Why to visit Dollywood, America’s coolest theme park

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Topping up my plastic cowboy boot-shaped cup with yet one more glug of candy tea, the server is interested by my accent. “You’re from England?” he hazards a guess, elevating an eyebrow. “That makes sense. We’re getting a lot more Brits coming to the Smokies. They mostly come for Dolly,” he concludes with a deep Southern twang, dropping a glistening rotisserie rooster onto my plate. All round, the world jostles with 1,000 Parton followers squeezed thigh-to-thigh onto wood benches, hungry for each the boot-stomping leisure and the four-course barbecue feast presently being dished out.

I’m eating at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction in Pigeon Forge, a Wild West extravaganza involving star-spangled cowgirls on horseback leaping fearlessly by blazing rings of fireplace, quirky comedy skits, glitzy stage numbers, and, barely bizarrely, a nail-biting race between two miniature piglets carrying tiny vibrant jackets – which simply occurs to coincide with the serving of the hickory smoked pork loin course.

This rootin’, tootin’ riot of a dinner attraction varieties a part of musician Parton’s “Dollyverse”, an intensive leisure portfolio that encompasses themed supper reveals and the family-focused Dollywood DreamMore Resort resort advanced, located within the Great Smoky Mountains, round 30 miles from Knoxville. But the headline act round right here is admittedly Dollywood, Parton’s Appalachian-flavoured theme park that opened in 1986. Tucked into the foothills of the traditional mountainous panorama the place the Tennessee Songbird was raised, close to the gateway to the pure wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dollywood attracts a staggering three million guests a 12 months.

This 12 months, that quantity appears to be like set to rise additional nonetheless, following the latest opening of Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, a 302-room cabin-chic resort that brings a contact of luxurious to the Smokies. Within the Dollywood theme park itself, there’s additionally a bedazzlement of latest points of interest, together with the disclosing of Big Bear Mountain, its longest rollercoaster. In May 2024, the Dolly Parton Experience, an interactive museum showcasing Parton’s razzle-dazzle life story, can be due to swing open its doorways.

The following morning, I drive again by the kitschy vacation city delights of Pigeon Forge, the place the roadside curiosities embrace a festive resort that celebrates Christmas each single day of the 12 months, a king-sized bust of Elvis etched in stone like a rock-and-roll model of Mount Rushmore and a museum that tells the story of the Titanic, housed inside an infinite duplicate of the doomed ship.

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Pulling into Dollywood, I open the automotive door to be greeted by the candy scent of cinnamon bread rising within the ovens of the onsite Grist Mill bakery. Following the tantalising scent by Dollywood’s entrance gates, I cross a bearded banjo participant serenading the excited guests – many carrying Parton-appreciation t-shirts – with a powerful show of lightning-fast fingerpicking.

The great thing about Dollywood is that it’s way more than a theme park. Those within the native Appalachian tradition can watch shows of bluegrass music, candle dipping and glassblowing. There’s an aviary boasting the biggest exhibition of non-releasable bald eagles in America. Thrill-seekers can soar by the sky on wild coasters, whereas those that favor life within the sluggish lane can hop on the quaint stream prepare that chugs leisurely by the leafy 160-acre park, whistle-a-blowing.

Parton references have additionally been sprinkled lavishly all through Dollywood, I uncover, as I step contained in the duplicate of the Parton household’s childhood cabin; a dinky two-room affair that someway snugly housed the budding singer, plus her 11 siblings and oldsters. Patchwork quilts are casually thrown over the various iron beds the place the Parton’s slept like sardines. In the absence of cupboard space, blackened skillet pans are nailed to the partitions, that are embellished with light paisley wallpaper. Humble it might be, it was additionally the Tennessee mountain dwelling the place “life is as peaceful as a baby’s sigh”, as Parton famously sang in one in all her many love-letter odes to her birthplace.

From rags to rhinestones, I climb onboard Parton’s retired tour bus on the opposite aspect of the park. Tucked away behind the coach is the singer’s bed room; a prism of spotlights and mirrors worthy of essentially the most flamboyant of superstars. Walking on by Dollywood, I catch a revealing glimpse of Parton’s non secular aspect, with the addition of a white clapperboard church. Passing by, I catch the fantastic sound of a gospel choir uniting in concord, providing some calm earlier than the storm as I head in the direction of the snaking queue to courageous the Big Bear Mountain coaster. Strapping in, this family-friendly trip takes me from a standstill to 48mph in a flash, sustaining that high pace for nearly two minutes of outrageous enjoyable, as we weave by cascading waterfalls to the soundtrack of a growling bear.

Back on stable floor, I bid farewell to the theme park as a drone present lights up the night sky and examine in at Dollywood’s newest resort providing, the HeartSong Lodge & Resort. In the earthy-toned foyer, photos of Appalachian wildlife, together with the black bears which are often noticed within the Smokies, are dotted all through. Under the watchful gaze of a larger-than-life portrait of Parton, I sit down by the hovering home windows that body views of the misty woodland outdoors, hawks circling overhead.

Having held the worldwide highlight for over 5 a long time, it’s honest to say that Parton has travelled the globe greater than most. Yet, like a homing pigeon, it’s the Great Smoky Mountains that preserve calling her again; a spot that Parton credit as one of the crucial lovely on the planet. From the place I’m sitting, it’s simple to see why.

Travel necessities

How to get there

America As You Like It provides a seven-night vacation to Tennessee from £1,729 per individual, primarily based on two sharing and together with return flights from Heathrow to Knoxville on American Airlines, seven days automotive rent, three nights at Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge and 4 nights on the DreamMore Lodge and Resort.

Where to keep

Families will love these luxurious treehouses, full with an inbuilt slide and a chute to ship drinks from the kitchen to the decrease deck.

Shuttles operating each 20 minutes to the theme park, make this the perfect keep for visiting Dollywood.

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