Dollywood employees often refer to Parton as their “Dreamer in Chief” because she offers insight when they make changes or additions to the park. In 2010, the park was recognized for the Liseberg Applause Award, an award aimed to recognize excellence and inspiration in the amusement and theme park industry.ĭoes Dolly Parton own Dollywood in Tennessee?ĭolly Parton jointly owns Dollywood alongside Herschend Family Entertainment, which also owns SeaWorld and more than 20 other theme parks in the United States. During that time, the park doubled in size and had approximately 4000 people on its payroll. From 1986 to 2010, Dollywood had over 110 million dollars worth of investment leading to expansion and additions that continue to offer guests great experiences. Parton had always said that if she became successful she wanted to come back to where she grew up and do something great, so in 2010 Parton became very involved in the park. Parton, a performer and entertainer herself, brought some of her vision, passion, and experience for entertainment to the ownership group of the newly named theme park. In 1986, Dolly Parton, who grew up in the area, bought an interest in Silver Dollar City, and that same year the park reopened as “Dollywood”. The Herschends invested approximately $1 million into the park upon purchase to make some upgrades, including adding two new steam locomotives, as well as continued to make improvements over the years. The following year in 1977 it was renamed “Silver Dollar City Tennessee” making it a sister park to their original Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. In 1976, Jack and Pete Hecherchend bought Goldrush Junction and simplified the name to just “Goldrush”. In 1970, Art Modell bought Rebel Railroad and renamed it Goldrush Junction, adding an outdoor theatre and a log flume ride, making it more entertaining. The theme park was much smaller than the current Dollywood theme park and only included a steam train, general store, blacksmith shop, and saloon - so obviously it had a much more focused lens than what Dollywood is today.
The park first opened in 1961, and at that time was known as Rebel Railroad, a small tourist attraction owned by the Robbins brothers. The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame can also be found on site. There are numerous concerts and musical events hosted each year, which include appearances from Dolly Parton herself as well as her family and other national and local musical acts. One of the best parts of Dollywood is that it promotes music that is authentic to the Smoky Mountains and greater Tennessee history. It even children-focused activities like crafting events and playgrounds! Not to mention, the park is huge! The core of this 150-acre amusement destination is the theme park and the 35-acre water park (Dollywood Splash Country), the 20-acre Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and the 5-acre Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction. From water parks to hotels and resorts to festivals and events to dinner and a show, there aren't many activities that Dollywood can't provide for the entire family. On top of the more than 40 world-class rides, the park is essentially known as an all-in-one resort for the family. If you're looking to make the trip from Chatanooga or Nashville, it might be more of a weekend trip as the drive will take you about two and a half hours and three and a half hours, respectively.ĭue to the fame and relevance of the local legend Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee, hosting nearly 3 million guests in a typical season from mid-March to the Christmas holiday season.
There’s music, rides, food, spas, and plenty of laughter - day and night, in every beautiful season.ĭollywood is located about 45 minutes east of Knoxville, Tennesse in the Smoky Mountains metroplex in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Regarded as “America’s Most Beautiful Park” by the Golden Ticket Award in 2021, Dollywood is the perfect destination for families in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.