Usually not one for amusement parks, the thought of spending an entire day at one wasn’t exactly my idea of fun, especially when there was so much to see and do outside of the contrived world that is ‘amusement park land,’ with its faux streets and movie-set façades.
But then I forgot, I was in America, the birthplace of the modern amusement park, where thrill rides and recreational parks are taken to a whole new level.
Long a fan of Dolly Parton, I was especially curious about the Parton themed Tennessee amusement park known as Dollywood. The name of the town where Dollywood is located, Pigeon Forge, seemed an especially fitting place for a park named after someone with such country pedigree.
Located at the foot of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is as simple and unpretentious as the name sounds. Lined with tacky souvenir shops, diners and amusement rides, it sits in striking contrast to the hypnotic beauty of the surrounding Smokey Mountains.
To my surprise, and admitted delight, Dollywood combined all the fun, and beauty, that makes this part of Tennessee so special.
Having paid for preferred parking, we were directed to a carpark right outside the entrance gate, a gate that is reserved for preferred parking guests and large groups arriving by coach.
Even though it was the middle of summer, during the American school holidays, we didn’t have to wait in a line to enter. We were immediately ushered into the park, showing our pre-booked ‘tickets’ that were conveniently sent to our smart phone.
No sooner had we entered the entrance gate, and the roar of a rollercoaster could be heard overhead. Screaming with delight, riders on the Thunderhead rollercoaster whizzed by in the blink of an eye. “Ok,” I thought, “this looks like fun!” Dollywood instantly pulled me into its hair-raising embrace.
Egged on by my teenage niece and nephew, I endured six or seven roller coasters and water rides, before admitting defeat. With my head swirling, I decided to leave it to the teenage whipper-snappers, who gleefully conquered the rides for a second, third and fourth go.
Regaining my land legs, I enjoyed the park from the ground. Despite the fact that it was a sunny summer’s day, the park remained cool due to the inviting tree lined foot paths and ingenious cool water misters that are located along various foot paths.
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As a Dolly fan, I’m always interested in her personal story, so I made a beeline to her personal coach bus which she travelled the USA in, between 1994 and 2009. Parked right outside the Chasing Rainbows Museum, a state-of-the-art exhibition hall devoted to Dolly’s life and career, the bus provides a unique glimpse into the life of a country music star.
Fearful of flying, Dolly made dozens of trips between Nashville and Los Angeles in the luxury coach. The bus was capable of making the 3,200km trip nonstop, but as Dolly tells it, a country girl likes her barbecue, so stops would be made along the way for her much loved country-home cooking.
From the coach tour, it was on to the Chasing Rainbow Museum where Dolly keeps her many awards, costumes, showpieces and personal belongings. One of the most iconic Dolly belongings in the museum, is her ‘coat of many colours,’ and other lifetime treasures.
For me, the highlight of the park was a show called My People. Telling the story of Dolly’s family life and upbringing through song, members of the Parton family follow a Dolly narrated video as they perform classic Dolly hits and a compilation of songs from their hill country past.
Other Dolly related attractions include a life-size replica of the one room shack she grew up in, as well as a replica of her church and one room school house.
At first glance, Dollywood may seem like just another amusement park, but walk its inviting tree lined foot paths and you’ll experience the rhythm and the history of east Tennessee.
More info
Browse the Dollywood website here.
Best time to go
Dollywood is closed in the cold weather months of January and February. May and September are the best times to go, just outside the summer school holidays, and when the weather is slightly cooler. Be sure to check open dates and times in advance if planning a visit during non-summer months like March and April, or November and December.
Getting there
Pigeon Forge, where Dollywood is located, is about a 30-minute drive south of Knoxville, Tennessee. Several major airlines fly to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS). Driving time from Nashville or Charlotte is between 3 and 3.5 hours. Driving time from Atlanta is approximately 4 hours.
Where to stay
Set in the Smoky Mountains, an abundance of wood log cabins are available. Many hotels and motels can be found in Pigeon Forge, and at nearby Gatlinburg (also well worth a day trip). ‘Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa’ and ‘Dollywood’s Cabins’ provide extra perks such as discounted park entry, free parking and early entry on Saturday mornings.
Other attractions
Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park has been voted by TripAdvisor as one of the top ten water parks in the country. A relaxing refuge during the hot Tennessee summers, the park has rides, thrills and spills across 35 acres, and set amongst beautiful scenery.
