How many people visit dollywood

For the uninitiated, Dollywood is owned by Dolly Parton, and on the surface it's simply a themed amusement park that is something of an homage to the entertainment legend.

But it goes well beyond that. Dollywood turns 30 this year, and it is already the largest employer in the county. Parton recently opened Dollywood's DreamMore Resort, which is adjacent to the park and her Dollywood's Splash Country water park, and that is expected to create some 2, jobs.

The room resort reportedly boasts multiple pools and waterfalls, as well as a salon and spa. She is one of 12 children, and her father was a "dirt-poor" tobacco sharecropper. Parton routinely credits her success to her family, even though they lived in a one-room cabin that could have stifled the talent that led to numerous accolades in the country music world and well beyond. A family would love this. Speaking of her inspiration for this atmosphere, she says, "You just keep your eyes and your heart open, and it usually comes.

Dollywood attracts some 2. That's almost a third of the up to 13 million people who visit the Smoky Mountains region annually. And yet the emphasis on family doesn't seem to fully explain Dollywood's appeal.

In fact, figuring out why Dollywood is still so popular takes a bit of work. Even a year employee couldn't give satisfying, concrete answers as to why the place is such a draw, only a general overview of Parton's positive qualities. She wants everybody to be hydrated," the woman, who declined to give her name, as she was not authorized to speak to the press, explained.

She's just one of us. She's probably a multimillionaire, but she don't act like it. Story Suggestions. Media Visits. Pigeon Forge is a small town with a resident population of approximately 6, However, more than 10 million people visit every year, and more than 2 million stay overnight. Tourism is the only industry in Pigeon Forge.

To house all of those overnight guests, Pigeon Forge has more than 14, lodging units in hotels, motels, condos, cabins and campgrounds.

The eagles living here are all permanently disabled and are cared for daily by staff members from the American Eagle Federation. Arguably the best aspect of Dollywood, and one thing that draws visitors from all over the world, is its outstanding dining options.

Dollywood has received a Golden Ticket award in the Best Food category from Amusement Today, a leading trade publication for the amusement park industry, four times. Related: Best credit cards for dining.

I risk sounding dramatic here, but this bread will change your life. I highly recommend the icing dipper. You exit the park through the gift shop, filled with typical souvenirs as well as some fun and kitschy Dolly Parton-themed merchandise.

Dolly fans, rejoice! To fast-track the wait times on most of the rides, visitors may want to take advantage of TimeSaver Pass options. There are only a limited number of TimeSaver Passes available each day on a first-come, first-serve basis, so I recommend you purchase these online in advance.

We tried to purchase TimeSaver Passes online the morning that we were going and it said they were all sold out for the day — though thanks to the weather, we lucked into not needing it. TimeSaver: For rides, enjoy using expedited entrances 10 times throughout the day at your choice of TimeSaver attractions. For theaters, enjoy unlimited daily show reservations. The eligible rides are:. Another handy resource we used on our trip was the Dollywood app.

Be sure to download this before you head to the park. The app provided free Wi-Fi for the duration of our time at the park, and it also showcased wait times for any ride at that given time, which made mapping out our day much easier. My favorite accommodations in the Smoky Mountains are always cabins for a truly authentic mountain visit. For this particular stay, my family and I rented a cabin about 10 minutes down the road from the theme park.

There are cabin rental companies with properties scattered all across Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville, any of which would be a reasonable drive to Dollywood. You can find plenty of options on Airbnb. Many of the cabins in the area offer discounts to various attractions, including Dollywood admission, so be sure to ask upon booking if they have any coupons available. The resort, which opened in , is just a few minutes down the road from Dollywood and focuses on the themes of family and storytelling.

Guests of the resort receive complimentary TimeSaver passes, early entry to the park on Saturdays, access to a free shuttle that runs to and from Dollywood and a special resort guest-only entrance at the park. The DreamMore Resort features a zero-entry beach-style outdoor pool, an indoor pool open year-round, an outdoor hot tub and a splash pad.

The resort offers four restaurants, including a Southern-style buffet. The Spa at DreamMore Resort features salon and spa services seven days a week. You can find DreamMore and other nearby hotels in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal , which means you can stay there using points from your Chase Sapphire Reserve at 1.

Just down the road is Wilderness at the Smokies , a hotel and waterpark resort in Sevierville, Tennessee, about a minute drive from Dollywood. A quick Google search will bring up a few points options like Springhill Suites by Marriott Category 5, 35, Marriott points per night , Tru by Hilton 27, to 30, Hilton Honors points per night , and Home2 Suites by Hilton from 29, to 50, Hilton Honors points per night.

Non-points options include Margaritaville and a year-round Christmas-themed hotel. Dollywood is known for its over-the-top celebrations of each season, drawing many locals for a day trip to take part in the festivities. While the exact dates vary a bit from year to year, these are the tentpole events that keep loyal Dollywood lovers coming back. Note that some festivals may be canceled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Dollywood is unique among amusement parks and is a must-visit for all Dolly Parton fans. Add a trip to Pigeon Forge to your bucket list to experience all the delicious Southern food, Appalachian culture and incredible thrill rides this park has to offer.

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