Dollywood Boulevard, an $8 million expansion, anchored the park’s 11th season. A $5 million state-of-the-art simulator ride was added. It was based on the classic 1957 Robert Mitchum film, “Thunder Road.” The ride was the world’s largest Turbo-Ride® Action Adventure featuring a contour-flair screen measuring 55 feet high and 70 feet wide. A themed restaurant and merchandise attraction completed the area.
Also in 1996, Dollywood introduced the popular Southern Gospel Jubilee during the park's fall Harvest Celebration. The country's largest Southern Gospel event featured gospel greats J. D. Sumner & The Stamps, the Lewis Family and the Kingsmen. This addition to the festival celebrates Dolly’s love for music, especially the gospel she grew up listening to as a child in church. Dolly said,
“Growing up in church with a musical family, that’s where my love of music and singing really took hold. I wanted to honor our rich musical heritage by adding the Southern Jubilee to our Harvest Celebration.”
Dolly unveiled Jukebox Junction, a new seven-acre section of Dollywood featuring a blast from the past. This $6 million 1950s themed area included the 1,000-seat Pines Theater, Red’s Diner and the Rockin’ Roadway. The Rockin’ Roadway is a ride featuring classic replica cars.
Entertainment included "Let the Good Times Roll," a tribute to rock 'n' roll. Jukebox Junction also included a variety of merchandise locations offering classic memorabilia and nostalgic items that completed the area.
"Heartsong," a film narrated by Dolly, debuted in the Heartsong Theatre, in 1994. It conveys Dolly’s fond memories and feelings for the Smoky Mountains. The film features the powerful story of her original song, "Heartsong." It was filmed in the park and at Dolly’s childhood home in East Tennessee. Dolly was so impressed with the finished theatre, that she said,
“I knew we would create an entertaining experience for the guests at Dollywood, but never guessed we would create such emotion.”
The Heartsong Theatre experience is a production of Jack Rouse Associates. It incorporates 70 mm film and specially created animation. The audience is wowed by a unique outdoor sensory experiences through the theatrical lighting and special effects, including the new, "nature round" sound.
No summer is complete without going to the fair and that’s why Dolly created the Country Fair at Dollywood. The Country Fair area opened, adding a new feature to Dollywood's skyline, the 60-foot Wonder Wheel ferris wheel. Dolly wanted every child to be as excited about the Country Fair at Dollywood as she was about the county fair when she was young.
“As a little girl, I couldn't wait for the county fair to come to town every year. Everybody got excited about the rides on the midway. I called on those memories when I created the Country Fair area.”
Other popular modern-day midway rides were added, including the Tennessee Twister (also known as the Tilt-a-Whirl) and Twist and Shout (also known as the Scrambler). Nostalgia-themed additions included old-time games and a variety of "blue ribbon" foods to complete the fair experience.
When Dollywood asked Dolly to create her perfect street, it included a glamorous theatre, shopping options, a garden and restaurants. It was only natural that from that dream came a colorful promenade shaping into Showstreet, the new front door to Dollywood. Dolly said,
“As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a big star like all the big names in Hollywood on the big screen. I loved all the glitz and glamour, and that was my inspiration for Showstreet.”
Showstreet is complete with the Showstreet Palace Theatre, where dreams like Dolly’s can be realized by everyone who visits.
Dollywood’s seventh season opened with a seven-acre expansion. The expansion included the 1,000-seat Showstreet Palace Theatre featuring the new show, Fire on the Mountain. It also introduced WDLY, a fully functional radio station. Friendship Gardens and Starwalk, a gardenscape area featuring more than 35,000 flowers and plants was also added. Finally, a full production bakery plus a variety of entertainment, food, attractions and merchandise completed the new addition.
