Dollywood's DreamMore Resort

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa Voted Runner-Up for Best Family Resort

Published August 31, 2021 / Last Updated August 31, 2021
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa Earns Runner-Up Finish in USA Today Award Competition

After being named the number one Amusement Park Hotel in the country by USA Today readers in the publication’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards in July, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa continues to rack up accolades this summer. The resort has now earned a runner-up finish for the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Family Resort in the United States.

DreamMore ranked second only to the Woodloch Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania. While other theme park resorts were included among the 20 properties on which readers could vote, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort was the only theme park resort that finished in the Top 10.

A Premier Family Vacation Destination

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which celebrated its sixth anniversary on July 27, has quickly become a sought-after resort destination, prompting The Dollywood Company to announce a 10-year, $500 million investment strategy that includes additional resort properties. The first resort planned as part of the strategy is Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, which is slated to open in 2023.

“Our guests tell us all the time that they consider Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa a world-class resort,” said Brian Angello, Director of Hospitality Marketing for Dollywood Resorts. “Awards like these continue to reinforce what we are hearing from guests, and we’re honored they hold us in that regard. We work hard to ensure they enjoy their time spent with us and that they treasure the memories they make here. With Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort opening in a couple of years, we are poised to continue making Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains one of the nation’s premier family vacation destinations.”

Nestled in the Smoky Mountains and next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests with a full-service, comfortable, home-away-from-home experience that only Dolly Parton could create. Inspired by Parton’s childhood in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a love for music and storytelling and a desire to create a place for families to grow and play, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa brings Dolly’s vision for a premiere family destination to life.

For more information about Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, as well as special offers available at the Smoky Mountain resort destination, visit Dollywood.com/resort.

Team DollyDollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa Voted Runner-Up for Best Family Resort

Vote for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

Published July 20, 2021 / Last Updated July 22, 2021
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa nominated for Best Family Resort after recent win as #1 Amusement Park Hotel

In early July, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa was named the #1 Amusement Park Hotel in the country by USA Today readers in the publication’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards. Dollywood’s family-favorite resort now has the opportunity to go two-for-two, as it has been nominated for the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Family Resort.

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which celebrates its sixth anniversary later this month, has quickly become a sought-after resort destination, prompting The Dollywood Company to announce a 10-year, $500 million investment strategy that includes additional resort properties. The first resort planned as part of the strategy is Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, which is slated to open in 2023.

Voting is Now Open

Voting is now open and runs through Monday, Aug. 16 at 11:59 a.m. A page with a link to the voting page can be found at dollywood.com/vote. Anyone is eligible to vote and may do so once per day, per device. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, which includes a combination of editors from USA Today, editors from 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors and more.

A Premiere Destination for Families

Nestled in the Smoky Mountains, next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests with a full-service, comfortable, home-away-from-home experience that only Dolly Parton could create. Inspired by Dolly’s childhood in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a love for music and storytelling and a desire to create a place for families to grow and play, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa brings Dolly’s vision for a premier family destination to life.

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa has several unique areas and experiences for families to spend quality time together. Families gather to play checkers by the fireplace in one of the resort’s grand living rooms, enjoy a glass of sweet tea in a rocking chair on one of the many porches or swap stories on one of the beautiful garden benches. The resort’s lavish 20-acre property includes premier amenities and perks to help guests create their own special moments and memories.

Full-service dining, indoor and outdoor pool complexes, and exclusive park privileges—like complimentary transportation to Dollywood theme park and complimentary TimeSaver passes for Dollywood rides and shows—make the property a must-visit experience. Additionally, there are a variety of on-site activities at the resort for families. Through fun-filled activities, including arts and crafts, storytelling and summertime pool parties, Camp DW is designed to inspire children’s imaginations. At night, families gather around the fireplace for a bedtime story with a book selected from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Guests can even roast complimentary marshmallows to make s’mores each night around the fire pit.

Named #1 Amusement Park Hotel by USA Today

During its history, DreamMore Resort has earned several awards, including being named the #1 Amusement Park Hotel in 2018 by USA Today, one of Southern Living’s “Best Places to Stay in the South” and one of Travel + Leisure’s “25 Resorts in the US that are Perfect for Families.”

A panel of experts and USA Today 10Best editors selected Dollywood Parks & Resort properties and attractions in six categories for award competitions that took place in June. Results included:

Best Amusement Park Hotel – Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa (#1)
Best Amusement Park Restaurant – Aunt Granny’s Restaurant (#1)
Best Amusement Park Entertainment – Dreamland Drive-In (#3)
Best Amusement Park – Dollywood (#5)
Best Outdoor Water Park – Dollywood’s Splash Country (#5)
Best Amusement Park Roller Coaster – Lightning Rod (#5)
Best Amusement Park Hotel – Dollywood Cabins (#7)

Plan Your Dollywood Visit

For more information about Dollywood’s 2021 season, operating calendars and more, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.

 

Team DollyVote for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

Dollywood Announces HeartSong Lodge & Resort

Published June 3, 2021 / Last Updated July 9, 2021
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort marks the first project in a new half-billion dollar investment plan over the next decade.

After having just finished a decade of unparalleled growth, The Dollywood Company embarks on an ambitious investment strategy that will see the Smoky Mountain vacation destination invest more than half-a-billion dollars over the next 10 years across its properties. One of the first projects in the campaign is the 302-room Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort.

Opening in 2023

The new HeartSong Lodge, located adjacent to the much-heralded Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, serves as the next element in the company’s thriving lodging business. Set to open in 2023, the new property ushers in another period of tremendous growth for the company and for the entire Smoky Mountains region. Earlier this year, Tripadvisor named Gatlinburg as the number one trending destination in the United States, with Pigeon Forge ranking fourth on the same list. Last year, Dollywood was “traveler-ranked” number six on Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Top 25 United States Theme Parks list and number eight on the Top 25 Worldwide Theme Parks list based on guest reviews.

The new investment plan provides Dollywood’s Dreamer-in-Chief plenty of opportunities to do what she does best for many years to come.

Dolly Parton explained, “I’m always dreaming and coming up with new ideas and things I want our guests to experience. We wanted to talk about this last year, but with everything going on, we knew we needed to pause because it just wasn’t the right time to do it. Things are looking brighter and with the popularity of the Smokies soaring, there are more people than ever wanting to visit our area.”

“I’m so proud of this place that we’ve been able to build here in the Smokies,” Dolly continued. “I always dreamed of accomplishing two things with Dollywood. I wanted to give jobs to the folks who live here and I wanted to give visitors another reason to come and experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. We celebrated our 35th season last year, so I think it is fair to say we’ve been able to do that.

“I’m so happy with what we are doing to make sure our guests have a great season this year, and being able to announce the new HeartSong Lodge & Resort is just one more way we’re going to be able to help families reconnect, explore and discover together. I truly believe the natural beauty of the Smokies and the warmth of this special place will inspire every guest to nurture the ‘heartsong’ within them.”

A Refreshing Escape Inspired by the Smokies

Tucked away in a beautiful cove in the rolling foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is a well-appointed, reimagined property that features a variety of accommodations and amenities. Our ‘reimagined lodge’ is designed to bring that intangible feeling to life, honor everything that makes the Smokies special, and invite you to experience the wonders of finding your own heartsong.

Welcoming the outdoors in with high ceilings, exposed beams and natural layered textures, Dollywood’s newest resort offers lodging options for multi-generational families and couples. Spacious family suites and bunk rooms feature lovely touches that are inspired by the beauty of the Smokies, inviting guests of all ages to gather for meaningful connections.

For one-of-a-kind getaways, the five-story resort also features themed suites and loft rooms tucked into the dormers. Many of the resort’s spacious rooms include balconies, which provide a “place among the leaves” for families to escape everyday stresses while reconnecting.

This reimagined Smoky Mountain lodge features four-story, lantern-inspired windows in the resort’s welcoming atrium, epic indoor and outdoor pools that provide guests a refreshing escape in all seasons, and a picture-perfect outdoor cove with family gathering spaces, communal firepit and screened-in porch. With 26,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, the property can accommodate gatherings for several hundred guests. From the two-story HeartSong Event Center to spacious outdoor meeting spaces and event lawn, the resort offers numerous options to provide a unique and inspiring setting for groups.

“From the time we announced Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in 2015, we have seen the entire region emerge as one of the nation’s leading family vacation destinations,” said Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company. “We’ve been able to help Dolly achieve the dreams she had more than 35 years ago, and with this announcement today, we’re going to be able to put wings on even more of her dreams.”

Expanding on Success

“With the success we’ve experienced at DreamMore Resort, we feel this is the perfect time to expand our portfolio of resorts,” Naughton continued. “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we had a relatively strong 2020 and we currently are outpacing our original expectations for 2021, so we are confident in the potential we see in the continued growth of the Smokies. We’ve earned a number of awards and accolades the last few years, and with this addition and the epic plans we have in the works, Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains will continue to be mentioned among the best places in the country for family travel.”

With more than three million visitors annually at Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, the Pigeon Forge parks comprise Tennessee’s most-visited ticketed attraction.

Since 2010, The Dollywood Company has invested more than $220 million into its properties as part of its ongoing investment plan. Expansions undertaken since 2010 include Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, roller coasters Lightning Rod and FireChaser Express, as well as TailSpin Racer at Dollywood’s Splash Country. In 2019, the park opened the $37 million Wildwood Grove.

“As a member of our community for the past 35 years, Dollywood theme park has been a significant part of the growth Pigeon Forge has experienced as a family vacation destination through the years,” Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster said. “Dolly and her team have contributed greatly to our community, and our city is proud to work alongside them as The Dollywood Company continues to make Pigeon Forge a wonderful place to visit, to live and to work.”

Plan Your Dollywood Visit

Dollywood celebrates a year full of exceptional experiences, with each season unlike the next. It’s the perfect year for a season pass, as guests will want to return throughout the year to enjoy it all. The park currently celebrates the joy of spring in the Smokies with the final weekend of the Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (through June 7). Many great festivals are still planned this year, including Summer Celebration (June 25-July 31), which includes a new evening drone show and dance party every night. Thousands of pumpkins glow to life as part of the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 24- Oct. 30), and Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6- Jan. 2, 2022) celebrates the spirit of the season with millions of beautiful lights, award-winning shows, and festive culinary creations.

For more information about Dollywood, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.

 

Team DollyDollywood Announces HeartSong Lodge & Resort

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa

Published February 8, 2021 / Last Updated February 25, 2021
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa

The most romantic day of the year is approaching, and the chefs at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa are preparing a special Valentine’s Day Dinner for you and your loved one.

On Sunday, February 14, from 5 PM – 9 PM, Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is offering the perfect culinary experience to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Treat your Valentine to an extraordinary three-course menu with an assortment of delicious, chef-prepared dishes, all while enjoying the classy, cozy atmosphere of Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery.

Reservations are required for this special Valentine’s Day Dinner, open to both Resort guests and Non-Resort guests. For more information, to see the menu or to make reservations, visit Dollywood.com.

Behind The Scenes With Executive Chef Debra Vance

For families deciding to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year, watch as Debra Vance, Executive Chef at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, shares a behind-the-scenes look at one of her favorite dishes!

This Porchetta Pork Loin is a delicious idea to create your own gourmet Valentine’s Day dinner, giving you a taste of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa at home!

Team DollyValentine’s Day Dinner at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa

Christmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa

Published November 6, 2020 / Last Updated November 6, 2020

Decking the halls at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa™.

As Dollywood gears up for Saturday’s (Nov. 7) opening of the family tradition that is the Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, it’s also beginning to feel like Christmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Throughout the holiday season, guests to the resort can enjoy live entertainment and holiday meals, along with festive fun and excitement. Special events include breakfast with Santa’s Elves in December and the dancing tree show that takes place on the swimming pool deck each evening. For those looking for sweet treats, the resort even offers Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread in the DreamMore Pantry.

The Christmas atmosphere welcomes guests as soon as they arrive at DreamMore Resort, and one of the people responsible for that is Bridget Farmer with the Resort Décor Team. Bridget said,

“My favorite part of the DreamMore decor is the lanterns in the trees… It is a design that comes from years and years past when people would put lanterns and candles in their trees.”

Watch this behind-the-scenes look at the preparations made by Bridget and her team as they transform the resort for the season.

Book your stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa during the holidays and be sure to visit Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas beginning Nov. 7.

Michael MartinChristmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa