Pigeon Forge, near Knoxville, has one unexpected tourist attraction.
At the foot of the Appalachians, the Titanic Museum Attraction offers an immersive experience by reconstructing on a large scale the ship sunk in 1912. To the great misfortune of its tourists, it was the scene of a serious accident on Monday August 2.
An iceberg wall has collapsed, injuring at least three visitors in its path, officials say in a message posted on their Facebook account.
Read also: The last mystery of the Titanic
“
They were taken to the hospital.
At this time, we do not know the extent of their injuries.
It goes without saying that we did not expect such an accident as the safety of our guests and our staff is a priority
”, explains the owners of the site while indicating that the attraction is now closed.
“
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been injured as well as their families and friends,
” they add.
Screenshot of the official Titanic Museum Attraction account
Opened in 2010, the Titanic Museum Attraction highlights a multitude of experiences to immerse visitors in the world of the ocean liner.
"
I want visitors to be able to share as closely as possible what the passengers and crew of the
Titanic experienced," says on the museum's website, its owner John Joslyn, who has dedicated his entire career to the history of the
Titanic,
including producing a two-hour documentary on the wreckage of the ship.
Read also: The Titanic will be reborn in China, stranded 1,000 km from the sea
Opened ten years ago, the Titanic Museum was designed to bring to life the world of the ocean liner sunk in the North Atlantic in 1912 after hitting a giant iceberg.
More than 1,500 people were killed in the sinking.
On its website, the museum prides itself on offering “
a boarding pass for a real passenger or crew of the
Titanic” in order to “
feel their spiritual presence in the galleries where more than 400 artefacts are on display
”.
In this boat-shaped museum, visitors can try to stand on sloping bridges, such as when the Titanic capsized.