History of Dollywood in Timeline

Dollywood is a popular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, co-owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and Dolly Parton's Dolly Parton Productions. Situated near the Great Smoky Mountains, it attracts nearly 3 million visitors annually, making it Tennessee's largest ticketed tourist attraction. The park has received numerous international accolades for its offerings.

June 10, 1961: Park Opening as Rebel Railroad

On June 10, 1961, the park opened as Rebel Railroad, a tourist attraction featuring a steam train, general store, blacksmith shop, and saloon with a Civil War theme.

May 24, 1964: Park Renamed Goldrush Junction

On May 24, 1964, the park's name was changed to Goldrush Junction, announced in the Knoxville News Sentinel, switching to a wild west theme similar to Tweetsie Railroad.

1970: Art Modell Buys Goldrush Junction

In 1970, Art Modell purchased Goldrush Junction, retaining the railroad and adding an outdoor theater and the Robert F. Thomas Chapel to the park.

1975: Park Renamed Goldrush

In 1975, the park's name was changed to Goldrush.

1976: Herschends Purchase Goldrush

In April 1976, Jack and Pete Herschend, owners of Silver Dollar City, bought Goldrush, which continued to operate under the same name for the rest of the season.

1977: Park Renamed Silver Dollar City Tennessee

In 1977, the Herschends renamed Goldrush to Silver Dollar City Tennessee, making it a sister park to their original location. Upgrades included new steam locomotives #70 and #71.

May 3, 1986: Dollywood Reopens

On May 3, 1986, Silver Dollar City Tennessee reopened as Dollywood, featuring the new Rivertown Junction area and Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home. The "Rags to Riches: The Dolly Parton Story" museum was also new.

1986: Dollywood Largest Employer

From 1986, Dollywood grew, becoming the largest employer in the community.

1986: Dolly Parton Buys Interest, Park Reopens as Dollywood

In 1986, Dolly Parton bought an interest in Silver Dollar City, and the park reopened for the season as Dollywood.

1987: Daydream Ridge Area Opens

In 1987, the Daydream Ridge area opened, including the Mountain Slidewinder water toboggan ride. Engine #70 was restored to operation.

1988: Celebrity Theater and New Children's Rides Added

In 1988, the 1,739-seat Celebrity Theater was constructed, and five new children's rides were added to Fun Country. The Dollywood Foundation was established.

1989: Thunder Express Coaster Built

In 1989, Thunder Express, a steel mine train coaster, was built. The National Mountain Music Festival concluded its run.

1990: Antique Dentzel Carousel Relocated

In 1990, a 1924 antique Dentzel Carousel was relocated to the park, and the Gaslight Theater opened. The Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival premiered in November.

1991: Eagle Mountain Sanctuary Added

In 1991, Eagle Mountain Sanctuary was added, along with the Wings of America Theater and the Valley Theater.

1992: Showstreet Area Added

In 1992, the Showstreet area was added, and the park's main entrance was moved. Dollywood's annual attendance topped 2 million.

1993: Fun Country Renovated into The Country Fair

In 1993, Fun Country was renovated into The Country Fair with new rides, and "Sunset Musicfest" debuted.

1994: Gaslight Theater Becomes Heartsong Theater

In 1994, the Gaslight Theater became the Heartsong Theater, named for the multi-media musical presentation about Dolly Parton's life.

1995: Jukebox Junction Added

In 1995, the Jukebox Junction themed area was added, and the Sunset Musicfest did not return.

1996: Dollywood Boulevard Area Added

In 1996, the Dollywood Boulevard area was added, featuring Thunder Road.

1997: "U Pick Nick" Children's Show Premiered

In 1997, the "U Pick Nick" children's show played in Celebrity Theater, and Silver Screen Cafe became DJ Platters.

1998: Daredevil Falls Opens

In 1998, Daredevil Falls opened, and Thunder Express was closed.

1999: Tennessee Tornado Opens

In 1999, the Tennessee Tornado steel looping coaster opened, and the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame was added.

2000: Daydream Ridge Renovated into Dreamland Forest

In 2000, the Daydream Ridge area was renovated into Dreamland Forest, a children's interactive play area.

April 2001: Festival of Nations Premiered

In April 2001, the Festival of Nations international music festival premiered.

2002: Dollywood Boulevard Becomes Adventures in Imagination

In 2002, Dollywood Boulevard was renovated and became Adventures in Imagination. Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure replaced Thunder Road, and the Chasing Rainbows Dolly museum opened.

2003: KidsFest Premiered

In 2003, the summer children's festival KidsFest premiered, and Imagination Station became Celebration Hall.

2004: Thunderhead Gap and Thunderhead Wooden Roller Coaster Opened

In 2004, a new area of the park, Thunderhead Gap, opened with the Thunderhead wooden roller coaster.

2005: New Rides Added to The Country Fair

In 2005, newer rides including Dizzy Disk, Amazing Flying Elephants, Lemon Twist, Shooting Star, Sky Rider, VeggieTales Sideshow Spin, Waltzing Swinger, Piggy Parade, Busy Bees, and Lucky Ducky were added, and The National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration was also new.

2006: Timber Tower Area Opened

In 2006, the Timber Tower area, along with associated attractions, opened. The Barbeque & Bluegrass festival also premiered.

2007: Mystery Mine Added

In 2007, Mystery Mine, a Gerstlauer Eurofighter coaster, was added.

2008: River Battle and "Thunder Road" Returned

In 2008, River Battle opened, and "Thunder Road" returned to the motion theater. The Polar Express 4-D Experience was shown during Smoky Mountain Christmas.

2009: New Shows and Attractions in 2009

In 2009, Dollywood presented two new shows, "Imaginé" by Le Grand Cirque and "Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke," and opened SkyZip. "Thunder Road" was renamed "White Lightning" and then became Journey to the Center of the Earth: 4-D Adventure.

November 16, 2010: Dollywood Earns Liseberg Applause Award

On November 16, 2010, Dollywood received the Liseberg Applause Award, accepted by Dolly Parton at the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando.

2010: Parton's Expansion Plans

In 2010, Dolly Parton expressed her desire to expand Dollywood by opening parks in other parts of the country in the future.

2010: Parton Explains Involvement

In 2010, Dolly Parton stated she got involved to bring jobs to her part of the country.

2010: Adventure Mountain Attraction Opened

In 2010, the Adventure Mountain attraction opened in the Wilderness Pass area. Dollywood also brought back "Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke" and changed its logo for the 25th anniversary.

2011: Owens Farm Area Opened

In 2011, a new area called Owens Farm opened, replacing Dreamland Forest with a giant swing called Barnstormer. Christmas on Ice premiered.

March 24, 2012: Wild Eagle Opened

On March 24, 2012, Wild Eagle, the first Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster in the United States, opened, becoming the biggest investment in Dollywood history.

August 21, 2013: Announcement of DreamMore Resort and Spa

On August 21, 2013, Dolly Parton announced the plans for Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa.

2013: Dollywood's 2013 Season

In 2013, Dollywood's season was dedicated to encouraging families to spend time together, and featured new shows like Cirque Shanghai, Mystic India, and One World Party. The park also introduced "Great American Summer," replacing KidsFest, and extended hours with a nightly fireworks show. Smoky Mountain Christmas added Dolly Parton's version of A Christmas Carol, and Imagination Cinema became Dreamsong Theater, playing Dolly's My People. The slogan was "Make Time for Happy!".

2014: FireChaser Express and "Love Every Moment" Slogan

In 2014, the FireChaser Express, a dual-launch family coaster, replaced Adventure Mountain at Dollywood. The park's slogan changed to "Love Every Moment," and Smoky Mountain Christmas added a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer meet-and-greet called Holly Jolly Junction.

July 27, 2015: Opening of DreamMore Resort and Spa

On July 27, 2015, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa officially opened.

2015: DreamMore Resort and 30th Anniversary

In 2015, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa opened adjacent to Dollywood's Splash Country. For the park's 30th anniversary, the entrance for resort guests was redesigned, and two new shows were added to Festival of Nations along with six new shows to "Great American Summer" along with the revival of the Showcase of Stars concert series.

June 13, 2016: Opening of Lightning Rod

On June 13, 2016, Lightning Rod, a Rocky Mountain Construction wooden coaster, opened as the world's first launched wooden coaster and the fastest wooden coaster.

October 2017: Start of Wildwood Grove Construction

In October 2017, work began on "Wildwood Grove," adding eleven new experiences to Dollywood.

2017: Golden Ticket Awards for 2017

In 2017, Dollywood won Golden Ticket awards from Amusement Today for Friendliest Park, Best Christmas Event, Best Food, and Best Show.

2017: Opening of Drop Line and Whistle Punk Chaser

In 2017, Drop Line, a 200-foot freefall ride, and Whistle Punk Chaser, a junior roller coaster, opened at Dollywood. Also in 2017, two new seasonal events debuted, and Dollywood's Splash Country added the TailSpin Racer mat racer slide complex. Sideshow Spin and River Battle were removed.

2018: Golden Ticket Awards for 2018

In 2018, Dollywood received a Golden Ticket award from Amusement Today for Best Food, marking its fourth win in seven years. The park also received Golden Tickets for Best Shows, Friendliest Park, and Best Christmas Event and was ranked the third best park in the world.

2018: Season of Showstoppers and Plaza at Wilderness Pass

In 2018, Dollywood transformed the former River Battle site into the Plaza at Wilderness Pass, a new open space with covered seating. The "Season of Showstoppers" marked the park's largest investment in entertainment, and the Festival of Nations included Flamenco Kings, National Dance Company of Siberia, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

2018: USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

In 2018, Dollywood was ranked as the sixth Best Amusement Park in the U.S. by the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Dollywood's DreamMore Resort and Spa was ranked first in the Best Amusement Park Hotel category, and Aunt Granny's Restaurant was ranked first in the Best Amusement Park Restaurant category.

May 10, 2019: Opening of Wildwood Grove

On May 10, 2019, "Wildwood Grove" opened. The $37 million 5-acre development included a suspended family coaster, a restaurant, an indoor play area, an outdoor splash pad, a swinging boat ride, and a 50 ft tall tree. It was part of a $300 million 6-year expansion project.

October 2019: Announcement of Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival

In October 2019, Dollywood announced that the park would add its first new festival in 14 years. Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival was planned to feature topiaries based on Dolly's songs, photo opportunities, and food.

October 2019: Plans Filed for New Resort

In October 2019, Dollywood filed plans for a new resort adjacent to Splash Country and DreamMore Resort, featuring a 310-room hotel, a 325-seat restaurant, and a conference space.

2019: Coaster101.com's "Wooden Roller Coaster of the Decade"

In 2019, Coaster101.com named Lightning Rod "Wooden Roller Coaster of the Decade".

2019: Attractions of Dollywood

In 2019, Dollywood included Dragonflier, a suspended family coaster; Big Bear Mountain, a family launched coaster; The Mad Mockingbird, a flying scooter ride; The Wildwood Tree, a 50-foot-tall (15 m) lighted tree; and Till & Harvest Food Hall, a Smoky Mountains-inspired restaurant.

2019: Golden Ticket Awards for 2019

In 2019, Dollywood won Golden Ticket awards for Best Kids' Area, Best Guest Experience, and Best Christmas Event of 2018.

June 14, 2020: Deferred start date of Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival

The Flower & Food Festival was originally scheduled to end on June 14, 2020, but it was deferred to May 7 to June 13, 2021.

June 13, 2021: End date of Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival

Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival ran from May 7 to June 13, 2021.

June 2021: Announcement of $500 Million Expansion

In June 2021, Dollywood announced plans for a $500 million expansion of the complex, including more details about the planned hotel complex announced in 2019. The new resort, HeartSong Lodge & Resort, will have 302 rooms, five floors of suites, a four-story atrium with a large central fireplace, and multiple shopping and culinary experiences.

2021: Golden Ticket Award for Smoky Mountain Christmas

In 2021, Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Christmas Event for the 13th straight year.

August 5, 2022: Announcement of Big Bear Mountain

On August 5, 2022, Dollywood announced the construction of a new roller coaster named Big Bear Mountain, which opened on May 12, 2023, and is the longest in the park's history.

2022: Park Improvements for 2022

During the 2022 off-season, Dollywood made several improvements, including removing the Silver Dollar Mine tunnel, renovating the parking complex for better efficiency, renovating Iron Horse Pizza, making over the Emporium, and removing two buildings to widen walkways.

2022: Tripadvisor's Number One Theme Park in the U.S.

In June of 2022, Tripadvisor named Dollywood the number one theme park in the U.S.

May 12, 2023: Opening of Big Bear Mountain

Big Bear Mountain opened on May 12, 2023. It is the longest rollercoaster in the park's history.

2023: Scheduled Opening of HeartSong Lodge

HeartSong Lodge is scheduled to open in 2023, along with campgrounds, three additional resorts, and a "record-breaking" attraction for the theme park.