The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! 1997

At the heart of Hazzard County, a reunion festival unfurls as Uncle Jesse faces a courtroom clash with Josephine ‘Mama Jo’ Maxx. She wants access across Duke property to the Hazzard swamp so she can build a glittering theme park, a project that promises jobs and revenue but would chip away at the land the locals hold dear. Jesse’s steadfast stance to protect the swamp stirs a growing swell of resentment among residents who see the park as a potential lifeline for the county, even as the cost to Duke territory weighs heavily on everyone involved.

The family reunion brings a new cast of personalities into the Duke orbit. Bo Duke arrives as a professional racer, full of competitive drive, followed closely by Daisy Duke, who has spent years at Duke University pursuing a PhD in ecology after a painful divorce, and Luke Duke, now working as a smokejumper for the forestry service. The dynamic mood shifts when they discover that Rosco P. Coltrane has stepped up as the county boss after inheriting Boss Hogg’s “empire” when he died, a twist that unsettles old loyalties and fuels new schemes.

To settle the swamp dispute, the Dukes are drawn into an overland car race to determine whether Maxx will gain access to the swamp. The challenge is steep, and tempers flare as Kam Cutler, a disbarred race driver, is revealed to be working for Mama Maxx to rig the competition. The Dukes dust off the General Lee after an 11-year rest, only to face an act of sabotage that overturns the car, forcing a swift recovery led by Cooter Davenport as the team works to outpace deception with grit and fairness. The Boar’s Nest, now relocated, becomes a hub of chatter, alliances, and hints of back-room deals, while Bo recognizes the men who drove them off the road, underscoring how familiar rivals can return with renewed menace.

As trouble brews, the Dukes lean on their shared resolve: Jesse urges that they race with integrity and refuses to let fear push them into dirty tricks. The ground around the swamp, the very bedrock beneath it, is argued to be unsuitable for a causeway, a natural obstacle that could doom Maxx’s plan and reframe the county’s future. Amid the race’s pressures, Daisy and Enos Strate—Enos Strate, who has traveled from Los Angeles where he served as an LAPD officer—share a quiet, earnest moment in the swamp, where Enos asks for her hand in marriage, a proposal she accepts as their budding romance grounds the chaotic exploits around them in hopeful, personal stakes.

Maxx’s grip tightens when her men kidnap Daisy, hoping to force a loss in the race in exchange for her release. Daisy, ever determined, convinces Maxx to turn the kidnapping into a broader wedding project, suggesting that a proper celebration could shield her from prying eyes and set a different course for her future. Maxx agrees to help with the wedding plans, even stepping into the matron-of-honor role herself, a surprising turn that deepens the tangled web of loyalties and ambitions surrounding the swamp dispute.

The race roars to life with Kam piloting the Double Zero, the only vehicle ever to beat the General Lee in an overland run, while the Dukes push hard to victory. Luke makes a bold move by pulling Ryker out of the trunk and revealing that Daisy’s disappearance was orchestrated to sway the outcome, a cunning gambit that Rosco counters with a sharp, blunt assessment of the con artists at play. Rosco’s plan to outsmart Maxx runs deeper than a single race: he reveals a string of deceptions, including a planted gallium arsenide ore sample in the swamp, and even hints at FBI scrutiny of real estate swindlers, with Maxx at the top of a nationwide list of ten most wanted con artists. The revelation reframes the entire contest, blending civic duty with personal betrayal.

Daisy, guided by love and loyalty, prevents Rosco from arresting Mama Maxx, valuing the chance to attend her wedding over punitive justice. A surprise bus arrives, and Daisy’s ex-husband, L. D., steps out, forcing Daisy to confront whether she’s truly ready to remarry. In a final, warm twist, Bubba and Bertha Jo—Bertha Jo—exchange vows, signaling a fresh start for two beloved characters and a quiet counterpoint to the show’s more explosive confrontations.

By the end, the Dukes’ fight to defend their land, their legacy, and their loved ones becomes a testament to resilience and community. The swamp remains a stubborn, living part of Hazzard County, and the promise of a future that respects both ecology and economy hangs in the air as the desert of old schemes gives way to a more hopeful, if complicated, new chapter.