Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Dollywood, which started out as a dream for country music legend Dolly Parton, has evolved into Tennessee's most visited theme park, drawing more than 2 million visitors annually. Parton opened Dollywood in 1986 to showcase the rich heritage of the Smoky Mountain area where she was born and raised before heading to Nashville and superstardom. Take the whole family for a day of fun at Dollywood and enjoy lively music, spectacular shows, thrilling amusement park rides such as the Thunderhead Wooden Roller Coaster and the Tennessee Tornado triple spiro-looping coaster, as well as acres of attractions and the work of talented craftspeople. Kids will love the 60-animal carousel, Dolly's Demolition Derby bumper cars, the Dollywood Express authentic steam engine, Rockin' Roadway, Tennessee Twister tilt-a-whirl ride and Wonder Wheel, a 60-foot-tall Ferris wheel. In addition, Dollywood plans to add a major new attraction in 2008 called River Battle, which will include eight-passenger rafts and multiple targets along the way.
Dollywood also serves as the home of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Other not-to-be-missed attractions include Daredevil Falls, Smoky Mountain River Rampage and the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. Special annual events at Dollywood include the Dollywood Festival of the Nations in April, KidsFest in the summer, Harvest Celebration in September and Smoky Mountain Christmas starting in November. Dollywood's Showcase of Stars features summer concerts from some of country music's hottest superstars. Dollywood’s nearby Splash Country Water Adventure Park features amazing waterslides, interactive children’s water play areas, a lazy river ride, huge wave pool and more.
Admission to Dollywood for 2008 is $50.20 for adults, $39 for ages 4-11 and $46.85 for seniors. Note: Prices vary during the holiday season (November 10 - December 30, 2008).
Dollywood Attractions
Amazing Flying Elephants - Country Fair
Beaver Creek - Timber Canyon
Beaver Creek Boat Float - Timber Canyon
Beehive - Dreamland Forest
Blazing Fury - Craftsman's Valley
Bullfrog Creek - Dreamland Forest
Busy Bees - Country Fair
Calico Falls Schoolhouse - Craftsman's Valley
Chasing Rainbows Museum - Adventures in Imagination
Daredevil Falls - Craftsman's Valley Dizzy Disk - Country Fair
Dolly's Demolition Derby - Country Fair
Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home - Rivertown Junction Dollywood Express - The Village
Eagle Mountain Sanctuary - Craftsman's Valley
Lemon Twist - Country Fair
Lil' Loggers' Landing - Timber Canyon
Lucky Ducky - Country Fair Lumberjack Lifts - Timber Canyon Mountain Slidewinder - Dreamland Forest Mystery Mine - Timber Canyon
Piggy Parade - Country Fair River Battle - Timber Canyon
Robert F. Thomas Chapel - Craftsman's Valley Rockin' Roadway - Jukebox Junction
Scrambler - Country Fair
Shooting Star - Country Fair
Sky Rider - Country Fair Smoky Mountain River Rampage - Rivertown Junction
Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure - Adventures in Imagination
Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame - Showstreet Tennessee Tornado - Craftsman's Valley The Thunderhead Wooden Roller Coaster - Timber Canyon Timber Tower - Timber Canyon
Tiny Tots - Dreamland Forest
Treehouse - Dreamland Forest
VeggieTales Sideshow Spin - Country Fair
Village Carousel - The Village
Waltzing Swinger - Country Fair
Wonder Wheel - Country Fair
Yogi's Wild Ride - Adventures in Imagination
Dollywood Shows
Back Porch Theatre - Rivertown Junction
Comedy of David Tallent - The Village
DP's Celebrity Theatre - Showstreet
Heartsong Theatre - The Village
Jukebox Junction Street - Jukebox Junction
Pines Theatre - Jukebox Junction
Rainmaker - Timber Canyon
Showstreet Gazebo - Showstreet
Showstreet Palace Theatre - Showstreet
Valley Theater - Craftsman's Valley
Wings of America Theatre - Craftsman's Valley
Dollywood Restaurants
'50s Hotdogs - Jukebox Junction
Apple Jack's Sandwich Shop - Rivertown Junction
Aunt Granny's Buffet - Rivertown Junction
Backstage Restaurant - Showstreet
Berries 'n Cream - Craftsman's Valley
Coca-Cola Truck - Timber Canyon
Crossroads Funnel Cakes - Rivertown Junction
Fury Canteen - Craftsman's Valley
Grandstand - Country Fair
Granny Ogle's Ham N' Beans - Craftsman's Valley
Hickory House BBQ - Craftsman's Valley
Kettlecorn - Rivertown Junction
Lucky Seven Mine - The Village
LumberCamp - Timber Canyon
Maters & Taters - Showstreet
Midway Concessions - Country Fair
Miss Lillian's BBQ - Craftsman's Valley
Miss Lillian's Chicken House - Craftsman's Valley
Miss Stella's Fried Fancies - Rivertown Junction
PaPaw's Flatbread - The Village
Philly Steak - Rivertown Junction
Pork Rinds - Craftsman's Valley
Ranger's Cookhouse - Dreamland Forest
Red's Diner - Jukebox Junction
Sausage Works - Rivertown Junction
Spotlight Bakery - Showstreet
Victoria's Pizza - The Village
Village Ice Creamery - The Village
Whistlestop Grill - The Village
Wrong Way Joe's - Timber Canyon
Dollywood Shopping
A Touch of Ireland - Craftsman's Valley
Ashley's Photorium - The Village
Blacksmith & Foundry - Craftsman's Valley
Cas Walkers - Jukebox Junction
Company Store - Timber Canyon
Custom Glassworks - Craftsman's Valley
David Tallent's Magic Shop - The Village
Dolly's Closet - Adventures in Imagination
Dollywood Emporium - Showstreet
Eagles Nest - Craftsman's Valley
Gazebo Gifts - Showstreet
Grist Mill - Craftsman's Valley
Hillside General Store - Craftsman's Valley
Huff's Gallery - Craftsman's Valley
Just Me! Music - Country Fair
Liberty - Showstreet
Lye Soap - Craftsman's Valley
The Mine Shaft - Timber Canyon
Old Flames Candles - Craftsman's Valley
The Old Mill's Pigeon River Pottery - Rivertown Junction
The Ole Woodcutter - Rivertown Junction
Outfitters Trading - Craftsman's Valley
P. Graham Dunn Gallery - Rivertown Junction
Pinny Barter's Pin Post - Showstreet
Rainbow Glassblowing Factory - Rivertown Junction
Rivertown Dugout - Rivertown Junction
Smoky Creek Leather - Craftsman's Valley
Smoky Mountain Funnel Cakes - Craftsman's Valley
Smoky Mountain Slate Works - Rivertown Junction
Sweet Shoppe - Showstreet
Sweetgum Branch Bookstore - Craftsman's Valley
Temple's Warehouse & Dry Goods - The Village
Tree Trunk Treasures - Dreamland Forest
Uncle Bill's Music in the Valley Shop - Craftsman's Valley
Valley Carriage Works - Craftsman's Valley
Virginia's Heart & Home - Rivertown Junction
White Water Nature - Rivertown Junction
Woodcarving - Craftsman's Valley