What Inspired Dolly Parton to Create Dollywood?

Why did Dolly Parton, the celebrated singer, actress, and fashion icon, decide to open an amusement park?

If you’re familiar with the “Jolene” singer, you know she’s always passionate about giving back. For instance, her Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has donated over 264 million books to children worldwide since 1995.

Dollywood was founded from that same spirit of generosity. Parton wanted to provide employment opportunities for people in the community near her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee. Additionally, she aimed to honor and showcase the local culture, music, and traditions.

To achieve this, Parton partnered with the existing Silver Dollar City theme park and transformed it into a venue celebrating her Appalachian heritage while helping to strengthen the economy of East Tennessee.

Dollywood’s Award-Winning Legacy

Dollywood’s success didn’t happen overnight. The park has won the Best Amusement Park award three times in the past four years.

TripAdvisor also ranked Dollywood eleventh on its list of the Top 25 Amusement Parks worldwide, making it the only North American park to appear in the top 15.

These accolades come from reviews submitted by TripAdvisor users over the previous year.

“This award means a lot because it reflects genuine feedback from our guests about their experiences at our parks and resorts,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood’s president.

In May, the National Amusement Park Historical Association named Dollywood the nation’s favorite theme park for the third consecutive time, with Walt Disney World coming in second.