The History of Dollywood

July 27, 2021

Dollywood is one of America’s favorite theme parks, the perfect blend of old and new and the heart and soul of the Great Smoky Mountains. This iconic theme park boasts world-class attractions, entertainment, and festivals with kid-friendly soft play zones, adventurous thrill rides, mountain crafts, award-winning restaurants, and classic country music shows.

Today, Dollywood is the top destination for family vacations in Pigeon Forge and is continually ranked one of the best parks in the world, but where did Dollywood begin?

rebel-railroad

Rebel Railroad
(1961-1969)

The original theme park, Rebel Railroad opened in 1961 as a modest, civil war attraction run by the Robbins brothers from North Carolina. Attractions included a general store, blacksmith shop, saloon, and the main attraction Klondike Katie. This historic coal-fired steam engine was rebuilt from an abandoned logging locomotive and took Rebel Railroad visitors on an unforgettable ride through the Great Smoky Mountains.

Visitors to Rebel Railroad were able to get a glimpse into the history and culture of the Southern Appalachians on a unique train ride that traveled through a fake western town with staged attacks by robbers and Indians, and only the Confederate soldiers to protect them. Today Rebel Railroad’s legacy remains at Dollywood with the old-fashioned steam engines at the Dollywood Express where you can still take a 5-mile journey back in time.

Robert-F-Thomas-Church

Goldrush Junction
(1970-1977)

In 1970, Rebel Railroad was purchased by Cleveland Browns owner, Art Modell, and transformed to a Wild West Theme Park touted then as “Tennessee’s Million Dollar Fun Attraction”. Goldrush Junction kept the Klondike Katie train ride, Lady Gay Saloon, and existing attractions, and over the years Goldrush Junction grew to be a thriving Smoky Mountain attraction.

Enhancements to the park included an outdoor theater for entertainment, a log flume ride relocated from the New York World’s Fair, several children’s rides, a campground and log cabins for accommodation, and the Robert F. Thomas Church which still stands today as a top Dollywood attraction. For a short period, one of the main attractions of Goldrush Junction was the ability to pan for actual gold.

Grist-Mill

Silver Dollar City
(1977-1985)

In 1977, the Herschend family bought the theme park changing the name to Silver Dollar City, an extension of their existing theme park in Branson, Missouri. The family were not new to the entertainment industry and set out to expand the theme park with a deep-rooted commitment to preserving the Smoky Mountain history, heritage, and traditions of the area. Over $1 million in improvements were added to the park including the famous Grist Mill, mountain crafts from local artisans, music stages for shows, and more thrilling rides and coasters including Tennessee Tornado, Blazing Fury, and Flooded Mine.

In the early 80’s everything changed! In a 1982 interview with Barbara Walters, Dolly Parton spoke of her dream for a theme park in her hometown, “sort of a fantasy city … a Smoky Mountain fairyland”. The Herschends heard the interview, the beginning of their creative collaborations with Dolly and the soon-to-be Dollywood!

Shooting-Star

Dollywood

(1986-Today)

In 1986, Dolly partnered with the Herschend family with the vision to transform the small local attraction into a world-class theme park and give back to the beloved community she called home. Her entertainment expertise combined with her love for the Smoky Mountains and the community was a recipe for success.

May 3, 1986, marked Dollywood’s opening day which exceeded all expectations. In fact, they weren’t prepared at all! It was a huge success with traffic backed up for 6 miles and record numbers, but insufficient food, restrooms, and facilities. It was time for Dollywood to grow. In the first year, Dollywood visitors increased by 75%, a success story indeed.

Over the years millions of dollars have been invested in Dollywood expansions and upgrades with novel attractions, new amusement zones, thrilling rides, award-winning restaurants, and country shows. In 2001, the Splash Country water park was built and in 2015 the luxurious DreamMore Resort was added to the popular Smoky Mountain theme park.

Dollywood has tripled in size since its humble beginnings in 1986 and continues to expand with new attractions each season. Dollywood is now the biggest source of revenue and the largest employer in the community with over 4,000 employees. In fact, Forbes recently named Dollywood among America’s best employers for 2021!

On June 3rd, 2021 Dollywood announced plans for a 302-room “HeartSong Lodge & Resort” hotel to add to the resort’s accommodation options and kickstart Dollywood’s $500 million investment strategy. The new HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled to open in 2023.

“I’m so happy with what we are doing to make sure our guests have a great season this year and being able to announce the new HeartSong Lodge & Resort is just one more way we’re going to be able to help families reconnect, explore and discover together. I truly believe the natural beauty of the Smokies and the warmth of this special place will inspire every guest to nurture the ‘heartsong’ within them.”

Where-to-STay

Where to Stay Near Dollywood

Xplorie brings the best places to stay and fun local activities together into one perfect package. Cabin rentals are the safest option for a vacation and our Xplorie partners offer a diverse selection of Smoky Mountain cabin rentals.

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