Featured image by Curtis Hilbun
The performances billed as Dolly: Pure & Simple, kicked off a series of concerts at Dollywood, all of which benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. From Blue Smoke to Backwoods Barbie, 9 to 5 and Coat Of Many Colors, Dolly captivated the crowd show after show performing her latest and greatest hits. When welcoming the audience, Dolly said,
“Thank you from all the kids and me! We give books to children all over the world now, and the Imagination Library started right here in Sevier County, right up here in these hills. So thank you all for coming tonight. I truly believe that you can never get enough books into the hands of enough children.”
Family, friends, and fans from around the world headed to Pigeon Forge, TN to show their support for Dolly and her book gifting program for children. The four sold-out shows raised nearly $500,000.00. Now present in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the Imagination Library has mailed more than 71 million free books to babies!
During her performances, Dolly also shared her excitement for her all new resort next to the waterpark and theme park. She said,
“I am so proud of all the things we are doing here. Of course, it’s our 30th Anniversary, and we’ve been longing for our own hotel ever since we started Dollywood. Yesterday, I had a chance to go over to the resort and do some videos and things in my suite, and I got to see the resort up and breathin’ with real people in it. We are just so proud of it!”
Dolly’s weekend concerts are the first of several concerts taking place this year as part of Dollywood’s Showcase of Stars, all of which will benefit her Imagination Library. The next scheduled performer is Kenny Rogers.
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View related press release via Webster PR
Dollywood announced the addition of Lightning Rod, both the world’s fastest wood coaster and the world’s first launching wood coaster. Set to roll to the starting line in March 2016, Lightning Rod adds another groundbreaking roller coaster to the park’s already impressive portfolio of world-class attractions. The thrilling $22 million ride also marks the single largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history.
Dolly along with Dollywood president, Craig Ross, made the announcement from the stage of The Pines Theater in Jukebox Junction.
“Lightning Rod reminds me so much of those colorful cars cruisin’ up and down Main Street in downtown Sevierville back when I was in high school. I remember all those souped up cars; but what I remember most were those good lookin’ boys behind the wheel with those flat top and ducktail haircuts,”
Dolly said with a laugh.
“I’m truly excited about this ride because it will let our guests experience something just as fast as those hot rods I remember,”
she continued.
“Even better, it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, so I think we’re going to see a lot of people coming from all over to peel out on the Lightning Rod.”
Themed after a tricked out 1950s-era hot rod, Lightning Rod launches riders from zero to 45 mph more than 20 stories up its lift hill to one of the ride’s first airtime moments. At the crest of the hill, riders face twin summit airtime hills before tackling the daring first drop. Lightning Rod races down the 165-foot drop and propels guests along its 3,800-ft. track to a top speed of 73 mph, the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world.
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Featured image courtesy of Curtis Hilbun - Dollywood
One of Dolly’s biggest dreams, Dollywood’s DreamMore ResortTM, opens its doors Monday, July 27, creating a new chapter in the famed company’s 30-year history and fulfills Dolly’s dream of adding a resort to the excitement of her Smoky Mountain theme park offerings. Dolly said,
“Seeing DreamMore Resort open really is a dream come true for me. It brings me back to when my whole family would get together on the front porch catching up and swapping stories. I want families to spend the day experiencing the fun of our parks, then come to this beautiful resort to spend time together making even more family memories!”
Dollywood’s DreamMore ResortTM offers guests unique Dollywood park privileges—including free transportation to both Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country, front-of-the-line access at Dollywood with a free TimeSaver pass for each guest, early Saturday entrance for guests at Dollywood, and much more.
Dollywood and Dolly’s resort are both dreams come true and give families a place to spend time laughing and creating memories in this welcoming family environment. Through unique amenities like storytelling spots, kid’s play areas, an event lawn and porches lined with rocking chairs, Dollywood’s DreamMore ResortTM becomes the perfect setting for truly connecting with loved ones.
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The Imagination Library has many volunteers and community members who devote a tremendous amount of energy to helping the program grow. In 2015, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Legend Award was created as a way of recognizing these individuals. David Dotson, president of the Dollywood Foundation, said,
“We are blessed that so many individuals tirelessly work to launch and sustain the program in their community. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’s Legends are those folks who have been at it for quite a while, who have overcome personal obstacles to lead and inspire, and who have built a local presence with the strength and capacity to provide the Imagination Library to their children for decades to come.”
This year, the award was given to Six Nations Imagination Library from Canada. After a year of seeking funds and support their team officially began registering children in June of this year. Holly Frank spearheaded efforts to launch the program and was on hand to accept the award during Homecomin' 2015. She said,
“It was a moment of shock and awe with a huge rush of excitement. It was hard to believe that the Six Nations Imagination Library was called up to the stage to accept the Legend Award, we were so lost in the moment with happiness and joy.”
Holly says they will use the funds to register more children and "give them the many gifts a book brings."
The Legend Award is funded by a grant from the Dollywood Foundation. Recipients of the Legend Award receive $1000 for use within their local Imagination Library. This award was created in memory of Gord Kretz. Gord was the founding member and Treasurer of the Dollywood Foundation Canada.
There was no person more responsible for the Imagination Library's presence in Canada than Gord. Sadly, in 2015 he succumbed to a brain tumor leaving behind his lovely wife and three children. He handled his illness just like he led his life--with compassion, wisdom, patience and humor.
Dollywood’s Great American Summer provides the ideal atmosphere for families to create lifelong memories thanks to a number of new entertainment offerings. This year, visitors can enjoy extended park hours and a nightly fireworks show. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the award-winning park’s 30th anniversary season!
Dollywood celebrates 30 years of the world’s best entertainment with the debut of two dance parties and an interactive new show. The new production features a number of America’s chart-topping songs. The Little Engine Playhouse features two new children’s stories, "Betty Bunny Didn't Do It" and "Old Bear and His Cub." Both shows are based on books of the same name from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library book selection list.
"Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors" has been reimagined to feature popular music from the last 30 years. Another guest favorite, "The Gazillion Bubbles Show," moves to D.P.’s Celebrity Theater. The new location offers an even larger space to fill with the fantastic bubble-making spectacle. Extended park operating hours—10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily— give guests more time to create the perfect summer getaway.
