Discovery Park of America to Reopen Museum June 11

Discovery Park of America has announced Discovery Center, the 100,000-square-foot museum, will reopen on June 11.

The 50-acre heritage park reopened successfully to the general public with new policies and procedures for staff and guests on June 1, 2020.

Until June 11, the entrance to Discovery Park will be through the outside North Ticket Gate. After the main entrance is opened on June 11, the North Ticket Gate entrance will remain open for those who prefer an outdoor experience during this time.

A few areas will remain closed until further notice, and that information has been posted on Discovery Park’s website. 

Special attractions like the Starship Theater, the Earthquake Simulator and the Cooper Tower will reopen on June 11 but will operate at 50 percent capacity to allow for adequate social distancing.

A task force made up of managers of various departments at Discovery Park has been working extensively on guidelines for employees and guests to the park that incorporate the “Tennessee Pledge” guidance from Gov. Bill Lee’s Tennessee Economic Recovery Group. 

Employees of Discovery Park are following new procedures that include temperature checks, masks and a strict social distancing policy. Guests are also encouraged to follow guidelines that will allow them to enjoy the park while ensuring their health and safety. 

“Since Discovery Park of America first closed on March 17, 2020 because of the threat brought on by the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, our goal has been the safety and welfare of our community, guests and staff,” said Scott Williams, Discovery Park’s president and CEO. “After successfully reopening the outside heritage park, we’re confident we can now begin the process of reopening our museum. We’ll continue our commitment to health and safety by having a nurse on duty when we are open, follow extensive deep-cleaning procedures, limit the number of guests in our smaller areas and create a one-way path through the museum for guests.”

Discovery Park of America’s 50-acre heritage park is currently open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for deep cleaning. The museum will open on June 11, and the hours of operation will remain the same.