For years, Dollywood’s ‘white glove’ team has swept the park before opening—noting everything that was ready for guests and those few things that need a little more polish. Because this effort is about more than ensuring everything is clean, it’s now known as the Operational Readiness team. It’s a wholistic walkthrough to examine every [...]
As we celebrate 35 years of Dollywood during this 2020 season, we’re reminiscing some of the great additions to our world-class park. Dollywood has been faithful to give guests new experiences every season since it opened. Here’s a look at the expansion our park offered from park opening in 1986 through the first decade [...]
Thirty-five years of Dollywood equates to three-and-a-half decades of rich park history. As our sweet, once-upon-a-time regional park has grown into a popular family destination for families around the globe, the landscape and offerings have evolved with our guests’ expectations. Previously, we looked at the annual additions from Dollywood’s opening in 1986 through the [...]
This year, we are celebrating 35 years of Dollywood—35 years of the best kind of family entertainment you can find anywhere, if you ask me. I love our sweet park and I’m proud to be a part of all the excitement. Because we’ve accomplished A LOT in these three and a half decades, I’ll [...]
As much as I would love it if we didn’t have to close Dollywood for the winter, I’m equally glad we have that time to tackle big projects that improve the guest experience year-to-year. Just think of all that our team is able to accomplish! The way the calendar falls, there are 69 days [...]
Are you like me? Do you routinely walk (or drive) right by something so often that it becomes camouflaged? For years, I passed Lucky 7 Mine in Craftsman’s Valley without giving the shop a second thought. I was on my way to Blazing Fury, no doubt. But this is a good lesson to keep [...]
Dollywood’s chapel is an iconic fixture of the park. Think you know the Robert F. Thomas Chapel? Yep, there’s a weekly church service. And, yes, the building is named in honor of the doctor who delivered Dolly Parton. But there’s a lot more I bet you don’t know. I sat down with Dollywood’s Chaplain [...]
Do you love the details of Wildwood Grove? I sure do. And I love sharing what I learn along the way. Today I want to explain how it took several teams (with different talents) to create the stencil of mountains on Hidden Hollow. What you see on the exterior of this 4,000-square-foot indoor play [...]
Dollywood’s crafts and master craftsmen distinguish the theme park from other attractions in the industry. Sure, you may be able to hop on a coaster in another park—but, can you learn about the culture and trades of Appalachian people in the late 1800s? You may be able to find good food—but, can you make [...]
So, we did a thing here at Dollywood today, or rather Dolly did. She opened a little land called Wildwood Grove. Have you heard of it? And really, as I’m sure many of you know, it’s not a little land at all. Years of planning, months of hard work and $37 million later, Dolly [...]
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