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Dollywood has big plans for the future

Dollywood: Dolly Parton announced that $160 million will be invested into park expansions over the next decade.

From Carey Lynn Holtsclaw
Posted April 5, 2005 at 3:09 PM
As part of Dollywood's 20th Anniversary Celebration, Dolly Parton announced that the park will undergo a major expansion and facelift over the next several years in an effort to increase the size and scope of the park. The planned future expansions are said to be worth over $160 million. Plans include a resort hotel and possibly another Dollywood theme park.

The entire story is on NYNewsday.com:

http://www.nynewsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-music-dollys-park,0,2211511.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines

In addition to other 20th Anniversary Festivities, Dolly also gave out 1,600 20-year passes to guests that visited the park last Friday. The lucky guests that received the passes will have free admission to Dollywood through December 31st, 2025.

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3156825&nav=4QcHYC1t


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Derek Potter
Posted April 5, 2005 at 5:35 PM
Dollywood's new theme park? Sounds like it has Nashville written all over it.

From Brian Gentry
Posted April 5, 2005 at 7:42 PM
Lets hope it's nashville. I live in Nashville and ever since they took away Opry Land my themepark addiction has gotten worse. Now the closet park is Kentucky Kingdome. Nashville would be a great place for a new Dollywood, he I will take what I can get

From Robert Niles
Posted April 5, 2005 at 9:54 PM
Nah, too close to the original.

Maybe she buys another Silver Dollar City and goes to Branson. Or, Vegas could use another theme park. But if she really wants to go for the bucks, she'd expand her presence in Orlando and get a park there.

That said, Nashville does need a park. Count me among those who miss Opryland.

From Carey Lynn Holtsclaw
Posted April 5, 2005 at 11:30 PM
As far fetched as it may sound, Dolly and the Silver Dollar City Company (HFE) are actually looking at Nashville as the possible site for a new park.

The Tennessean has an article on it:
http://tennessean.com/local/archives/05/03/67774842.shtml?Element_ID=67774842

If DP and the SDC people ever do build a park in Nashville, I imagine it would have to be very different from the original Dollywood...maybe something more along the line of Celebration City in Branson. I really don't see it happening, though.

As for Florida, I had read that Dolly was one of the potential Cypress Gardens buyers prior to Kent Buescher purchasing the place. So I guess she does have some sort of interest for an attraction in that area other than Dixie Stampede.

From Meyers Jacobsen
Posted April 5, 2005 at 11:53 PM
Interesting. Silver Dollar City is one of the possible park investors/operators that I might approach for the Desert Dreams project once the land is secured. But although the California market is bigger, Nashville has no park and a show-oriented park makes sense in my opinion. We shall see what happens.

From Derek Potter
Posted April 6, 2005 at 2:40 PM
Nashville is a decent drive away from Pigeon Forge....about 4 1/2 hours. Thats plenty of distance, considering the proximity of other company's properties. There are other options, but Dolly is held in ultra high regard in Nashville as an artist and as a person. Quite simply, she is one of it's darlings. It would be a good fit.

The buzz is that Nashville is looking for someone to develop a theme park, so why not her? If this would be the case, I would expect that it would be a little different than Dollywood, although I don't know how different they could remake Dollywood differently without losing charm.

From Brian Gentry
Posted April 6, 2005 at 3:25 PM
Nashville would be a great area for a park. I can almost make it to Kings Island faster than I can get to Dollywood. You could even have a park focused on Tennessee and all it offers. Have one area like Memphis with the blues and a river atmosephere. Another like Dollywood showing the rule Appalachian side of TN. Chattanoga and its rich railroad and cival war history. Nashville and its music. The posibilities are there its just a matter of what Dolly thinks is best.

From dave smith
Posted April 7, 2005 at 4:07 AM
I think nashville would be be the ultimate destination for the park. As i have never been or do not have a clue about the place i feel that nashville would be a suitable destination. BOM BOM

From Cory Hemilright
Posted August 15, 2006 at 2:22 PM
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/mar06/dollywood.htm

From Cory Hemilright
Posted August 16, 2006 at 7:16 AM
Looks like a new park could be popping up in N.C, take a look, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/mar06/dollywood.htm

From Amber W.
Posted September 1, 2006 at 6:33 AM
her new park is going to be in roanoke rapids north carolina

From Zachary Lee
Posted December 21, 2006 at 10:56 PM
I don't think you are going to see the new park in Roanoke.

Dolly has stated that this is her brothers entertainment district not hers. Also Dolly i beleive at one time said that she almost dind't want to go to the ground breaking because she though it would take away from her brother's spot light.

It could possibly be a second Dollywood but I highly doubt it.

From christy martin
Posted January 18, 2008 at 9:27 PM
i think nashville would be the perfect place for this. nashville needs amusement park like a child needs there mom.

From Jason Jackson
Posted January 20, 2008 at 11:25 AM
The Roanoke Rapids project has been a big disaster from what I understand.

http://news14.com/content/headlines/591608/struggling-theatre-gets-new-name/Default.aspx

From John Baxter
Posted June 3, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Is Kentucky being considered for a theme park?

From Jordan Dean
Posted July 10, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I heard they might be making Dollywood in the my hometown. Hazard, KY

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