The popular travel review site TripAdvisor recently named Dollywood one of the best theme parks in the world, continuing the Pigeon Forge park’s string of impressive accolades and awards.
Based on reviews and ratings for all theme parks worldwide, TripAdvisor compiled the list of the Top 25 theme parks around the globe. Dollywood placed 19th on the list, which included parks like Universal’s Islands of Adventure (#1), Magic Kingdom (#3), Universal Studios Florida (#6), Germany’s Europa-Park (#7), Disneyland (#8), Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens (#12), Epcot (#16), Six Flags Magic Mountain (#22), Silver Dollar City (#24) and Walt Disney Studios Park in France (#25).
One recent review on TripAdvisor, titled "One of the Best in the World," noted,
"This world-class attraction gets better every year…Great rides including seven roller coasters and some of the best shows and food in any park in the world can be found among the arsenal of activities."
The award-winning park certainly has endeared itself to its many guests, having recently been named #3 Best Theme Park in the country and #6 Best Musical Attraction by USA Today’s 10Best. In 2015, the park also earned Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards for Best Christmas Event, Best Shows and Friendliest Park. Dollywood earned the 2010 Applause Award, the theme park industry’s highest honor.
Dollywood is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. This year also marked the grand opening of Dollywood's DreamMore Resort. The park's newest attraction, Lightning Rod - the world’s fastest wood coaster, is set to open in March 2016.
When Dolly's mother took a box of rags that someone had given her and sewed them into a patchwork coat of love for her daughter, she didn't know she was setting her on a path that would become one of the most beautifully woven tapestries in the history of American music.
Dolly began songwriting at the tender age of five and has been on a magical journey of melody and rhyme ever since. Songwriting is part of the fabric of who Dolly is. For songwriters, some songs can take years to write, while others can be crafted in just a few hours. However, there are those special few that are woven in what seems to be a moment's time. Dolly's beloved "Coat of Many Colors" is one such song.
The year was 1969, and she was on tour with country music legend Porter Wagoner, who was widely known for his iconic rhinestone-clad stage clothes. She was riding on the tour bus when the inspiration for "Coat of Many Colors" overcame her. Ironically, the only paper available to her was Porter's dry cleaning receipts from his designer, one-of-a-kind coats, so she grabbed a pen and started writing! The song that poured out of her soul that day was about her own one-of-a-kind coat; a coat that gave her determination and wrapped her with confidence in the riches of a mother's love.
As the song says, Dolly's mother told her the Old Testament story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Just like Joseph rose above the cruelty of others in his youth and went on to achieve his purpose in life, Dolly rose above the scoffers in the schoolyard and lives her life to encourage others to rise above their circumstances and to dream more...and it all started with a box of rags and a mother's love.
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Footage courtesy of Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Nashville
Dolly Parton performs "Coat Of Many Colors" after her induction to the "Country Music Hall Of Fame." Alison Krauss & Union Station were on hand during the ceremony to lend their beautiful talents to the performance.
Artist illustration by Lacinda Smith.
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
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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New renderings revealed during the Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort construction tour feature the resort’s outdoor pool which fits right in with its already beautiful Smoky Mountains' surroundings. The nearly 4,000 square foot pool meanders through a lushly landscaped pool deck and provides families with a refreshing retreat.
In addition to the pool, there’s an interactive family splash pad for more water play. Details like the pool patio are not forgotten—while sunbathers can soak in rays, landscaping also provides shady spots throughout the area so the experience is enjoyable for everyone.
The construction tour participants were also among the first to see a sneak peek of some of the resort’s interior amenities in-the-works, including the indoor pool, grand lobby and guest rooms.
