Dollywood's Festival of Nations kicked off its first year with over 300 performers and artisans. Dolly has learned a lot from her travels around the world and she wanted to share those same lessons with the folks back home in East Tennessee.
During Dollywood's month long Festival of Nations, guests enjoyed a celebration of dance, food and culture from around the world. Dolly said,
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled all over the world, and the Festival of Nations is an opportunity for Dollywood to bring a world of entertainment to the Great Smoky Mountains!”
With the help of Dollywood's Festival of Nations the park’s season was extended earlier into the year and gave families more time to enjoy Dolly’s East Tennessee theme park.
Dreamland Forest captured the fun of a treehouse and created an area where imaginations could flow freely. The interactive attraction included the “wet and wild” area Bullfrog Creek water battle, The Bee Hive target shooting game and a water and toddler play area.
Dollywood’s $5 million Dreamland Forest featured 15,000 square feet of interactive games, gadgets, and gizmos for children of all ages. It inspired them to dream the same way Dolly did! She said,
“When I was a kid I loved the idea of a treehouse… a place among the leaves where I could get lost in my own imagination.”
Dolly sent riders on an explosive new ride featuring the world’s first spiral-loop coaster. Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood features back-to-back 360-degree loops. It is the first spiral loop coaster and was named 1999’s top scream machine by the American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Dolly opted out of riding the fastest roller coaster at Dollywood. Instead, she sent a train full of Dolly look-a-likes blasting out of the station on their first Tennessee Tornado ride!
Dollywood also became the headquarters of the Southern Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame and Museum. The new facility honored the genre’s legends with interactive displays. It featured more than 350 artifacts and a recording studio. Built adjacent to Showstreet Palace Theater, the Southern Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame debuted during Dollywood’s Southern Gospel Jubilee. Dolly sang alongside some of her Southern gospel friends as they performed a concert at Dollywood.
Dollywood celebrated Dolly’s story in 1998 with the addition of "Paradise Road: The Life and Songs of Dolly Parton." The major Broadway-style show chronicled the superstar’s amazing career. Dolly lent her life story and her songs to a young Janelle Arthur as she played little Dolly. The production was showcased in Celebrity Theater.
Dollywood’s 13th season also marked the opening of Daredevil Falls. It was a unique waterfall ride featuring a 63 mph free fall. Dolly opened Daredevil Falls with a little help from the flying Elvises. As the flying Elvises flew overhead Dolly introduced the world to the tallest and fastest flume ride in the United States.
New entertainment offerings marked Dollywood's season 12 with the addition of three new shows. American Dream was a country music show starring Randy Parton. Country Treasures was a dynamic production show highlighted by comedy performances by Grand Ole Opry legends, Shenani-Guns. U Pick Nick was a Nickelodeon®-themed high-energy kids show.
Imagination Station introduced one of the world’s largest LEGO® play areas. By broadening the scope of entertainment selection at the theme park, Dollywood provided quality entertainment options for everyone in the family! In the fall, an expanded Harvest Celebration and Southern Gospel Jubilee opened. It allowed families to hear the soulful sounds of some of Dolly’s favorite Southern gospel music and enjoy the splendor of fall in the Smokies.
