Located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains in the Knoxville metropolitan area, Dollywood reopened under its current name in 1986. Jointly owned by Herschend and Dolly Parton Productions, the amusement destination originally began in 1961 as Rebel Railroad before evolving into Goldrush Junction and Silver Dollar City Tennessee. Country music star Dolly Parton partnered with the Herschends to create local employment and expand the site into a major regional attraction.
The anchor of a 150-acre destination, Dollywood is laid out into several distinct themed areas including Rivertown Junction, Showstreet, Country Fair, Jukebox Junction, Wilderness Pass, and Timber Canyon. The broader resort grounds also include the 35-acre Dollywood's Splash Country water park and the DreamMore Resort and Spa. Drawing nearly 4 million guests every year between mid-March and the holiday season, the park serves as the largest community employer and the premier ticketed tourist destination in Tennessee.
Dollywood is famous for its high-powered roller coasters, including Wild Eagle, Lightning Rod, Mystery Mine, and FireChaser Express, alongside whitewater rafting and flume rides. Beyond rides, the park presents traditional Smoky Mountain crafts, local foods, and live musical entertainment ranging from country to southern gospel. Designed to suit families, thrill-seekers, and multi-day holiday travelers, the destination pairs modern amusement attractions with Dolly Parton's regional heritage and lively seasonal festivals.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Dollywood change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Situated in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in the Knoxville metropolitan area near the Great Smoky Mountains. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Where to stay
On-site and resort hotels put you right at the gates — often with early park access — turning the visit into an easy two- or three-day trip.
A 20-acre resort and spa located adjacent to Dollywood's Splash Country water park.
05 Best time to visit & opening times
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Main Operating Season | Mid-March through Christmas and holiday season | Nearly 4 million guests visit during this annual operating period. |
| Smoky Mountain Christmas | November through December | Features holiday theater performances and festive entertainment. |
Opening times vary by day · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · check before you travel
06 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- The broader destination features a separate 35-acre water park, Dollywood's Splash Country.
- Dollywood is the anchor attraction of a 150-acre property including resort lodging and dinner theater.
- The park hosts seasonal music festivals, concerts, and live entertainment throughout its operating calendar.
