Visitors Guide to Dollywood

Dollywood

Dollywood opened in 1986, when Dolly Parton bought half of the former Silver Dollar City theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The park is operated by Herschend Family Entertainment and is known for its live entertainment as well as roller coasters and homestyle food, including barbecue, fried chicken, skillet dinners, and Herschend's iconic Cinnamon Bread.

Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Locations with star ratings ranked especially highly among our readers. Vote here to take part in our surveys and submit your picks for top attractions.

Coming in 2024

The Dollywood Parton Experience - This new showcase for Dolly's career will take over the area surrounding and including the former Chasing Rainbows museum.

What To Do

Roller Coasters

  1. Lightning Rod ★ ★ ★
    RMC Topper Track coaster in Jukebox Junction. Dollywood is replacing the launch with a high-speed lift for the 2024 season. Height requirement: 48 inches

  2. Thunderhead
    GCI wooden coaster in Timber Canyon. Height requirement: 48 inches

  3. Tennessee Tornado
    Arrow Dynamics Custom Looping Coaster in Craftsman's Valley. Height requirement: 48 inches

  4. Wild Eagle
    Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster in Wilderness Pass. Height requirement: 50 inches

  5. Mystery Mine
    Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter in Timber Canyon. Height requirement: 48 inches

Family Roller Coasters

  1. Big Bear Mountain
    Vekoma Family Launch Coaster in Wildwood Grove. Height requirement: 39 inches

  2. FireChaser Express
    Gerstlauer Family Coaster in Wilderness Pass. Height requirement: 39 inches

  3. Dragonflier
    Vekoma Family Suspended Coaster in Wildwood Grove. Height requirement: 39 inches

  4. Whistle Punk Chaser
    Zamperla Family Coaster in Timber Canyon. Height requirement: 36 inches

Shows

Check later for Dollywood's 2024 show schedule. Whatever it is, we're just going to go ahead and recommend that you see as many shows as you can while visiting Dolly Parton's theme park. (Though it's almost certain that Dolly won't be there in person.) If nothing else, check out whatever is playing at the Showstreet Palace Theater.

Other Attractions

Country Fair

  • The Amazing Flying Elephants: It's a non-Disney Dumbo
  • Busy Bees: Junior Jets spinner ride
  • Demolition Derby: Bumper cars. Height requirement: 42 inches
  • Dizzy Disk: Zamperla Disk'O. Height requirement: 48 inches
  • Lemon Twist: Tea cups ride
  • Lucky Ducky: Junior carousel ride
  • Piggy Parade: Zamperla Roundabout
  • The Scrambler. Height requirement: 36 inches
  • Shooting Star: Zamperla Junior Drop Tower. Height requirement: 36 inches
  • Sky Rider: Wave swinger. Height requirement: 42 inches
  • The Waltzing Swinger: Wave swinger. Height requirement: 42 inches

Craftsman's Valley

  • Blazing Fury: Dark ride with coaster elements. Height requirement: 42 inches
  • Daredevil Falls: Flue ride. Height requirement: 42 inches

Jukebox Junction

  • Rockin' Roadway: Classic-car-themed track ride

Rivertown Junction

  • Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home: Walthrough
  • Smoky Mountain River Rampage: Rapids ride. Height requirement: 36 inches

Owens Farm

  • Barnstormer: S&S Screamin' Swing. Height requirement: 48 inches
  • Granny's Garden: Playground
  • Lil' Pilots Playground

Timber Canyon

  • Drop Line: 200-foot Funtime Skyfall drop tower. Height requirement: 55 inches
  • Lumberjack Lifts: Heege climbing tower ride. Height requirement: 40 inches

The Village

  • Dollywood Express Train Depot
  • Village Carousel

Wilderness Pass

  • Firehouse Fun Yard: Playground

Wildwood Grove

  • Black Bear Trail. Pony Trek track ride. Height requirement: 36 inches
  • Frogs & Fireflies: Zamperla Jump Around
  • Great Tree Swing. Zamperla Pirate Ship. Height requirement: 36 inches
  • Hidden Hollow: Playground
  • The Mad Mockingbird: Larsen Flying Scooters. Height requirement: 36 inches
  • Treetop Tower: Zamperla Balloon Tower
  • Wildwood Creek: Water play area

Park Map

Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - just north of Gatlinburg and south of Interstate 40. From the Interstate, take exit 407 toward Sevierville and follow Tennessee 66 South, which becomes U.S. 441. At traffic light #8 in Pigeon Forge, turn left and follow the signs to Dollywood.