Dolly Parton just turned her glittery tour bus into the ultimate Tennessee hotel suite
For about 15 years, Dolly Parton — the Queen of Country Music and probably the closest thing we have to a living angel — lived much of her life on a Prevost tour bus crisscrossing the country.
It was on that bus, between 2008 and 2022, that Dolly wrote the "Backwoods Barbie" album and "9 to 5 The Musical," and traveled to more than 60 cities on the "Pure & Simple" tour. (This included a stop in New York City where I sang my heart out with other adoring fans.)
Preferring the comforts of home on her highly customized bus over flying, Dolly had the entire space decked out to include a bathtub and a wig cabinet (for the most precious of her cargo). She even had a full-size refrigerator installed — which required removing the bus's front windshield to fit it in — just so she could cook for her crew while on the road.
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“I have homes all over the United States,” Dolly once said. “But my favorite place is the bus because that way I can just feel those wheels rolling.”
Now that bus is a getting a new life as a luxury hotel suite. It's now available to book at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
During a stay on the bus — which has been coined the Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience — guests can see firsthand what it was like for Dolly living on the road. The bus is parked in a special, dedicated spot behind the hotel. It sleeps two people, and those lucky enough to spend a night on the bus get to relax while surrounded by hand-painted murals representing "wayfaring wanderers, wagons and crystal balls." The bus is complete with jewel-toned fabrics and decor that only Dolly could pull off.
Beyond the wigs and rhinestoned Dolly paraphernalia, including towering high-heeled shoes and a ribbon-adorned tambourine, guests also have access to a dedicated concierge team for the entire stay. Plus, they'll receive one-of-a-kind food offerings and a collection of customized keepsakes to keep as souvenirs, such as a bottle of her perfume, "Scent from Above." (It smells great, I preordered the sample when it was announced last year.)
Although the bus itself only has room to sleep two, each booking comes with a room at DreamMore Resort that can sleep an additional four guests, so nobody has to miss out on the fun.
Dolly famously said, "It costs a lot to look this cheap," and it also costs a lot to stay on the tour bus. Stays require a two-night minimum and start at $10,000. However, in true Dolly fashion, portions of the proceeds will go to The Dollywood Foundation — her organization that funds Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program that gives free books to children from birth to the age of 5.
For folks looking to spend less on a pilgrimage to Dolly's "Tennessee Mountain Home," there are still plenty of ways to get a taste of her legendary history. Inside Dollywood, guests can explore a tour bus from another era of her decadeslong career or step inside a replica of her childhood home.
Next fall, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort will finally open its doors after much anticipation. With 302 rooms and suites plus a 4,000-square-foot, four-story atrium lobby, this long-awaited resort — part of the park's half-billion-dollar investment in its future — will be just another reason to head to the Great Smoky Mountains.
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- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
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- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023
Rewards Rate
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023