Westgate Smoky Mountain Resorts will reopen part of the resort Saturday after suffering heavy loses during the recent wildfires.
The fires destroyed 652 units and 70 of the 90 buildings at Westgate.
The resort said crews have been working working around the clock to reconstruct the damaged units.
Many of the resort's amenities and 352 units were not damaged or destroyed, including the resort's indoor water park, marketplace, fitness center, swimming pool and check-in building.
“The property will be rebuilt to an even better standard than before,” David Siegel, president and CEO of Westgate Resorts said. “Spirits are very high, and everyone is pitching in to make sure we reopen the resort as quickly as possible and get everyone back to work again.”
Westgate plans to hold a grand opening celebration at Smoky Mountain Opry Theater next Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m.
The resort evacuated more than 900 guests last week when the wildfires first started. None of the guests or resort employees were injured. Westgate employs about 1,100 people.
At least 20 Westgate employees lost homes in the wildfires.
The resort has joined a nationwide fundraising campaign to help people who have lost homes in the fires.
