Country music artist, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton is 78 years old, but she hasn’t slowed down since leaving her one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains as an aspiring singer and songwriter with aspirations of making it big in Nashville.
Parton has received numerous awards, appeared in several films, and won 10 Grammy Awards out of 54 nominations in the music category.
Dolly Parton’s amusement park, Dollywood, Tennessee, has opened a new three-building exhibit called “The Dolly Parton Experience at Dollywood,” showcasing her more than 50 years in show business.
Sheree Cohen | Contributor
Last year, she announced her collaborative project with rock musicians, “Rockstar.” In November, she will release her album, “Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA — Family, Faith & Fables.” She also has a Broadway show and a cookbook in the works.
A new, interactive, high-tech exhibit explores the prolific artist’s career and life at a Tennessee amusement park. Opening this summer, Dollywood’s Dolly Parton Experience is a three-building complex that chronicles her more than 50 years in show business.
“This is the story of Dolly’s life, highlighting some of the key events in her journey and career,” Dollywood Parks president Eugene Norton said at the exhibit’s opening. “It’s been three long years in the making and three times larger than anything we’ve ever done in the creative field. Overall, this is more than just a physical thing — it’s a true collection of memories and stories.”
Dollywood has two resorts: DreamMore Resort & Spa, which features a 302-room lodge, and the recently opened 300-room Heartsong Lodge & Resort, which features a four-story, 4,000-square-foot atrium lobby and a giant fire pit that seats about three dozen. Both properties reflect Parton’s love for the Smoky Mountains with huge hearths and fireplaces, spacious pool complexes, several restaurants and on-site activities.
Sheree Cohen | Contributor
A lot of the experiences are digital, which of course allows us to update Dolly’s story because she’s constantly growing.”
What you will see
The Dolly Parton Experience is made up of three buildings with numerous exhibits. The “Songteller” exhibit, with a giant pink butterfly at the entrance, is an interactive journey through Parton’s rise to stardom. It features clips from films like “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Steel Magnolias,” and even a “9 to 5” desk where visitors can sit behind and take a selfie.
The huge room is filled with images and music, another is playing her iconic songs in concert, and there’s even a meter showing the number of books she’s donated through the Imagination Library, which on the day we visited showed more than 200 million.
“The new Songteller experience is mostly digital,” Norton said. “It’s the story of Dolly’s life, highlighting some of the key moments in her journey and career.”
Both Dollywood properties reflect Parton’s love for the Smoky Mountains with giant hearths and fireplaces, expansive pool facilities, several restaurants and on-site activities.
Sheree Cohen | Contributor
Across the road, “Behind the Seams” displays some of Parton’s costumes, wigs and makeup from over the years.
“This is about the people who have shaped my style,” Parton said at the exhibition’s opening. “Because none of us can do it alone. I’ve had the help of my family ever since I was a little girl.”
Dreamsong Theatre’s “Cherished Memories” exhibit will feature photos and songs from Parton’s family and friends, allowing visitors to learn about Parton’s origins and the people who continue to support her while they wait in line for their next show.
“We’re so happy that this is happening and I hope people are touched by my roots and my Smoky Mountain DNA and all of our history in music,” she said on opening day. “I’m so proud of my family.”
One retired bus used by Parton on tour is also available for visitors to enjoy.
Dollywood Season
Dollywood, a 165-acre theme park in the Smoky Mountains, offers not only rides but also theater, dining, artisan jobs and, of course, both family-friendly amusement park rides and high-speed roller coasters.
Dollywood hosts festivals every season, and the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration adds Sweet Summer Nights drones and fireworks to the schedule. The park’s seasonal festivities continue through the Harvest Festival, which runs from September 9 to October 28 and features a fall harvest festival (nothing to be scared of).
During the nighttime Great Pumpkin Luminites, the sky lights up with the light of more than 12,000 pumpkins, and kids will love Hoot Owl Hollow, a hideout for giant lighted owls and their friends who nest in trees, buildings and hillsides. The year closes out with Smoky Mountain Christmas, running from November 1 through January 5, 2025, featuring six million lights and special Christmas theater performances.
Get wet while you’re there
You may be higher in the Smoky Mountains, but it’s still hot this time of year. Cool off at Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park. The 35-acre site features a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, a relaxing lazy river, and adrenaline-pumping rides like Tailspin Racers and the Bear Mountain Fire Tower, a multi-level, interactive water adventure.
Among the many other fun things to do, what makes Splash County special is the shade provided by the trees, which allows you to have an exhilarating experience without worrying about sunburn or blistered feet (sunscreen is still a must, though). This combination of shade and adventure is why the Travel Channel named Splash Country one of the best water parks in the USA.
Splash Country is open until September 15th.
If you go
There are two resorts on the property, and scheduled trolley transportation is available between Dollywood and Splash Country.
DreamMore Resort & Spa features a 302-room lodge, while the recently opened 300-room Heartsong Lodge & Resort features a 4,000-square-foot, four-story atrium lobby and a giant fire pit that seats about three dozen. Both properties reflect Parton’s love for the Smoky Mountains with huge hearths and fireplaces, spacious pool complexes, several restaurants and on-site activities.
For more information about Dollywood, the resort and the new “Dolly Parton Experience,” please visit www.dollywood.com