40 seasons of fun: A look back at Dollywood's history
Long before Dollywood opened its gates in Pigeon Forge on May 3, 1986, Dolly Parton had designs on building a theme park in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, where she grew up.
A 2023 USA Today article quoted the award-winning singer-songwriter as saying that when she would visit the county fair as a child, she thought to herself, "If I make it big, if I get rich like I was dreaming I might, that I’d love to do something special, to come back home and build a park of my own."
Related: Dolly Parton shares her vision for the future of Dollywood, aka her 'Tennessee mountain home'
In a 1982 interview with Barbara Walters, just four years before the park opened, Parton shared that she dreamed of building "Smoky Mountain fairyland," akin to Disneyland in East Tennessee, "one of the most wonderful places in the world."
Anyone who has followed Parton's illustrious career will not be surprised that she made her dream of creating a place "where the culture and people of the Smoky Mountains would be celebrated and enjoyed by everyone" a reality.
Now in its 40th season, Dollywood has grown and changed a great deal since opening its gates, but one thing remains the same — Dollywood still is and will always be a destination where families can have fun and make memories amid the natural beauty of the Smokies.
Here's a look at the park's history and a peek at what's in store for Dollywood's future.
Before Parton lent her moniker to the park, it operated under different names and ownership since the early 1960s. In 1986, the Herschend family (who also own and operate Silver Dollar City) sold a stake to Parton, upgraded several park elements and renamed it Dollywood.
Parton grew up only a few miles from the park, and the partnership allowed her to fulfill her dream of bringing visitors to the beautiful Smoky Mountains while supporting her local community. Parton still co-owns the park with the Herschends.
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 grew 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.
Like the Dollywood Express train, the park continued picking up steam in the 1990s.
Related: The 10 best rides at Dollywood for the whole family
During this time, the park built several major expansions: the 7-acre Showstreet area near the park entrance, the Country Fair area with classic rides and carnival games like the ones that inspired Parton to open her theme park, and an area inspired by Parton's hometown of Sevierville called Jukebox Junction.
In 2001, Dollywood opened its water park, Dollywood's Splash Country. The water park is celebrating its 25th anniversary season this year.
Some of Dollywood's most popular roller coasters opened in the 2000s and 2010s.
In 2007, Dollywood opened a roller coaster that turned my body and my understanding of physics upside down. If you've ever ridden it, you know I am talking about Mystery Mine. This steel coaster has some gravity-defying maneuvers, including a 95-degree, 85-foot vertical drop, that left me speechless.
During this time, the park also opened Thunderhead, a wooden coaster; Wild Eagle, the first wing coaster in the U.S.; and Lightning Rod, another wooden coaster with a top speed of 73 miles per hour.
In 2015, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa opened its doors. DreamMore was the park's first on-site hotel, with a design that perfectly encapsulates Parton's stardom and Southern charm. This resort was joined by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay in Parton's former tour bus in 2022 and the opening of Dollywood's Heartsong Lodge & Resort in 2023.
Related: 11 best hotels near Dollywood
Also in 2023, TPG was on hand for the grand opening of Dollywood's newest and longest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain. Parton herself made an appearance (in the world's most adorable bear costume) to sing a song she wrote for the grand opening.
Last year, the park opened The Dolly Parton Experience, an interactive museum with exhibits covering Parton's career. Visitors will journey through Parton's career, costumes, family and more.
The park has more than doubled in size since opening in 1986 and hit record attendance numbers last year. There are also rumblings that the park will expand again in 2026. There aren't many details yet, but Dollywood revealed at this season's grand opening media event that it will be a "revolutionary new experience unlike anything anywhere else in the world."
Parton did much more than lend her name to Dollywood. From the local artisans demonstrating their expertise and selling their wares inside the park to the nods to her childhood and star-studded career, Parton's life and legacy are built into the DNA of this beloved park.
"On opening day in 1986, I was just hoping that people would really want to come visit a theme park with my name on it. And even though I always try to dream big, I’ll admit I was a little bit nervous that first morning," Parton shared during the 40th season opening event. "But people did come out to support us that first day, and I’m so proud to see that Dollywood has continued to grow through the years to become a place of fun and togetherness for everyone who has come to visit," she added.
Parton may have been shocked by Dollywood's early success, but anyone who has visited this gem of a theme park isn't at all surprised that it has become one of the country's premier family travel destinations.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.