Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - New Attractions Opening in 2024
Dollywood is gearing up for a massive expansion in 2024, with several highly-anticipated new rides and attractions set to open. For thrill-seekers, the highlight will be Big Bear Mountain, a cutting-edge Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) hybrid coaster. This coaster type combines a wooden track structure with a steel rail, allowing for extreme elements like inversions and steep drops. Big Bear Mountain will tower over the park at over 200 feet tall and reach speeds up to 75 mph. Coaster enthusiasts are already buzzing about the five inversions, 90-degree drop, and lengthy 4,500-foot track. Families can look forward to Princess and the Frog, a charming boat ride themed to the 2009 Disney film. Riders will follow Tiana and Prince Naveen through the bayous of New Orleans in this musically-infused dark ride. Dollywood is also building a new themed area called Rivertown Junction, which will transport guests back to the Smokies in the 1880s. In addition to requisite retail and dining, Rivertown Junction will be home to a classic woodie coaster called Smoky Mountain Flyer and a river rafting ride named Smoky Mountain Rapids.
For those looking to cool off, Dollywood is constructing a five-acre water park expansion called Splashwater Springs. Highlights include dueling tube slides called Smoky Mountain Plunge and a massive wave pool dubbed Big Smoky Surf. Families will appreciate the new kiddie play areas and lazy river. Complementing the new rides and attractions will be Chasing Rainbows, a resort hotel opening in 2024. The 150-room property will feature Dolly-inspired decor and promote her philosophy to "dream more." Guest amenities include a swimming pool, spa, and family entertainment center. Staying on-site comes with early park access and other perks.
Seasoned Dollywood visitors know the park is about more than rides. The 2024 expansion will broaden the park's entertainment offerings with a new animatronic show in Rivertown Junction's Saloon and a larger venue for live concerts and productions. Dollywood's Festival of Nations also gets a refreshed footprint including artisan demonstrations from around the world. It all adds up to an incredibly immersive, multi-sensory experience.
What else is in this post?
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - New Attractions Opening in 2024
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Experience the Charm of Pigeon Forge
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Dolly Parton's Stamp on the Park
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Thrills for All Ages
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Southern Food and Hospitality
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Affordable Family Fun
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Fall Festivals and Holiday Events
- Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - The Great Smoky Mountains Nearby
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Experience the Charm of Pigeon Forge
Nestled at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains lies Pigeon Forge, a charming small town that serves as the gateway to Dollywood. This lively community oozes Southern hospitality, drawing visitors in with its down-home eateries, unique attractions, and breathtaking natural scenery.
At the heart of Pigeon Forge is the Parkway, a stretch of road lined with shops, restaurants, and family fun. Wander inside Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler for free whiskey tastings or stop by Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen to indulge in some authentic Southern cuisine. After fueling up, burn off those calories at WonderWorks, an indoor amusement park with interactive science exhibits and thrill rides. When the kids tire themselves out, parents can slip away to the Titanic Museum Attraction or the Hollywood Wax Museum for some grown-up fun. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without exploring Dollywood’s Splash Country, a 35-acre water adventure park nestled on the banks of the Little Pigeon River.
Beyond the Parkway, Pigeon Forge entices visitors to embrace the great outdoors. Rent a cabin in the woods, go trout fishing in the Pigeon River, or hike to majestic views from the Twin Creeks and Laurel Falls trails. Come winter, strap on snowshoes or skis to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, home to the scenic Clingmans Dome. When the weather warms, the thee national scenic byways winding through Sevierville tempt motorcyclists and sports car drivers. From the artsy enclave of Gatlinburg to the natural beauty of Cades Cove, Pigeon Forge places some of America’s most prized landscapes at your fingertips.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Dolly Parton's Stamp on the Park
Dolly Parton's influence permeates every corner of her namesake theme park. As Dollywood's founder and creative director, her vision shapes the park's charm and personality. Now nearing almost 40 years old, Dollywood stands as a testament to Parton's Appalachian roots and values.
Nowhere is Dolly's spirit more evident than in the shows and entertainment. Several musical revues highlight Dolly's greatest hits with lively singing and dancing. Guests can see depictions of her journey to stardom in productions like My People! or Dreamland Drive-In. Parton also frequently returns to perform concerts at Dollywood, allowing fans to see her live on stage. Beyond the music, Dollywood's entertainment lineup leans into Dolly's message of following your dreams. The park brought Dolly's children’s book Coat of Many Colors to life in a heartwarming show families adore.
Parton selected the park's location in the foothills of the Smokies to showcase the natural beauty of her home. The park’s landscaping features native flowering plants like rhododendrons and mountain laurel. Rides like the Timber Canyon Log Flume weave through forested hills with views of the mountains. Parton’s affinity for the outdoors comes through in those tranquil moments.
Dollywood also appeals to Dolly’s mission to inspire children’s imaginations. Areas like Wildwood Grove transport families into the magical world of Parton’s bedtime stories. Rides like Dragonflier let kids soar on the wings of a giant, colorful dragon. Even rollercoasters like Wild Eagle get the Dolly treatment with playful theming. Kids can splash down water slides named after her nieces and nephews at Splash Country waterpark.
Food options also receive the Dolly stamp of approval. Her penchant for Southern cooking manifests in buffets laden with comfort foods. You’ll find fried chicken, biscuits, and pecan pie - Dolly favorites. She makes sure vegetarian and gluten-free guests feel included with options like the Veggie Patch café. And Dolly’s sweet tooth comes through in shops hawking her baked goods line.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Thrills for All Ages
With its charming mountain setting and Southern hospitality, it’s easy to overlook Dollywood as a theme park powerhouse. But make no mistake - this Tennessee treasure offers thrill rides to satisfy even the most daring adrenaline junkies.
The park boasts an impressive ten rollercoasters ranging from family friendly to fear-inducing. Thrilling options like Tennessee Tornado and FireChaser Express deliver loop the loops and zero-G rolls for those wanting an intense coaster fix. Lightning Rod packs a punch too as the world’s first launched RMC coaster with 0-20mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds. Ride at night and traversing the 153-foot lift hill feels like scaling the Smoky Mountains amid a lightning storm!
That said, Dollywood refuses to leave less daring guests behind. The park skillfully adds theming and smoother coaster designs catering to families and first-time riders. Wild Eagle soars across the river valley with an unobstructed view of the Smokies. Its innovative winged seats and lengthy 4,370-foot steel track provide a surprisingly smooth and graceful glide. Even the twists and turns of Tennessee Tornado’s spaghetti bowl feel exhilarating rather than nauseating.
Kiddos get special treatment with Dollywood’s numerous pint-sized coasters. Lil’ Loggers Run treats kids to their own logging camp adventure aboard mini toboggans. The Dragonflier coaster gives a kid-friendly taste of soaring through the skies on the back of a colorful dragon. Wee Willie's coaster in Rivertown Junction will join the fun for 2024. Young thrill-seekers even have a chance to “drive” their own VW bug along the Great Pumpkin Coaster track.
When coasters alone don’t sate your thrill appetite, venture on rides like Mountain Slidewinder for an undulating sensation or drop from daring heights on Eagle's Nest. New for 2024, Smoky Mountain Flyer adds an intense wooden coaster rife with airtime pops and laterals. Even waterpark Splash Country impresses with steep, almost vertical slides like Mountain Scream.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Southern Food and Hospitality
Dolly’s Southern roots shine through in Dollywood’s focus on comfort food and hospitality. From fried chicken to banana pudding, the park’s restaurants dish out hearty helpings of classic regional cuisine. Meals come with a side of Southern charm thanks to Dollywood’s friendly hosts.
Visitors rave about the tasty vittles at Aunt Granny’s buffet, Dollywood’s premier all-you-can-eat experience. Located in Rivertown Junction, Aunt Granny’s serves up fried chicken, juicy pork chops, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, stewed apples, and other Southern staples. Don’t pass up dessert - the peach cobbler and banana pudding come highly recommended! With reasonable prices and generous portions, Aunt Granny’s aims to send you away stuffed and satisfied.
Those craving Southern BBQ will relish the melt-in-your-mouth brisket, pulled pork, and smoked turkey legs at Red’s Drive In. The eatery’s dedication to slow smoking meats over a hickory wood fire infuses everything with a deliciously smoky flavor. Grab a seat at the counter and watch the pitmaster work his magic.
At Miss Lillian’s Smokehouse, the theme park’s newest BBQ joint, smoked meat nachos and loaded baked potatoes join the expected BBQ fare. Vegetarians need not shy away either. Blackened jackfruit stands in for pulled pork in the BBQ Jack sandwich while the housemade seitan “ribs” convince carnivores. Those with dietary restrictions report the chefs happily cater to special requests.
Beyond BBQ, Dollywood offers quintessential regional snacks like fresh hot funnel cakes drizzled with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sink your teeth into an apple fritter - a fitting indulgence when apples are one of Tennessee’s biggest crops. And don’t skip the apple cider slushies, an ideal thirst quencher on a hot day.
Dolly also sprinkles in tastes of home with on-site bakeries and candy shops. Sample her family recipes at Aunt Granny’s Bakery like the Coat of Many Colors salad and Uncle Bill’s bologna sandwich. Then satisfy your sweet tooth with cream-filled Coconut Cake cookies and chocolate-caramel Dumplins. At aunt’s jam house you can try Parton family jams, jellies, and preserves made from local fruits. Grab a few jars to take a little slice of Dollywood home with you.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Affordable Family Fun
A trip to Dollywood offers families hours upon hours of affordable fun. In today’s economy, moms and dads watch every penny, hesitant to splurge on vacations. But Dollywood’s value pricing opens the theme park dream to almost any budget. How does the park keep entertainment costs low without sacrificing experiences?
First, Dollywood embraces an unlimited line-skipping pass over the pay-per-ride model. Purchasing a one-day ticket includes access to TimeSaver — the ability to enter FastPass lines for most rides and shows. Given a single-day admission averages $70, time is more precious than dollars. Once inside, families optimize each moment, riding and seeing as much as possible.
Budget-savvy travelers note Dollywood’s TimeSaver pass compares favorably versus pay-as-you-go set-ups where popular rides like Disney’s Flight of Passage carry an additional $10+ charge. Frequent ride stoppages also consume time. Dollywood’s coasters like Wild Eagle and Lightning Rod experience far less downtime, keeping the fun rolling.
TimeSaver’s value amplifies with multi-day tickets. Adding an extra day only costs $15 more, permitting guests to experience even more rides and shows. Travelers seeking savings select Dollywood’s length-of-stay passes to maximize TimeSaver benefits across several park days. Two or three-day stays let you re-ride favorites like Tennessee Tornado or take in shows like Dreamland Drive-In multiple times.
Beyond TimeSaver’s advantages, Dollywood impresses with budget dining options to refuel the whole family. All-day dining plans cost under $40 per adult and under $20 per child. Families love the ability to grab pizza, popcorn, ice cream — whatever they crave — as often as they like without racking up a bill. Counter service outlets and ample picnic areas provide affordable, filling mealtime solutions too.
Affordability factors into the park’s newest projects as well. Splashwater Springs makes bigger waves than Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon but with economical pricing. Dollywood’s 2024 waterpark expansion adds desirable amenities like a surf pool and dueling tube slides without passing exorbitant costs to guests. Similarly, Big Bear Mountain coaster promises a thrilling RMC experience at a fraction of the multi-million builds prone to massive crowds and lengthy lines. Travelers appreciate time and money savings.
Finally, value permeates Dollywood’s entertainment. High caliber shows like My People! cost no more than a ride on the carousel. Productions feature professional sets, scores, and talent but come included. Multi-day guests return repeatedly, unlike rival parks charging upwards of $99 for add-on experiences. Dollywood provides a complete vacation bundled into that initial ticket scan.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - Fall Festivals and Holiday Events
Fall transforms Dollywood into a picturesque backdrop for celebrating harvest season. Festivals like National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration and Smoky Mountain Fall Festival immerse guests in Appalachian traditions through spirited concerts and demonstrations. Cooler weather welcomes families wanting to experience Dollywood’s signature hospitality and amusement without summer crowds.
Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration pays homage to mountain music’s roots. Southern gospel groups take the stage for rousing concerts that will have you clapping and singing along. Their four-part harmonies backed by piano or acoustic guitar fill Dollywood’s theaters with joyful noise. Talented local artisans display Appalachian crafts like whittling, painting gourds, or weaving baskets too. Their generations-old techniques provide a window into mountain ways of life.
As the air crisps, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Fall Festival invites you to celebrate the harvest season. Artisans demonstrate glass blowing, wood carving, pottery wheel throwing, and other crafts synonymous with the Smokies. Kids giggle as they navigate the hay bale maze or take a pony ride. Live entertainment includes bluegrass pickin’ contests and performances by guest bands like Dailey & Vincent. Foodies indulge in harvest-inspired treats like pumpkin funnel cakes and apple cider slushies.
Dollywood really sparkles for Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana. The park glimmers with five million glittering lights and lavish decorations. Family-friendly shows like ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas On Ice skate iconic holiday stories across the ice. Christmas in the Smokies transports you back to the 1930s for singing, dancing, and Santa sightings. Holiday food options tempt you with gingerbread men, warm wassail, and of course, Dolly’s family fruitcake recipe. Meeting Santa in his outpost and roasting s’mores around a fire complete the festive atmosphere. With so much magic throughout November and December, it’s no wonder Dollywood earned the distinction of America’s Most Christmastime Amusement Park.
To ring in 2025, Dollywood hosts their New Year’s Celebration. Catch live performances by Dolly’s family before an early countdown at 10PM for little ones. At midnight, watch fireworks launch above Dollywood’s iconic wooden rollercoasters. Then dance the rest of 2024 away at multiple DJ parties throughout the park. It’s a lively way to celebrate new beginnings.
Rollercoasters and Rhinestones: Why 2024 is the Year to Visit Dollywood - The Great Smoky Mountains Nearby
Hiking the Smokies tops many families’ vacation agenda. Trails like Laurel Falls and Alum Cave Bluff promise Smoky Mountain vistas and refreshing waterfall views. More daring trekkers tackle the 16-mile roundtrip to Mount LeConte’s summit. Pack a lunch and make a day of Ascending Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee. Walking its steep half-mile trail rewards you with a 360-degree panorama.
Of course, experiencing all 500,000 acres of the park requires a vehicle. The 11-mile Cades Cove loop offers possibly the best chance to spot black bears, turkeys, and whitetail deer in their natural habitat. Make stops at preserved mills, churches, and homes to immerse yourself in 19th century pioneer life. For a break from the car, rent bikes near the campground. Families also enjoy the six-mile loop around the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Spot old cabins, ginseng, and maybe a bear or two along the way.
Don’t overlook the attractions right outside Dollywood’s gates either. At Dixie Stampede, Dolly’s high-energy dinner show, audiences cheer on horse riding stunts and country hoe-downs while feasting on a four-course meal. Nearby, WonderWorks transports you into an upside down building where over 100 interactive exhibits explore science and nature. At Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, indulge in Southern cooking just like the famous chef makes it.
Before heading home, drive up the Parkway to shop for handmade candles, saltwater taffy, homemade fudge, and other crafts. Ride the SkyLift at Anakeesta for a panoramic vista of downtown Gatlinburg and the national park. Downtown Gatlinburg also promises sweet stops like the Donut Friar, serving piping hot, homemade donuts all day.