A quiet early morning in the Smoky Mountains turned into a scene straight out of a disaster movie when a massive fire tore through SkyLand Ranch in Sevierville, Tennessee.
The blaze was reported around 2:20 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, after police officers from Sevierville and nearby Gatlinburg spotted flames ripping through the popular mountaintop attraction. Within minutes, firefighters rushed to the scene — only to find two large barns completely engulfed.
Dramatic video circulating online shows thick smoke and towering flames lighting up the night sky, with one of the park’s roller coasters eerily glowing in the background.
According to city officials, the two barns were destroyed and several smaller nearby structures suffered damage. The park, which spans 100 acres of farmland nestled in the Smoky Mountains, is known for its chairlift rides, mountain coaster, 300-foot swing tower, safari hayride and miniature animal encounters featuring horses, cows, pigs, goats, alpacas and more.
As the fire raged, first responders immediately shifted focus to the animals.
Crews worked quickly to secure and protect them while containing the flames to the barns. The Tennessee Department of Forestry also responded to prevent the blaze from spreading into surrounding woodland areas — a major concern given the park’s mountainous setting.
In a huge relief, officials confirmed no firefighters or animals were injured.
“ANIMALS ARE SAFE!! NO INJURIES!” the park posted on Facebook, thanking local fire and sheriff’s departments for their swift response.
Fire Chief Matt Henderson told local outlet WBIR that the animals were not housed inside the barns that caught fire. They are currently being cared for in the petting zoo area, though the building that normally houses them lost heat in the incident. Additional heaters are being brought in due to cold temperatures.
The park’s mountain coaster and chairlift were not impacted by the flames.
Because of the extensive structural damage, the destroyed barns may need to be demolished if they don’t collapse on their own, officials said.
As of now, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
For now, what could have been a devastating tragedy for animals and staff ended in what many are calling a miracle — with dramatic images serving as a chilling reminder of just how fast disaster can strike.
Glad no people or animals were injured.
How sad, just glad that it didn’t get any worse.