Dollywood Shines at Golden Ticket Awards Amid Competition

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dollywood garnered significant recognition at this year’s Golden Ticket Awards, winning three top honors and placing third overall among theme parks worldwide.

The awards ceremony, organized by Amusement Today, highlights the best amusement parks globally. Dollywood was recognized for its Best Kids Area (Wildwood Grove), Best Guest Experience, and Best Family Coaster (Big Bear Mountain), showcasing the park’s appeal to families.

Despite its accolades, Dollywood finished third, behind Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, and Universal‘s Epic Universe in Orlando, which secured five awards. Universal’s honors included Best New Roller Coaster and Best Water Park.

“Capturing the hearts of its visitors is vital to a guest experience in a theme park,” said Tim Baldwin, Communication Coordinator for the Golden Ticket Awards. He emphasized Dollywood’s commitment to creating memorable experiences, which has fueled its popularity.

Dollywood’s success at the awards reflects its evolution since its opening in 1986 as a regional park. “Now, through a systematic improvement plan, Dollywood is right there with the Big Fish in the industry,” Baldwin noted.

The awards started in 1998 and have evolved to include a diverse pool of voters including suppliers and journalists. However, some results raise eyebrows, with perennial winners like Holiday World and Kings Island dominating categories.

Dollywood has won the Best Guest Experience Award every year since its inception in 2019, and its consistent performance has solidified its reputation against powerhouse rivals like Disney.

The Golden Ticket Awards spotlight Dollywood’s achievements and its team’s dedication to providing an unforgettable guest experience. “We do it because we want our guests to enjoy the ultimate theme park destination,” Baldwin added.