American Eagle Foundation and Dollywood Announce Next Chapter of Longstanding Conservation Partnership

Kodak, TN (Friday, Aug. 21, 2026) — After 35 years of advancing bald eagle conservation and education, the American Eagle Foundation and Dollywood Parks & Resorts today announced the next chapter of their longstanding partnership.

The non-releasable bald eagles previously housed at Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood will make their permanent home at the American Eagle Foundation’s 50-acre educational and conservation campus in Kodak, Tennessee. The bald eagles have been cared for at the campus since the sanctuary was damaged in a storm earlier this year.

The move provides an opportunity for the American Eagle Foundation to bring more of its bald eagle care, conservation and educational work together at its growing Kodak campus while continuing its longstanding partnership and educational presence at Dollywood.

Since the partnership between the American Eagle Foundation and Dollywood began in 1991, the two organizations have helped introduce millions of Dollywood guests to America’s national symbol and to the importance of protecting bald eagles and other birds of prey. During that time, American Eagle Foundation has successfully released more than 400 bald eagles into the wild, contributing to one of America’s great wildlife conservation success stories.

“Eagle Mountain Sanctuary has played an extraordinary role in our history and in helping generations of people understand and appreciate these magnificent birds,” said Lori Moore, Chief Executive Officer of American Eagle Foundation. “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. We are tremendously grateful for Dollywood’s partnership over the past 35 years and are excited about what we can continue to accomplish together.”

American Eagle Foundation will continue to have a meaningful presence at Dollywood through its popular Birds of Prey program at the Wings of America Theater, where guests can experience bald eagles and other raptors while learning about conservation and the important role these birds play in our natural environment. 
“For 35 years, our partnership with the American Eagle Foundation has allowed millions of Dollywood guests to learn about and appreciate the bald eagle and other birds of prey,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “We’re incredibly proud of what this partnership has accomplished. We look forward to continuing our work together, and we plan to continue inspiring our guests to care for these remarkable birds and the natural world around us.”

American Eagle Foundation opened its current Kodak headquarters and educational campus in 2023 and continues to plan for its future development. The campus provides the American Eagle Foundation with expanded opportunities to advance its mission of education, conservation and protection of bald eagles and other birds of prey.

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.

For more information about the American Eagle Foundation, please visit eagles.org.