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Dollywood

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

About Dollywood

Location: Dollywood is located southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee and just north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can get driving directions by clicking the Dollywood link on Theme Park Insider's Google map of U.S. theme parks.

History: The theme park currently known as Dollywood started out in 1961 as a small Civil War-themed tourist attraction called "Rebel Railroad". Rebel Railroad's main component was the steam train, but there were also other interesting things on the property such as an old time saloon and general store.

In the late 1960s, the name was changed to "Goldrush Junction", and the Civil War theme gave way to a Wild West theme. The Cleveland Browns football team purchased Goldrush Junction in 1970 and expanded the park with a log flume and several other small rides.

In 1976, Jack and Pete Herschend of Branson, Missouri bought the park from the Cleveland Browns and the following season changed the name from Goldrush Junction to "Silver Dollar City Tennessee", as a sister park to the Herschends' original Silver Dollar City in Branson.

Dolly Parton joined the Herschend brothers in 1986 when she bought into the theme park and redeveloped it as Dollywood. Since then, it has grown to become Tennessee's number one tourist attraction.

Hours: http://www.dollywood.com.

Tickets: Buy online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.

If you enter the park after 3pm, you can return on the next day for free. (*valid March - October)

Reservations: Dollywood offers a Q-bot ride reservation system, for an additional per-person charge.

Strategy:
If long lines are a concern, the Q2Q reservation system can be worth the money on busy days. It will usually allow guests to visit two attractions in the time they might otherwise visit one, and will grant reserved seating for in park entertainment.

Otherwise, turn left when you enter the park and take the pathway up to Timber Canyon and start your day with the roller coasters before turning to the musical shows later in the day. Consult the show schedules available when you enter the park. -- Last edited by Amber Vanderslice

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Photos from Dollywood

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Readers' Tips for Visiting Dollywood

[54 + / 13 -] Get the Q2Q reservation device (Q-bot). It's MUCH cheaper than at most other parks, and even on the busiest days you won't wait more than 30 minutes for even the busiest rides. It also gives the best seats for the shows (with no queueing).

[34 + / 4 -] Ride Mystery Mine when you first get there and the ride line is shorter.

[20 + / 5 -] if you are visiting on a busy day the Q2Q rental is well worth the $10 per person charge.

  • Read, and vote on, more tips for visiting Dollywood.

Dollywood Hotels

Readers' Opinions

Attractions

Country Fair(Rating)(Height)
The Scrambler839
Waltzing Swinger842
Dizzy Disk848
Sky Rider842
Lucky Ducky732
Piggy Parade732
Shooting Star7
Wonder Wheel7
Lemon Twist6
Amazing Flying Elephants6
Dolly's Demolition Derby642
Busy Bees632
Craftsman's Valley(Rating)(Height)
Daredevil Falls942
Tennessee Tornado848
Blazing Fury842
Dreamland Forest(Rating)(Height)
Mountain Slidewinder839
Dreamland Forest Treehouse7
Jukebox Junction(Rating)(Height)
Rockin' Roadway842
Rivertown Junction(Rating)(Height)
Smoky Mountain River Rampage836
Showstreet(Rating)(Height)
Sha-Kon-O-Hey9
The Village(Rating)(Height)
Village Carousel9
Dollywood Express8
Timber Canyon(Rating)(Height)
Thunderhead948
Mystery Mine948
Lumberjack Lifts739
Timber Tower648
Wilderness Pass(Rating)(Height)
River Battle8
Adventure Mountain44

[Add a missing attraction]

Dining

Craftsman's Valley(Rating)
Miss Lillian's BBQ Corner10
Miss Lillian's Chicken House9
Granny Ogle's Ham 'N' Beans7
Jukebox Junction(Rating)
Red's Diner5
Rivertown Junction(Rating)
Apple Jack's Sandwich Shop8
Aunt Granny's Buffet7
Showstreet(Rating)
Backstage Restaurant7
The Village(Rating)
Whistlestop Grill 8
Victoria's Pizza Patio6
Timber Canyon(Rating)
Lumber Camp9

[Add a missing restaurant]

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