PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Update (10/7)
Dollywood said its Drop Line will remain in the park after an Orlando amusement park said it is taking down a similar ride involved in a fatal accident earlier in the year.
While it was not the same ride, Dollywood temporarily closed the Drop Line out of an abundance of caution after a 14-year-old fell from a similar free-fall thrill ride at Orlando's ICON Park in March.
In a statement, Dollywood said the ride reopened on Friday, Aug. 12 "with a minimum height requirement of 55" and a redundant restraint attached to the over-the-shoulder restraint."
The full statement from Dollywood is available below.
Out of respect and with an abundance of caution, the attraction was temporarily closed in March after the accident in Orlando. While the attraction in Orlando is made by the same manufacturer, it has a different design. Following direction from the manufacturer, Drop Line reopened on Friday, August 12, with a minimum height requirement of 55” and a redundant restraint attached to the over-the-shoulder restraint. The changes were reviewed by a third-party inspector and the State of Tennessee. The ride is currently in operation.
Original story
Visitors at Dollywood will temporarily have one fewer ride they can try as of Saturday, March 26, after they said the Drop Line was closed.
They said the ride was closed after a 14-year-old died due to an accident involving a similar ride at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. Deputies said the 14-year-old died after falling from the ride.
They said it was a free-fall ride, and authorities said the teen passed away from his injuries at the hospital after falling from the ground. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said no criminal charges had been filed in the incident and that the teen's death was a tragic accident.
Dollywood officials said they closed the Drop Line until they can learn more details about the incident at ICON Park, out of an abundance of caution. They said while it was a different kind of ride, it was made by the same manufacturer.
The full statement from Dollywood is available below.
We were deeply saddened to hear of the heartbreaking accident at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this unimaginably difficult time.
Although Dollywood does not have the specific ride involved in this tragic incident, the safety of our guests is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, and until further details about the accident at ICON Park are known, we have temporarily closed Drop Line, our drop tower ride that was developed by the same manufacturer.