescued birds that have lived at Dollywood under the care of the American Eagle Foundation, escaped through the compromised aviary during the chaos of the storm damage. The search for them has involved the foundation monitoring reports around the clock, community members across the Smoky Mountain region keeping their eyes on the skies, and a park that had to suspend its Wings of America shows and close the areas surrounding the sanctuary while waiting for the birds and the building to be safe again.Credit: DollywoodThis week, there is finally a piece of good news.One of the three missing eagles has been found. The American Eagle Foundation confirmed that Caesar was recovered Saturday evening and positively identified by his orange leg band, which is marked with the letters SE. The recovery was credited directly to community members whose reported sightings led searchers to the right area at the right time. Caesar is home.Rockland and Wesley remain missing. The American Eagle Foundation says its team is monitoring messages around the clock as the search for the two remaining birds continues. The foundation has asked the public to keep reporting sightings as they continue working to bring the remaining birds in.The story of how all three eagles went missing traces back to a single night of severe weather and its aftermath at one of the most beloved theme parks in the American South.What Happened at Dollywood on April 19Credit: Inside the MagicOn April 19, Dollywood announced via Instagram that overnight storms had caused a tree near Eagle Mountain Sanctuary to be uprooted, compromising the aviary building. The park issued an official statement: “Due to storms overnight, a tree near Eagle Mountain Sanctuary was uprooted, causing the aviary to be compromised. Staff from the American Eagle Foundation will remove the eagles from the aviary and will house them at their facilities until the netting can be repaired. The area of the park near the aviary will be closed, and all Wings of America shows for today (Sunday, April 19) have been canceled as necessary work is completed.”The American Eagle Foundation responded immediately, removing the eagles from the damaged structure and transporting them to its headquarters in Kodak, Tennessee for safekeeping. Of the 29 eagles at Dollywood, 26 were successfully relocated. Three escaped through the compromised aviary during the removal process.Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is not a standard theme park exhibit. The birds housed there are rescued bald eagles that have been deemed non-releasable into the wild, meaning they cannot survive independently and depend on the care of the American Eagle Foundation for their safety and wellbeing. They are not animals that were captured for display. They are birds that came to the sanctuary because they had nowhere else to go, and the Wings of America shows built around them are among the most distinctive and meaningful live experiences at any theme park in the country.When those birds went missing, the stakes were real and the concern from the Dollywood community reflected that. The American Eagle Foundation has been conducting an active, coordinated search since the night of April 19, receiving and responding to community sighting reports, monitoring for the birds across the Smoky Mountain region, and working to guide the escaped eagles back to safety.Caesar’s recovery is the first tangible result of that effort. Rockland and Wesley are still out there and the search continues.What Dollywood Has Been Like During the SearchCredit: DollywoodThe storm’s impact on Eagle Mountain Sanctuary created a specific disruption for guests visiting Dollywood during the search period. Wings of America shows, which take place in the outdoor theater adjacent to the aviary and feature trained handlers working with the rescued eagles in live demonstrations, have been on hold since April 19. The area of the park surrounding the sanctuary has been closed.The rest of Dollywood has been operating normally throughout this period. The Flower and Food Festival kicked off on April 18, just one day before the storm damage was reported, and runs through June 7. The festival brings seasonal food and beverage offerings, floral installations, and the Umbrella Sky feature that has become one of the park’s most photographed elements each spring. A Tasting Pass is available and covers up to five select culinary offerings from the festival’s rotating menu.NightFlight Expedition, the new attraction in Wildwood Grove that Dollywood is calling the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, is still expected to debut sometime this spring. The attraction combines four ride experiences into a single journey including a soaring flight segment, a whitewater raft section, a roller coaster mountain traverse, and a lake navigation sequence. No firm opening date has been announced.How This Affects a Dollywood VacationFor guests planning a Dollywood visit, the situation at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is still evolving. Wings of America shows remain on hold as long as the search for Rockland and Wesley continues and as long as the aviary repairs are not yet complete. The surrounding park areas near the sanctuary are also still closed.For guests who had Wings of America specifically on their itinerary, checking Dollywood’s official Instagram before travel is the most reliable way to know whether the shows have resumed. The foundation has been communicating updates through its own channels as well, and the recovery of Caesar is an encouraging sign that the search effort is producing results.The spring timing does work in favor of guests who want to visit during a strong seasonal period. The Flower and Food Festival runs through June 7, and a Dollywood visit built around the festival’s food and atmosphere is a genuinely compelling experience regardless of whether the eagle shows are running. The rest of the park’s attractions are fully operational.Caesar is back. Two birds remain missing. The Smoky Mountain community and the American Eagle Foundation are still working to find them, and if you are in the region and spot an eagle, the foundation is asking for reports.If you are visiting Dollywood and want to know whether Wings of America has resumed before you finalize your plans, check Dollywood’s official Instagram account and the American Eagle Foundation’s channels for the most current update on the search and the sanctuary status. The foundation is monitoring reports around the clock and any sightings of Rockland or Wesley should be reported to them directly. We will update this article as news develops on the remaining two birds.The post Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Closed After 3 “Employees” Went Missing, 1 Found appeared first on Inside the Magic.