Fire Destroys Barns at Sevierville, Tennessee's Skyland Ranch

Skyland Ranch in Sevierville, Tennessee, is one of the many popular destinations in the Smokey Mountains area that's open year-round. But this morning was, unfortunately, not one that employees (or patrons, for that matter) ever want to see repeated.

Fire at Skyland Ranch

Early this morning, around 2:20 AM, crews were called to the Skyland Ranch where two barns were completely engulfed in flames. Here's an early report from WBIR in Knoxville just a few hours after firefighters arrived.

Here are some more images.

Though there were animals in those barns, they were safely removed. Plus, no one was injured. Just before 5 AM, Skyland ranch published this exuberant (and relieved, most likely) post on Facebook.

Damage at Skyland Ranch

Since Skyland Ranch is in operation during February, interested parties were likely wondering about any damage the theme park might have sustained. Just a few minutes ago, the Ranch posted an update about a couple of on-site closures while the area is assessed.

Skyland Ranch

Skyland Ranch is another reason visitors to the area should plan for more than just a long weekend. There's so much to do. And travelers seldom omit this popular theme park during vacations. Maybe it's because of the Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster.

Maybe it's because of Tennessee's tallest swing tower, the Wagon Wheeler.

Developed by the owners of Rowdy Bear's Smoky Mountain Snowpark, Skyland Ranch opened in 2022 to near immediate success. And the animal encounters, exciting thrill rides, and daily live entertainment are why in continues to enjoy that level of success in 2026.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Tennessee

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Tennessee using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.