Lengthy earlier than Dollywood opened its gates in Pigeon Forge on Might 3, 1986, Dolly Parton had designs on constructing a theme park within the Nice Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the place she grew up.
A 2023 USA At the moment article quoted the award-winning singer-songwriter as saying that when she would go to the county honest as a baby, she thought to herself, “If I make it huge, if I get wealthy like I used to be dreaming I would, that I might like to do one thing particular, to return again dwelling and construct a park of my very own.”
Associated: Dolly Parton shares her imaginative and prescient for the way forward for Dollywood, aka her ‘Tennessee mountain dwelling’
In a 1982 interview with Barbara Walters, simply 4 years earlier than the park opened, Parton shared that she dreamed of constructing “Smoky Mountain fairyland,” akin to Disneyland in East Tennessee, “some of the great locations on the planet.”
Anybody who has adopted Parton’s illustrious profession won’t be stunned that she made her dream of making a spot “the place the tradition and folks of the Smoky Mountains could be celebrated and loved by everybody” a actuality.
Now in its fortieth season, Dollywood has grown and adjusted a terrific deal since opening its gates, however one factor stays the identical — Dollywood nonetheless is and can at all times be a vacation spot the place households can have enjoyable and make recollections amid the pure fantastic thing about the Smokies.
This is a take a look at the park’s historical past and a peek at what’s in retailer for Dollywood’s future.
Earlier than Parton lent her moniker to the park, it operated beneath completely different names and possession because the early Sixties. In 1986, the Herschend household (who additionally personal and function Silver Greenback Metropolis) offered a stake to Parton, upgraded a number of park components and renamed it Dollywood.
Parton grew up only some miles from the park, and the partnership allowed her to meet her dream of bringing guests to the gorgeous Smoky Mountains whereas supporting her local people. Parton nonetheless co-owns the park with the Herschends.
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
A number of of Dollywood’s opening-day sights are nonetheless in operation, together with the Dollywood Categorical steam prepare, Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain House (a reproduction of the two-room cabin the place Parton grew up), Smoky Mountain River Rampage, Aunt Granny’s Restaurant, the Again Porch Theater and the Robert F. Thomas Chapel (named for the physician who delivered Parton), the place guests can attend a weekly Sunday service.
Just like the Dollywood Categorical prepare, the park continued choosing up steam within the Nineteen Nineties.
Associated: The ten finest rides at Dollywood for the entire household
Throughout this time, the park constructed a number of main expansions: the 7-acre Showstreet space close to the park entrance, the Nation Truthful space with basic rides and carnival video games like those that impressed Parton to open her theme park, and an space impressed by Parton’s hometown of Sevierville referred to as Jukebox Junction.
In 2001, Dollywood opened its water park, Dollywood’s Splash Nation. The water park is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary season this yr.
A few of Dollywood’s hottest curler coasters opened within the 2000s and 2010s.
In 2007, Dollywood opened a curler coaster that turned my physique and my understanding of physics the wrong way up. In the event you’ve ever ridden it, I’m speaking about Thriller Mine. This metal coaster has some gravity-defying maneuvers, together with a 95-degree, 85-foot vertical drop, that left me speechless.
Throughout this time, the park additionally opened Thunderhead, a wood coaster; Wild Eagle, the primary wing coaster within the U.S.; and Lightning Rod, one other wood coaster with a high velocity of 73 miles per hour.
In 2015, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa opened its doorways. DreamMore was the park’s first on-site resort, with a design that completely encapsulates Parton’s stardom and Southern attraction. This resort was joined by the once-in-a-lifetime alternative to remain in Parton’s former tour bus in 2022 and the opening of Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge & Resort in 2023.
Associated: 11 finest lodges close to Dollywood
Additionally in 2023, TPG was readily available for the grand opening of Dollywood’s latest and longest curler coaster, Large Bear Mountain. Parton herself made an look (on the planet’s most lovable bear costume) to sing a tune she wrote for the grand opening.
Final yr, the park opened The Dolly Parton Expertise, an interactive museum with displays overlaying Parton’s profession. Guests will journey via Parton’s profession, costumes, household and extra.
The park has greater than doubled in measurement since opening in 1986 and hit report attendance numbers final yr. There are additionally rumblings that the park will develop once more in 2026. There aren’t many particulars but, however Dollywood revealed at this season’s grand opening media occasion that it is going to be a “revolutionary new expertise not like something anyplace else on the planet.”
Parton did far more than lend her title to Dollywood. From the native artisans demonstrating their experience and promoting their wares contained in the park to the nods to her childhood and star-studded profession, Parton’s life and legacy are constructed into the DNA of this beloved park.
“On opening day in 1986, I used to be simply hoping that individuals would actually wish to come go to a theme park with my title on it. And despite the fact that I at all times attempt to dream huge, I am going to admit I used to be just a little bit nervous that first morning,” Parton shared through the fortieth season opening occasion. “However folks did come out to assist us that first day, and I am so proud to see that Dollywood has continued to develop via the years to grow to be a spot of enjoyable and togetherness for everybody who has come to go to,” she added.
Parton might have been shocked by Dollywood’s early success, however anybody who has visited this gem of a theme park is not in any respect stunned that it has grow to be one of many nation’s premier household journey locations.
Associated studying:
Supply hyperlink
