What theme park did Dolly Parton open?

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN - Dollywood Theme Park Rides & Shows.



Dolly Parton opened Dollywood in 1986, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. While the site had previously been home to other amusement parks (like Rebel Railroad and Silver Dollar City), Dolly joined forces with the Herschend family to transform the park into a celebration of Appalachian culture, music, and her own heritage. Today, it is one of the most popular theme parks in the United States, known for its world-class roller coasters like Lightning Rod and its deeply authentic storytelling. Dollywood features a replica of the two-room cabin where Dolly grew up, a working grist mill, and a historic steam train known as the Dollywood Express. In 2026, the park continues to be a major economic driver for East Tennessee, reflecting Dolly's commitment to her "mountain home" by providing thousands of jobs and supporting local literacy through her Imagination Library foundation.

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Dollywood is closed for the off-season. With the way the calendar falls this year, that means our teams have 67 days to reset and ready the park for another great year of operation. Dollywood re-opens March 11 (March 10 for Season Passholders).

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Fun fact, Dollywood is actually bigger than Disney's Magic Kingdom! Dollywood is home to a total of 150 acres, whereas Magic Kingdom is only 107.

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Spanning 160 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood theme park offers more than 50 world-class rides, high-energy entertainment, award-winning dining and the friendliest theme park atmosphere in the world! We even received an award for being so friendly!

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Free cups of ice water are also available. One more thing worth noting: Dollywood does not serve alcohol inside the park.

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Dolly Parton opened the 2023-2024 Dollywood season in style as she took to the stage at the Dolly Parton Celebrity Theater on March 10, 2023.

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?A lot of my own relatives even work on the park which is great, especially in the show, the family show. I'm proud of all of that, but I'm just proud of the whole area, Dollywood is just the star of the area, of course I would think that, or I want to believe that,? Parton said.

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If I come to Dollywood after 3, can I still get in free the next day? In previous years, visitors who purchased tickets and entered Dollywood after 3 PM were alloewd to return the following day for free. This program has been discontinued and tickets purchased after 3 PM are not valid for reentry the following day.

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Dolly's tram from the parking lot is free. So are all the rides, concerts, shows and exhibits, including her tour bus. Parking is $12. All food and merchandise is separate as well, and you pay dearly for it.

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