Dolly Parton visited the construction site of Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort on Friday, June 24, marking her first appearance at the property, slated to open in late 2023. During the event, which took place in what will become the resort's atrium area, Dolly expressed her vision for the 302-room resort while sharing stories about why the Great Smoky Mountains still remain a sought-after respite for her during her hectic schedule.
“In its simplest form, HeartSong is about the Smoky Mountains and why I continue to come back home year after year,” she explained. “It is the place I recharge and stay grounded. The beauty of the mountains—at every hour and in every season—is simply an inspiration. From the time I was a child, I roamed the hills of Locust Ridge and explored God’s coloring book.”
During the media-only event, Dolly also accepted an award from the American Chestnut Foundation on behalf of her late uncle, Bill Owens. Representatives from The American Chestnut Foundation presented Dolly with the Chestnut Conservation Champion Award, which honored Bill for his long history of helping the foundation as they work toward developing a blight-resistant chestnut tree. Their works have helped save the American chestnut after it was almost eliminated due to a fungal pathogen, which spread quickly across the eastern United States in the early 1900s.
“My uncle Bill worked for decades with The American Chestnut Foundation to help their effort in creating a new tree that is blight resistant,” Dolly said. “As a result of that work, he has been honored in a new documentary about the chestnut tree. To honor him, we have this beautiful hybrid chestnut tree on stage. We have some representatives from the foundation here as well.”
Once the resort is completed, the hybrid tree will be planted in a prominent place to honor Bill and the work of The American Chestnut Foundation. Chestnut trees will be featured prominently in the artwork which will adorn the walls of guest rooms throughout the resort.
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. 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. A new guest room rendering also was shared with media during the event.
For one-of-a-kind getaways, the five-story resort also features themed suites and loft rooms tucked into the dormers. Many of the rooms include balconies, which provide sweeping views of the vast resort property. This 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. 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.
Media members also had an opportunity to tour Suite 1986—Dolly’s former tour bus, which has been turned into the ultimate hotel suite. Now located at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, the Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience illustrates another facet of the country music icon’s life—the free-spirited traveler. The Prevost was Dolly’s home away from home as she traversed the country throughout the last 15 years. This unique sanctuary is where Dolly wrote dozens of songs and worked on a number of hit projects that continue to cement her status as an international superstar.
Suite 1986 guests enjoy these special accommodations, as well as additional experiences which can be added to the stay. Guests also have the chance to indulge in special culinary creations from the award-winning staff of the resort. The suite features a dedicated concierge service for the entire length of stay, as well as a number of exclusive Suite 1986 items that guests are able to take home as a keepsake from this incredible experience. The tour bus sleeps two guests. In addition, stays include a DreamMore Resort guest room to accommodate up to four additional guests.
The Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience is a two-night minimum and starts at $10,000, and the profit from every stay will be donated to The Dollywood Foundation. Requests for bookings are available now. For more information about how to book this once-in-a-lifetime experience, please visit dollywood.com/suite1986.
For more information about Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, please visit dollywood.com/heartsong.
Tripadvisor officials named Dollywood the #1 theme park in the United States and the #8 theme park in the world during the 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards. It’s an honor that won’t come as much of a surprise to Dollywood’s park-goers who frequently compliment Dollywood on its exemplary guest experience.
The 160-acre destination earned top honors with Tripadvisor users. Dollywood ranked #1 in the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Amusement Parks in the United States and #8 on the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Worldwide Amusement Parks list. The awards were calculated based on reviews and ratings from travelers on Tripadvisor during the 12-month period from May 1, 2021 through April 31, 2022.
“I’m so proud of the work my people do to make Dollywood such a great place for families,” Dolly said. “When I started dreaming up Dollywood all those years ago, I hoped it would be somewhere folks were excited to come visit and enjoy time together. To hear that they are leaving so many positive comments about their time here really shows what we’re doing is working. In the current world, I want Dollywood to be a place where the light shines every day.”
Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, echoes the thoughts of the park’s Dreamer-in-Chief.
“We’re working every single day to ensure our guests have the best possible time while they are with us,” explained Naughton. “This award is a little bit different because there is no voting factored into these rankings. The Tripadvisor rankings come from actual reviews left by guests about their time here with us at Dollywood. It is extremely gratifying to see this recognition for the effort our hosts give to ensure our guests have an unforgettable time while they are here.
“We are humbled by the results of this ranking, as well as the recent USA Today 10Best #1 finish for Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. These awards continue to show what we’ve been saying for so long—the Dollywood Parks & Resorts experience truly is world-class.”
According to the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best website, “The Best of the Best Things to Do Awards are calculated based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings for experiences, tours, activities and attractions on Tripadvisor.”
“Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: actual guests. Ranking among the Best of the Best is always tough — but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it's using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps taken to meet travelers' new demands."
With Dollywood ranking at #8 and Universal’s Islands of Adventure ranking at #9, American parks hold only two of the 10 spots on the worldwide theme park list. To see the full rankings, visit the Tripadvisor website.
Dollywood celebrates a year full of exceptional experiences, with each season unlike the next. Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration opens Saturday, June 18, and provides guests with extended hours and fun family festivities that will leave everyone with a smile on their face. Thousands of pumpkins glow to life this fall as part of the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 23-Oct. 29), and the season concludes with the most popular theme park Christmas event in the world, Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, happening November 5 - January 1.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.
For the third time since the award’s inception in 2018, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa was named the number one Amusement Park Hotel in the country by USA Today readers in the publication’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards.
A panel of experts and USA Today 10Best editors selected which properties and attractions would compete for titles, across several categories in the award competitions that took place in April. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa earned the top spot for best Amusement Park Hotel, while Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins finished sixth in the same category.
During its history, DreamMore Resort and Spa has earned several awards, including being named one of Southern Living’s “Best Places to Stay in the South,” one of Travel + Leisure’s “25 Resorts in the US that are Perfect for Families” and the #2 Best Family Resort in 2021 by USA Today.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which celebrates its seventh anniversary in July, has quickly become a sought-after resort destination. 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 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 Parton’s vision for a premiere family destination to life.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa has several unique areas and experiences for families to spend quality time together. Families can 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 premiere amenities and perks to help guests create their own special moments and memories.
Full-service dining, a full-service salon and spa, 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 also can roast complimentary marshmallows to make s’mores each night around the fire pit.
For more information about Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s 2022 season, please visit Dollywood.com.
With hiring events in full swing and great opportunities available for the 2022 season, another national publication has named Dollywood Parks & Resorts as one of America’s Best Employers. Forbes has placed Dollywood on its list of America’s Best Midsize Employers for the second year in a row. The recognition comes on the heels of Dollywood’s recent inclusion on the Top Workplaces 2022 list.
With a caring culture and ample benefits, as well as additional company growth and unparalleled opportunities on the horizon, Dollywood employees, also known as hosts, understand firsthand why the company has received so much positive attention as an employer.
“I can’t describe how honored we are for the awards we have earned recently. Being recognized regionally is amazing, but to be named to multiple national lists truly is humbling for us,” said Tim Berry, Vice President of Human Resources and a 37-year employee himself. “We really are a large family and—for many of our hosts—that is what sets us apart. We are constantly working to improve as an employer by finding new benefits and opportunities that make our working family stronger.”
“This season we are introducing a new program which provides free lunch to employees during every working shift,” Berry continued. “Last year, we announced an initiative to help our hosts find childcare through our partners at WeeCare and help subsidize a portion of those costs. Herschend Entertainment, our operating partners, announced a new program entitled GROW U. on Tuesday, which will pay tuition across 100 diploma, degree and certificate programs as part of the Guild Education Learning Marketplace. Our success starts with our hosts, so we work hard to make them feel cared for and appreciated every day. We know if they feel that way they will pass that same feeling on to our guests.”
Dollywood was represented well among the 500 companies on Forbes’ list of the best midsize employers. The list includes companies across 25 industry sectors, with only 12 companies on the list in the “Travel & Leisure” category, of which Dollywood was included. Among those companies, Dollywood ranked number 141 on the list and was the only theme park on the midsize list.
Among the companies in the Travel & Leisure sector on the list are World Travel Holdings (93), Drury Hotels (106), Potawatomi Hotel & Casino (213) and Choice Hotels (344). Among the Top 50 companies across all industry sectors on the list are Vera Bradley (1), FICO (2), Penguin Random House (4), Caltech (7), Briggs & Stratton (11), Atmos Energy (18), DocuSign (23), Johnsonville (25), Build-A-Bear Workshop (28), L.L. Bean (35), ESPN (40) and Scholastic (41).
According to Statista, the firm that administers the best employers survey on behalf of Forbes, an independent survey was taken by nearly 60,000 Americans who work for companies with more than 1,000 workers. In total 1,000 employers were recognized across the 25 sectors. The 1,000 companies are divided into 500 large (more than 5,000 U.S. employees) and 500 midsize (1,000 to 5,000 employees) employers. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from respondents in an anonymous survey who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to friends and family. Their evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.
Pointing to Dollywood host job satisfaction, the Pigeon Forge park has long been voted as the friendliest theme park in the world. Dollywood is also the only park to win the Golden Ticket Award for Best Guest Experience, which factors friendliness of employees into its criteria. The prestigious Golden Ticket Awards are given annually by industry publication Amusement Today. This recognition is the gold standard for theme parks worldwide.
Positions are available at each of The Dollywood Company’s properties and are posted at Dollywoodjobs.com. An upcoming hiring event is slated for Sevier County High School on Saturday, February 26, happening from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Most event attendees are hired on the spot with a position for the 2022 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Positions are available for the entire length of the 2022 operating season, as well as shorter peak season openings, which are perfect for applicants looking for a fun summer position or for those looking to earn a little extra money during the Christmas holidays. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts receive a variety of unique benefits, including access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided free meals for every working shift and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees.
Additionally, through Dollywood’s operating partner Herschend Enterprises’ GROW U. program, all hosts are eligible for 100 fully-funded diploma, degree and certificate programs across 30 learning partners within Guild Education’s Learning Marketplace. Herschend’s GROW U. utilizes Guild’s Marketplace to offer classes in high-demand fields such as business administration, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will also provide partial funding for 150 additional programs in fields including hospitality, engineering, human resources and art design.
In addition to the long list of employee benefits, there are numerous development opportunities available to help employees grow leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
For more information about working at Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit dollywoodjobs.com.
Officials with Dollywood Parks & Resorts announced today that the company will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for any employee who chooses to pursue further education.
The significant investment in employee education will be made possible by Herschend’s GROW U., a new program piloted by Herschend Enterprises, Dolly Parton’s operating partner in Dollywood. The program makes it exponentially easier for employees, known at Dollywood as hosts, to pursue their personal and professional dreams through education. The program officially launches February 24 for all seasonal, part-time and full-time employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. Hosts can enroll in the program on their first day of employment. Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, said,
“Our goal at Dollywood Parks and Resorts is to provide the best possible experience for both our guests and our hosts. We know when our hosts are happy and feel cared for that they are going to pass that along to our guests. The creation of the program allows another avenue for us to care for our hosts.
“One of The Dollywood Foundation’s key tenets is to ‘learn more,’” Naughton continued. “This program is created with that very tenet in mind. We want our hosts to develop themselves through advanced learning to fulfill the foundation’s other tenets: care more, dream more and be more. When our hosts strive to grow themselves, it makes our business and our community a truly better place. We care about our hosts’ development and we want their future to grow because of love—not loans.”
Herschend’s GROW U. offers eligible seasonal, part-time and full-time hosts more than 100 fully-funded (100% free) diploma, degree and certificate programs across 30 learning partners, including programs in high-demand fields, such as business administration and leadership, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will also provide partial funding, up to $5,250 per year, for 150 additional programs in fields including hospitality, engineering, human resources and art design.
“Herschend’s GROW U. is not only a significant and transformational investment in our employee’s growth, but also our love culture in action,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend Enterprises. “Herschend is rooted in love – it’s evident at every Herschend property, every day – in the way we treat and support each other, how we Create Memories Worth Repeating for guests, and most importantly, how we care for our employees.”
Guild Education, the nation’s leading education and upskilling platform, powers the program. Guild was selected because of their strong reputation for connecting employers and high-value learning providers to create opportunities for America’s workforce. Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts will have access to Guild’s proprietary Learning Marketplace to select from more than 30 learning providers and utilize resources like professional coaches to support their educational journey.
For anyone looking to take advantage of the opportunity, as well as the other unparalleled benefits Herschend and The Dollywood Company provides, positions are available at each of the company’s properties and are posted at Dollywoodjobs.com. Upcoming hiring events are slated for Seymour Heights Christian Church (Saturday, February 19) and Sevier County High School (Saturday, February 26). Both hiring events take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Most event attendees are hired on the spot, with a position for the 2022 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts receive a variety of unique benefits, including access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided free meals for every working shift and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees.
Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. Additionally, numerous development opportunities are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
For more information about working at Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit dollywoodjobs.com.
