A long time ago Dollywood Dolly Parton opened the door on May 3, 1986 in Pigeon Forge, building the theme park design on the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee where she grew up.
one 2023 United States Today’s Article She quoted award-winning singer-songwriter as saying that when she visited county fairs as a child, she told herself: “If I got big, if I was as rich as I dreamed of, I might do something special to do something special and get back home to build a park of my own.”
Related: Dolly Parton
exist Interview with Barbara Walters in 1982four years before the park opened, Parton shared her dream of building the “Smoky Mountain Fairy”, similar to Disneyland in East Tennessee, which is one of the best places in the world.
Anyone who follows Parton’s outstanding career will not be surprised Her dream of creating a place “Everyone will celebrate and enjoy the culture and people of the smoky mountain.”
Now, in season 40, Dollywood has grown and changed the door, but one thing remains the same – Dollywood remains, and will always be the destination for family members to have fun in the smoky natural beauty and get memories in memories.
It’s about the history of the park and a peek into the future of Dollywood.
Before Parton lent its nickname to the park, it operated under different names and ownership since the early 1960s. In 1986, the Herschend family (also owned and operated) Silver Yuan City) sold to Parton’s shares, upgraded several park elements and renamed them to Dollywood.
Parton grew up, just a few miles from the park, and the partnership allowed her to realize her dream of bringing visitors to the beautiful smoky mountains while supporting the local community. Parton still owns the park with Herschend.
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Several of Dollywood’s opening-day attractions are still in operation, including the Dollywood Express steam train, Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home (a replica of the two-room cabin where Parton grow up), Smoky Mountain River Rampage, Aunt Granny’s Restaurant, the Back Porch Theater and the Robert F. Thomas Chapel (named for the doctor who delivered Parton), where visitors can attend a weekly Sunday service.
Just like the Dollywood Express train, the park continued to flourish in the 1990s.
Related: The 10 Best Rides for Family in Dollywood
During this period, the park has built several major extensions: a 7-acre exhibition area near the entrance of the park, a rural fair area, classic rides and carnival games, such as the area that inspired Parton to open her theme park, and an area inspired by Parton’s hometown of Sevierville.
In 2001, Dollywood opened Water Park in Dollywood. The water park will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.
Dollywood’s most popular roller coaster opened in the 2000s and 2010s.
In 2007, Dollywood opened a roller coaster that reversed my body and my understanding of physics. If you’ve ever ridden it, you know I’m talking about mysterious mines. This steel roller coaster has some anti-gravity drills, including 95 degrees, 85 feet of vertical drips, which left me speechless.
During this period, the park also opened a wooden roller coaster Thunder. Wild Eagle, America’s first wing roller coaster; and Lightning rod, another wooden roller coaster with a top speed of 73 mph.
In 2015, Dollywood’s Dreammore Resort and Spa opened the door. Dreammore is the park’s first live hotel, with its design perfectly encapsulation of Parton’s star and Southern Charm. This resort stays with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Parton’s former tour bus Open in 2022 Heartsong Lodge & Resort in Dollywood In 2023.
Related: The 11 Best Hotels Near Dollywood
Also in 2023, TPG was at the grand opening of Dollywood’s latest, longest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain. Parton herself appears (dressed in the world’s cutest bear costume) and sings a song she wrote for the grand opening.
Last year, the park opened the Dolly Parton Experience, an interactive museum with the exhibition covering Parton’s career. Visitors will travel through Parton’s career, clothing, family, etc.
The park has more than doubled since its opening in 1986, hitting record attendance last year. There are also rumors that the park will expand again in 2026. There aren’t many details yet, but Dollywood revealed during the grand opening media event of the season that it will be “a revolutionary new experience different from anywhere else in the world.”
Parton does more than just give Dollywood the name. From local artisans showing their expertise and selling goods in the park to nodding to her childhood and star-studded career, Parton’s life and legacy are built into the DNA of this beloved park.
“At the 1986 Open Day, I just hoped that people really wanted to go to a theme park with my name. Even though I always tried to dream big, I admit I felt a little nervous on the first morning,” Parton shared during the opening match of Season 40. She added: “But people really meant to support us on the first day and I’m proud to see Dollywood continue to evolve over the years to become a place of fun and unity for all those visiting.”
Parton may be shocked by Dollywood’s early success, but anyone visiting this theme park gem is not surprised that it has become one of the country’s most important family travel destinations.
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