diff --git a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/BlueMapService.java b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/BlueMapService.java
index 6f93541f..d7dfe850 100644
--- a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/BlueMapService.java
+++ b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/BlueMapService.java
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.util.FileHelper;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.world.World;
 import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.spongepowered.configurate.ConfigurateException;
 import org.spongepowered.configurate.ConfigurationNode;
 import org.spongepowered.configurate.gson.GsonConfigurationLoader;
@@ -82,6 +83,14 @@ public class BlueMapService implements Closeable {
 
     private ResourcePack resourcePack;
 
+
+    public BlueMapService(ServerInterface serverInterface, BlueMapConfigProvider configProvider, @Nullable ResourcePack preloadedResourcePack) {
+        this(serverInterface, configProvider);
+
+        if (preloadedResourcePack != null)
+            this.resourcePack = preloadedResourcePack;
+    }
+
     public BlueMapService(ServerInterface serverInterface, BlueMapConfigProvider configProvider) {
         this.serverInterface = serverInterface;
         this.configs = configProvider;
@@ -230,6 +239,7 @@ private synchronized void loadMapConfig(String id, MapConfig mapConfig) throws C
         World world = worlds.get(worldId);
         if (world == null) {
             try {
+                Logger.global.logInfo("Loading world '" + worldId + "' (" + worldFolder.toAbsolutePath().normalize() + ")...");
                 world = new MCAWorld(worldFolder, mapConfig.getWorldSkyLight(), mapConfig.isIgnoreMissingLightData());
                 worlds.put(worldId, world);
             } catch (IOException ex) {
@@ -244,6 +254,7 @@ private synchronized void loadMapConfig(String id, MapConfig mapConfig) throws C
 
         try {
 
+            Logger.global.logInfo("Loading map '" + name + "'...");
             BmMap map = new BmMap(
                     id,
                     name,
@@ -424,6 +435,10 @@ public synchronized ResourcePack getResourcePack() throws ConfigurationException
         return resourcePack;
     }
 
+    public Optional<ResourcePack> getResourcePackIfLoaded() {
+        return Optional.ofNullable(this.resourcePack);
+    }
+
     private Collection<Path> getWorldFolders() {
         Set<Path> folders = new HashSet<>();
         for (MapConfig mapConfig : configs.getMapConfigs().values()) {
diff --git a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/Plugin.java b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/Plugin.java
index fad78080..f6cab23b 100644
--- a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/Plugin.java
+++ b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/Plugin.java
@@ -45,9 +45,11 @@
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.logger.Logger;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.map.BmMap;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.metrics.Metrics;
+import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.resources.resourcepack.ResourcePack;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.storage.Storage;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.util.FileHelper;
 import de.bluecolored.bluemap.core.world.World;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.spongepowered.configurate.gson.GsonConfigurationLoader;
 import org.spongepowered.configurate.serialize.SerializationException;
 
@@ -101,15 +103,19 @@ public Plugin(String implementationType, ServerInterface serverInterface) {
     }
 
     public void load() throws IOException {
+        load(null);
+    }
+
+    private void load(@Nullable ResourcePack preloadedResourcePack) throws IOException {
+        loadingLock.lock();
         try {
-            loadingLock.lock();
             synchronized (this) {
 
                 if (loaded) return;
                 unload(); //ensure nothing is left running (from a failed load or something)
 
                 //load configs
-                blueMap = new BlueMapService(serverInterface, new BlueMapConfigs(serverInterface));
+                blueMap = new BlueMapService(serverInterface, new BlueMapConfigs(serverInterface), preloadedResourcePack);
                 CoreConfig coreConfig = getConfigs().getCoreConfig();
                 WebserverConfig webserverConfig = getConfigs().getWebserverConfig();
                 WebappConfig webappConfig = getConfigs().getWebappConfig();
@@ -333,8 +339,8 @@ public void run() {
     }
 
     public void unload() {
+        loadingLock.interruptAndLock();
         try {
-            loadingLock.interruptAndLock();
             synchronized (this) {
                 //save
                 save();
@@ -401,6 +407,31 @@ public void reload() throws IOException {
         load();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * {@link #reload()} but without reloading the resourcepack (if it is loaded).
+     */
+    public void lightReload() throws IOException {
+        loadingLock.lock();
+        try {
+            synchronized (this) {
+
+                if (!loaded) {
+                    reload(); // reload normally
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                // hold and reuse loaded resourcepack
+                ResourcePack preloadedResourcePack = this.blueMap.getResourcePackIfLoaded().orElse(null);
+
+                unload();
+                load(preloadedResourcePack);
+
+            }
+        } finally {
+            loadingLock.unlock();
+        }
+    }
+
     public synchronized void save() {
         if (pluginState != null) {
             try {
diff --git a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/commands/Commands.java b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/commands/Commands.java
index 642de5ef..10373ef7 100644
--- a/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/commands/Commands.java
+++ b/BlueMapCommon/src/main/java/de/bluecolored/bluemap/common/plugin/commands/Commands.java
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ public void init() {
 
         LiteralCommandNode<S> versionCommand =
                 literal("version")
-                        .requires(requirementsUnloaded("bluemap.version"))
-                        .executes(this::versionCommand)
-                        .build();
+                .requires(requirementsUnloaded("bluemap.version"))
+                .executes(this::versionCommand)
+                .build();
 
         LiteralCommandNode<S> helpCommand =
                 literal("help")
@@ -109,7 +109,11 @@ public void init() {
         LiteralCommandNode<S> reloadCommand =
                 literal("reload")
                 .requires(requirementsUnloaded("bluemap.reload"))
-                .executes(this::reloadCommand)
+                .executes(context -> this.reloadCommand(context, false))
+
+                .then(literal("light")
+                        .executes(context -> this.reloadCommand(context, true)))
+
                 .build();
 
         LiteralCommandNode<S> debugCommand =
@@ -380,14 +384,18 @@ public int helpCommand(CommandContext<S> context) {
         return 1;
     }
 
-    public int reloadCommand(CommandContext<S> context) {
+    public int reloadCommand(CommandContext<S> context, boolean light) {
         CommandSource source = commandSourceInterface.apply(context.getSource());
 
         source.sendMessage(Text.of(TextColor.GOLD, "Reloading BlueMap..."));
 
         new Thread(() -> {
             try {
-                plugin.reload();
+                if (light) {
+                    plugin.lightReload();
+                } else {
+                    plugin.reload();
+                }
 
                 if (plugin.isLoaded()) {
                     source.sendMessage(Text.of(TextColor.GREEN, "BlueMap reloaded!"));