After several days of waterfalls, mountain roads, suspension bridges, thunderstorms, and questionable decisions involving glass floors, I decided it was time for something a little more relaxing.
So naturally, I went to an amusement park.
But this wasn’t just any amusement park.
This was Dollywood.
And honestly, I wasn’t prepared for how much I would love it.
Welcome to Dollywood!
I knew Dollywood was a big deal. I knew it had roller coasters. I knew Dolly Parton was involved.
What I didn’t expect was how beautifully the entire park blends entertainment, Appalachian culture, music, food, craftsmanship, and Dolly’s very particular brand of optimism.
There are rides everywhere, but what really grabbed my attention were the musical performances.
You can wander through the park and stumble into live music happening throughout the day. Bluegrass, gospel, country, Appalachian music—it felt less like visiting an amusement park and more like wandering through a giant outdoor celebration of Tennessee.
The Dolly Experience
I’ve always known Dolly Parton was an icon.
But walking through The Dolly Experience exhibit and seeing the sheer scope of her life and career made me stop and think about what one person can actually accomplish.
Dolly was born in 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, one of 12 children, and grew up in the Smoky Mountains. She started performing as a child, appeared on local radio and television, released her first solo album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967, and soon joined The Porter Wagoner Show. Her partnership with Wagoner helped launch her into mainstream country stardom.
She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, built an extraordinary songwriting career, crossed over into film and television, and became one of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet.
And then there’s the other side of Dolly’s legacy.
The part that really gets me.
In 1995, she created Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in honor of her father, who couldn’t read or write. What began as a program in her hometown of Sevier County grew into a worldwide literacy program. As of June 2026, the program had gifted more than 325 million books to children in five countries.
That’s an astonishing number.
And it’s a wonderful reminder that success doesn’t have to end with Look what I accomplished.
It can become:
Look what we can accomplish together.
Walking through The Dolly Experience, I found myself thinking about the extraordinary power one person can have when they combine talent with generosity and purpose.
Dolly didn’t just become famous.
She built things. She created jobs. She invested in her hometown. She created opportunities for other people. She gave children books. She created a place where millions of families could make memories.
And she did it while maintaining an unmistakable sense of humor and joy.
That’s a pretty impressive legacy.
An Amusement Park With a History
Dollywood actually has roots that go back much further than Dolly.
The property first opened as Rebel Railroad in 1961, featuring a coal-fired steam train, general store, blacksmith shop, and saloon. It later became Goldrush Junction and then Silver Dollar City, Tennessee, before Dolly Parton partnered with Herschend Enterprises in 1986 and the park became Dollywood.
When Dollywood opened in 1986, it attracted 1.3 million visitors in its first year—about a 75 percent increase over Silver Dollar City’s final season. Today, the park encompasses about 150 acres and welcomes millions of visitors.
And that matters beyond the gates.
Dollywood has become a major economic and tourism engine for the Smoky Mountain region, providing thousands of jobs and helping make the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area one of the country’s major tourism destinations.
What struck me while I was there was how genuinely happy so many employees seemed to be. People were smiling. People were laughing with each other. Employees knew the park, knew the history, and seemed genuinely interested in making sure guests were having a good time.
That kind of culture doesn’t happen accidentally.
Train Rides, Car Rides & Excellent Food
I took the Rockin’ Roadway for a little nostalgic drive through the park and then climbed aboard the Dollywood Express, the park’s historic steam train.
The train is pulled by Klondike Katie, a 110-ton coal-fired steam locomotive built in 1943 that still takes visitors through the foothills of the Smokies.
There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about sitting on a steam train while surrounded by the mountains.
And then there was lunch.
I stopped at Front Porch Café, and I have to say…
For amusement park food?
That was GOOD.
Like, actually good.
Not “I’m hungry because I’ve been walking around all day” good.
Good enough that I would happily eat there even if there weren’t roller coasters outside.
The Eagles…and the Giant Mayonnaise
Dollywood has also been home to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which opened in 1991 as a 1.5-million-cubic-foot outdoor aviary and was known for its presentation of non-releasable bald eagles.
The sanctuary has been part of Dollywood’s long-running conservation and education partnership with the American Eagle Foundation. That chapter is now changing: following storm damage to the sanctuary, the non-releasable eagles are being moved permanently to the American Eagle Foundation’s larger conservation campus in nearby Kodak.
But while wandering around the park, I encountered something else that deserves recognition.
A GIANT FAUX JAR OF MAYONNAISE.
And if you know me at all, you know that I will eat almost anything.
Except mayonnaise.
I saw that enormous jar and genuinely gagged a little.
I don’t know what psychological warfare was being waged there, but Dolly…
I surrender.
The Roller Coasters I Admired From a Safe Distance
Now, the roller coasters looked absolutely INSANE. Twists. Loops. Drops. People screaming. People laughing. People voluntarily getting back in line to do it again.
I respect these people.
I am not one of them.
I watched from the ground with my feet firmly planted on Tennessee soil, which is exactly where they belonged.
After surviving the Incline Railway and the SkyBridge earlier in this trip, I had already exceeded my personal quota for terror.
Sometimes courage is knowing your limits.
And sometimes it’s knowing exactly where the nearest bench is.
Leaving With a Little More Dolly
I had such a wonderful day at Dollywood.
I loved the rides I actually rode, the rides I absolutely did not ride, the music, the food, the scenery, the history, and—most of all—the sense of joy that seems to run through the entire park.
And yes…
I left with Dolly Parton merchandise.
Because apparently there was a small Dolly-shaped hole in my wardrobe that needed to be filled.
But more than souvenirs, I left thinking about the incredible ripple effect one person can create.
Dolly Parton grew up in a tiny mountain community with very little money and an enormous dream. She became a superstar. Then she turned around and invested in the place that helped make her who she was.
That’s pretty powerful.
Maybe that’s the real magic of Dollywood.
It’s not just a theme park.
It’s a giant, glittery, music-filled reminder that you can dream ridiculously big, work incredibly hard, bring other people along with you, and still remember where you came from.
And if you happen to do it while wearing rhinestones?
Even better.
Dollywood, you were absolutely delightful.
And Dolly?
Thank you for the reminder that one person really can make a difference.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Dolly merch to find a place for.
Felicity Arvizu takes on... 