
Key Information
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Co-owned by country music star Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment, Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. While the park is home to a museum featuring exhibits that celebrate Parton's career, its main offerings are more traditional theme park attractions. This includes the impressive Mystery Mine roller coaster, the Barnstormer "Screamin' Swing" ride and the first Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Rider coaster in the US, Wild Eagle. The park's emphasis on immersive theming extends to its variety of restaurants, many of which offer traditional Southern fare. In 2019, Dollywood made a major investment ( more than $30M) to open the new Wildwood Grove Land, themed on a magical wood and featuring 11 new attractions, mostly aimed at kids but including Dragon Flyer - a suspended coaster. The water park - Splash Country - has more than 15 attractions. Tickets for the Theme Park and Water Park can be purchased separately or jointly at a discount.
Park History
The park was originally opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad, featuring a steam train (now the Dollywood Express) and a handful of themed stores. After being renamed as Goldrush Junction in 1970, it was acquired by Herschend Family Entertainment in 1976. It was rebranded once more as Silver Dollar City Tennessee, becoming a sister park to the original Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. A decade later, Parton came on board, and the park is now home to a variety of musical festivals throughout the year.