Dollywood Celebrates 40 Years of Family Fun and Southern Charm

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dollywood, the beloved amusement park founded by country music star Dolly Parton, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Since its opening on May 3, 1986, the park has become the most-visited ticketed attraction in Tennessee, drawing approximately 3.8 million visitors annually.

Situated in the picturesque Smoky Mountains, Dollywood offers a unique blend of entertainment and natural beauty, featuring wooden roller coasters, live bluegrass music, and traditional Appalachian crafts. “The most rewarding part of what I do every day is the ability to go walk through the park and see families of all shapes and sizes having their best day of the year,” said Pete Owens, Dollywood’s vice president of marketing and public relations.

The park has a rich history, evolving from its origins as Rebel Railroad in 1961 and transitioning through various ownerships and themes before Dolly Parton became involved. “When Dolly expressed wanting to open a theme park in her home area, the Herschend brothers reached out to her to join forces,” Owens explained.

Dollywood launched with several attractions that are still popular today, including the Smoky Mountain River Rampage and Aunt Granny’s Restaurant. The park saw a remarkable 75 percent increase in attendance during its first year as Dollywood, highlighting the strong connection visitors have to the iconic singer.

The park is known for its extravagant seasonal celebrations, featuring over 12,000 jack-o’-lanterns during the fall Harvest Festival and six million lights at Christmas. Visitors can also indulge in treats like the 25-pound apple pie sold at the Spotlight Bakery. Dollywood aims to maintain its balance of nostalgia and innovation, with plans to open a new Imagination Playhouse dedicated to stories from Dolly’s Imagination Library this anniversary year.

Both old favorites and new attractions, such as an album of songs composed by Dolly for the park, will continue to create lasting memories for families visiting Dollywood. A new Instagram-worthy sign modeled after the iconic one in Los Angeles is also set to attract social media enthusiasts this year.