🌟2025 Press Release, 2025 Calendar, and MORE 🌟

Exciting News from Dollywood for 2025!

Get ready for another amazing year at Dollywood!

• Latest News: [Press Release Below]
• 2025 Operating Calendar: [Scroll down to calendar]
• Holiday Breaks Planning Guide: [Scroll down to Link to Fall-Xmas-Spring Break chart]
• 2025 Season Pass Information: [Scroll down to Link to 2025 Season Pass Info]

Press Release about 2025 40th Anniversary Year Plans

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One of Dolly Parton’s greatest dreams—the little theme park named Dollywood that opened in her home county in 1986—has now become one of the world’s leading family destinations and is set to celebrate its 40th season in 2025. Dollywood Parks & Resorts looks a lot different than it did when it opened on May 3, 1986, but the mission at its heart remains the same—to create a welcoming environment where families can enjoy making memories together.

“But look at how far we’ve come since then—and we’re just getting started!”

Dollywood has special events, new celebrations and several returning favorites planned to commemorate the milestone anniversary. The fun begins at Tripadvisor’s #1 US theme park with Season Passholder Preview Day set for Friday, March 14.

“I can’t believe that we’ve been making memories for folks here at my Dollywood for 40 years,” Dolly explained. “That’s a lot of laughter, hugs and smiles, and I’m glad that we’ve been able to be part of it for so many years. When we opened Dollywood, the main thing I wanted to do was to give families a fun place where they could enjoy time spent together. I’m so proud of all the people who have worked to make Dollywood what it is today, and I want to thank all the guests who have supported us and trusted us to help them create those days they’ll never forget.

“And just think, I spent opening day watching the parking lot because I was worried that people might not show up,” she added with a laugh. “But look at how far we’ve come since then—and we’re just getting started!”

A new 40th anniversary show, which debuts Memorial Day weekend and runs through the end of summer, highlights moments from guest-favorite shows during the park’s illustrious history of entertainment offerings. Additionally, a new drone and fireworks show honoring the 40th anniversary season takes place as part of Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City, and a new opening ceremony will occur at the beginning of each operating day during the 2025 season.

The Imagination Playhouse, which features plays based on books from Dolly’s Imagination Library, becomes a permanent fixture this season, offering its much-loved shows for younger guests from March through the end of September. The theater will offer a rotation of playhouse favorites guests have enjoyed through the years. During Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, new story time and character meet & greets are part of the Imagination Playhouse experience.

Also in celebration of the 40th anniversary, “Heartsong: The Movie” will be remastered and moved—appropriately—to Dreamsong Theater as part of The Dolly Parton Experience. “Heartsong: The Movie” will run in conjunction with “Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends.”

The Country Fair area of the park also receives a bright refresh during the 2025 season to celebrate the classic fun and family togetherness of this special area of the park. In addition, Country Fair transforms during the Harvest Festival to become Candy Corn Country, with decorations and theming to highlight the “corny” fun of this fall treat. The special festival fun doesn’t end there, however. A favorite of years past, Peppermint Valley returns during Smoky Mountain Christmas to provide a bright red and white lighting scheme in Country Fair.

“I’m excited to welcome guests to celebrate our 40th anniversary season with us in 2025,” said Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton. “We are thrilled to have earned the Tripadvisor #1 US theme park designation last year along with being the highest ranked US park in Golden Ticket Award voting for Best Park last year. We’ve worked hard for 40 seasons to make the Dollywood experience the best theme park experience in the country, and our guests are telling us we’ve done just that through these awards. And remember what Dolly said, ‘We’re just getting started!’”

The season begins with the I Will Always Love You Music Festival, March 15- April 13. Returning for 2025 is the show honored as the Golden Ticket Award winner for Best New Show of 2024, “From the Heart—The Life & Music of Dolly Parton.” In this instant classic, Dolly’s remarkable story is told in an inspirational and uplifting way as guests experience the emotional pull she faced as she left everything she had known in Sevier County to move to Nashville in pursuit of her dreams. “From the Heart” phenomenally tells Dolly’s exceptional story through her own narration and legendary music catalog. The show takes place in Celebrity Theater and runs through the Flower & Food Festival.

Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival (April 18-June 8) blooms bright with iconic Mosaiculture displays throughout the park. Vivid larger-than-life flower sculptures create an immersive atmosphere for park guests with more than half-a-million blooms during this stunning festival. Dollywood’s culinary team showcases their world-class abilities during the event with a menu full of delicacies to highlight the tastes of spring in the Smokies.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City (June 14-August 3) is everyone’s favorite summer tradition, and once again includes Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights drone and fireworks show each night. Even more drones take to the skies this year to present a mesmerizing show that honors Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season. Two more guest-favorite shows, “Bubble Evolution” and “Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience,” provide popping bubbles and playful pooches to help every guest feel like a kid this summer.

A family tradition for many, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 12- Oct. 27) celebrates the beauty of fall with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which previously has been named the best theme park harvest event in the world, features elaborate displays that are fun for every member of the family. Creative culinary items, accomplished artisans, and fall fun in the Smokies make this a picture-perfect time to enjoy Dollywood.

The industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event—Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 4)—concludes the park’s 2025 season with six million lights, festive holiday shows, and the warm Christmas atmosphere guests have come to expect during this joyous time of year.

With 40th anniversary season surprises ahead, guests should consider a season pass to ensure they can experience all the fun! Three season pass levels—Diamond, Gold and Silver—provide great options for every guest, while the popular Pre-K Imagination Season Pass offers free admission all season long to any child born in 2020 or 2021. Passes are on sale now to current 2024 season passholders and go on sale to the general public on Monday, Oct. 28. Anyone visiting during this season’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival (opens Friday, Nov. 1) can receive full value from their admission ticket to upgrade to a 2025 season pass! It’s the perfect Christmas gift for every member of the family.

Dollywood Diamond Season Passes provide a premium experience for guests. In addition to admission all season long, Diamond passholders receive four Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, free general parking, the largest discounts on dining, merchandise and lodging, an all-season unlimited 40th anniversary refill mug, as well as discounts on TimeSaver passes, VIP tours and preferred parking. Diamond Season Passes also provide the passholder season access to Dollywood’s Splash Country.

The Gold Pass represents tremendous value for guests thanks to two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, free general parking, a one-day unlimited refill mug, as well as discounts on dining, merchandise, and lodging. Both Diamond and Gold passholders receive access to special events and activities just for them. Only the named passholder can receive the perks associated with each pass type.

Gold and Diamond passholders can take advantage of another great perk—complimentary TimeSaver line access the first hour of every operating day. This great benefit allows the named passholder expedited boarding on Dollywood’s world-class rides and attractions including Big Bear Mountain, the two-time winner of the Golden Ticket Award for Best Family Coaster.

Silver Season Passes also are available and include two Bring-A-Friend Free tickets and a discount on Dollywood lodging. Select blackout dates apply to adult and senior Silver Season Passes and Silver Bring-A-Friend Free tickets. Child Silver Season Passes do not have blackout dates.

Guests at this world-class family vacation destination can experience even more fun at one of Dollywood’s award-winning resort hotels, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. Both properties offer unbeatable hospitality and exclusive complimentary privileges, including TimeSaver passes, door-to-door transportation, preferred parking at Dollywood parks, and package delivery for purchases made at Dollywood theme park.

For more information about Dollywood’s 2025 season or season passes, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.

-Dollywood2024-

About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and the newly opened Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 58 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. This year, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

Link to Business Wire 

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Link: dollywood.com

There are not many changes in the calendar from 2024.  Passholder Preview Day is March 14th. Sounds like details about Passholder Day are still being sorted out.  Expect more on that later as it draws near.  All the other festivals fall in line in duration and timing, as they did in 2024.

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Things that stood out in the Press Release...

1. ''Just getting started'' comment is interesting.
2. New 40th Anniversary Show that runs from Memorial Day to end of Summer.
3. New drone and fireworks show honoring 40th anniversary during Summer Celebration Festival.
4. New opening ceremony every operating day.
5. Imagination Playhouse will become a permanent fixture this season, with shows from March to September.
6. Heartsong, the movie, will be remastered and incorporated into the Heidi Parton's Kin & Friends show.
7. Country Fair area refresh.
1. An old path returns.  They are restoring the path behind the carousel that goes into Country Fair next to the Flying Elephants ride.
2. Harvest Festival activities will include an area-wide transformation into Candy Corn Country, celebrating Corn.
3. Smoky Mountain Christmas will usher in Peppermint Valley once again, to the Country Fair area.

1. 'Just Getting Started' comment opens up a lot of possibilities, right?  She's most likely referring to the 2025 Season, but she might also be speaking from the 30k Foot View as well.   Hard not to notice the gigantic new parking lot under construction as you enter the park.  One interesting rumor I have heard recently, was that Dollywood has future plans to remove the two current Premiere Lots and incorporate those spaces into the theme park, which makes a ton of sense to me.  As you exit Dragonfliers' station, it's also hard not to notice several unused acres of land between WWG and those Premiere Lots.  In Nashville, Dollywood is preparing to open a hotel off of Broadway - there are a lot of things going on in the Dollywood Universe right now that will lead to new and exciting things.  'Just getting started' seems appropriate.

Possible future theme park area??  Rampage ride sits on a former parking lot, so it is a growth strategy Dollywood has used in the past.  It makes great sense to me, as long as they add more parking elsewhere.

7. Country Fair Refresh.  One thing already under construction, or re-construction, is a pathway from the carousel down to the Country Fair area, next to the Flying Elephants.  I say reconstruction because there was a path that opened with the 2004 Major Refresh of the Country Fair area.  And then one year the path was gone, as Dollywood will sometimes do....make things just disappear like they never existed.  Anyway, this one will be even better than the first one.

2004 until ??

The three pics below were taken on 10/22/24.  The new path seems to follow the old path's path exactly.

As far as other things in the Country Fair area, I'm not sure what will actually end up happening, other than the holiday overlay theming mentioned in the PR.  

Ride wise - Since there have been no specific ride announcements, it's anybody's guess as to what will happen.  Lemon Twist looks to me like it is just barely hanging on for dear life.  It used to spin fast in its younger days.  Dizzy Disc and the Ferris Wheel were big losses to me.  Scrambler, Bumper Cars, Elephants, Swinger are probably all safe.  In my mind, a FAIR is colorful and has lots of cool lights on the rides (among other sensory things) and Dollywood could improve in that area, particularly the Waltzing Swinger could use a lighting package....just my .02...especially in the age of Insta and how kids and kids-at-heart behave with their phones nowadays.

The main eatery in Country Fair is the Grandstand Cafe, the ice cream cone place beside it, and then the Midway Market has snacks and drinks.  The buffet is the other option, and is popular, but its hours are somewhat inconsistent. It was not open for the Summer Festival.  I could see a restaurant revamp with some different food options replacing the Cafe.  Eugen Naughten, Park President, said a few years ago that Dollywood's Food offerings were going to go through an improvement process.  Since those remarks, we've seen exactly that around the park.  Miss Lillians is this year's example.  Iron Horse Pizza before that.  A new restaurant is under construction in Wilderness Pass.  Not sure if the words 'culinary overhaul' will apply but seems possible given the other recent examples of improvements around the park.

There's room for improvement in the Country Fair area, so I will be interested to see what they have in mind.

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Season Pass Blog Post

Read all the details about purchasing a new 2025 Dollywood Season Pass - Click Here

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Read all the details about Fall Break, Christmas Break & Spring Break for Regional School Systems

Click Here

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Read all the details about how to use the Pigeon Forge Trolley to get to Dollywood.  Watch my fun video!

Click Here

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Hotels

⭐ Dolly and Dollywood to open a hotel in Nashville ⭐

🔹November 12, 2024 update at the bottom.

🔹May 7 2024 update above the bottom!

December 7, 2023

Dolly and Dollywood are opening a hotel in Nashville.  Details are scarce at this time, but they have purchased an office building at 211 Commerce Street - it's at the corner of Commerce and 3rd Avenue South, just feet away from the hustle and bustle of Nashville's tourist district.  The unconfirmed plans are to convert this office space into a hotel.

Here is the office building that's been purchased.   Their neighbor is the ''batman'' building, also known as the AT&T Building.

This is really interesting news because it brings up to me all of the potential possibilities of how they will tie into creating trips to this new hotel, and with Dollywood, which is about 200 miles east of Nashville.

It's really too early for any of that speculation, but no doubt that is in their plans.  If you're not up to speed with all of Dolly's and Dollywood's business adventures, back in 2012 on Dolly's birthday, she and Gaylord Opryland Hotel had agreed to partner to open a Water & Snow Park on the other side of Briley Parkway, near the Opryland Hotel property.  Ultimately, those plans fell through for various reasons and at the time Dolly announced the cancelled plans, She said I will have something for Nashville soon!  So, 11 years later here we are.

Oh, and I nearly forgot Trinkets & Treasures.  Dolly opened up a gift boutique on 2nd Avenue called Trinkets & Treasures.  It opened in 2010, several weeks before the horrible floods that affected Nashville in unprecedented ways.  T&T was destroyed in the floods.  So, right now Dolly is 0-2 in Nashville business adventures, but let's focus on the positive.

According to this article from American Songwriter, 

The office building was bought up by Parton and The Dollywood Co. for a whopping $75 million. The enterprise is an effort by the “I Will Always Love You” singer to invest in the future of Nashville–a cause near and dear to her heart.

I'll keep an eye on this and report back when I hear updates.  Watch this space. 

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May 7, 2024 Update

Still no official word from Dollywood regarding this project, however, some savvy internet sleuths found a trademark application from Dollywood for "Dolly Parton's Songteller Hotel''.  

Do note how Dollywood has named the on-site resorts at the park.  They are named "Dollywood's DreamMore Resort" and Dollywood's HeartSong Resort", no mention of Dolly in the name.  But this trademark is "Dolly Parton's Songteller Hotel''.  So, while I'm not positive that the trademark is for the Nashville hotel, I'm leaning towards that being true for this simple difference in names.  I do want to caution however, that Dolly and Dollywood keep info pretty tight, so I could be way off base.  Maybe they're opening a new hotel in Pensacola, Florida, where they also own property??  You just never know with them and so, this is just my feeling based on the information we have so far.

this is what was flying around, causing lots of speculation.

The investigation Begins! 🔎

I did some sleuthing of my own and found a bit more info.  In the online file attached to the 984... number above, there are three sets of goods and services that Dollywood notes in the application, that would occur at this property.  That gives an idea or two of what they're planning in Nashville - or wherever the SongTeller hotel may be.  😉😉😉

By the way, this is all on the internet and is publicly available information!  Check it out here, if you like.  If you're able to shed more knowledge about this trademark application process, please do in the comments!!!

• Gift Shop
• Resort Services
• Hotel Accommodation
• Restaurants - plural
• Catering Services
• Offering Conference Rooms and services
• Offering Exhibition space, as a service
• Offering Meeting facilities, as a service
• Banquet rental services for weddings, social functions and special events.
• Health spa services
• mani/pedi
• facials
• massage
• beauty salon services
• hair cutting
• nail care
• skin care
• makeup application
• body and facial waxing

All of this sounds like they're planning on a nice property, not unlike what you will find at DreamMore and HeartSong resorts at Dollywood.  They're staying in their hospitality lane!

Watch this space as more information becomes known!

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November 11, 2024 Update

Dollywood has confirmed that a hotel is in the works, as well as confirming the Songteller name, but not too much else beyond that.  In new news regarding the hotel, Dollywood has secured permits to begin the renovations that will transform this property into a hotel, you can read that story below if you wish.

Dolly Parton Building Nashville Hotel - Connect CRE

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🔴 Dollywood's 2024 Operating Calendar Released 🔴

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has released its operating calendar for 2024.  They are opening one week earlier than ''normal'' on March 8th, 2024.

Source:  dollywood.com

Some key points I noticed:

• Earlier Season Opening, March 8th for Season Passholder Preview Day.
• New Festival - IWALY Festival.  Watch my video of the IWALY Celebration in 2023 (HERE)
• 10am opening every day through the end of Harvest/LumiNights festival.
• They have added a lot of extra days to their calendar for 2024.
• Gone for 2024 - the Tuesday Closures in May, September, October & November 2023.
• Also, Gone for 2024 - 6pm Closures during August & September 2023.
• June & July - Closes at 10pm in 2024, vs 9:30p in 2023.
• Summer Celebration will run longer in 2024.  It will end on September 1, 2024, vs August 6, 2023.
• Harvest Festival/LumiNights begins September 9th, 2024, vs. September 20, 2023!  Nearly two weeks earlier in 2024!
• Smoky Mountain Christmas begins a few days earlier in 2024, vs in 2023.

Did I miss anything?  

I think these are all positive changes and they follow right along with Dollywood's fast track growth plans.  I have THREE blog posts from 2022 about Dollywood's Future Plans and this tracks right along with what I wrote back then.

• 1-https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2022/08/dollywood-has-big-plans-major-projects.html
• 2-https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2022/10/dollywoods-future-plans-one-point.html
• 3-https://whatsupatdollywood.blogspot.com/2022/11/dollywoods-future-plans-eye-on-2026.html

Here's where I think this is headed - from article 2:

Oddly enough, or coincidentally, this week, two 'neighboring' amusement parks in the Cedar Fair chain, Carowinds and King's Dominion, both announced year-round operations.   Carowinds is southeast of Dollywood near Charlotte, and King's Dominion is near coastal Virginia, in Doswell, so its winters are pretty mild for the most part.

That's great news for those who work at those parks and can now be employed year-round, and it's great for the guests who are looking for entertainment in January and February.    I see lots of potential in winter operations doing things that are challenging in the summer, like snow tubing & ice skating as a couple examples.

My understanding is that these two parks will be open for weekends-only during the two coldest months of winter, which obviously is weather dependent.  Other parks that stay open year-round cycle the operations of the rides in and out of service, so that routine maintenance can be performed.  It would not be reasonable to expect every single ride to be in operation during the winter months.  That's what happens in other year-round parks such as Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Disney-World-Land-Epcot, Universal, Sea Worlds, & Busch Tampa.  

It's interesting to me that these two parks have chosen to operate year-round.  Was it a way to beat Dollywood to the punch?  Done so in their own interest?  It's impossible to say.  Will Six Flags over Georgia follow suit?  At this point I doubt it.  Six Flags seems somewhat in operational disarray.  Six Flags Magic Mountain has, for several years, been open year-round and recently announced that they were scaling that back, which is unfortunate for those who bought season passes who were promised year-round operations.

What would year-round operations look like at Dollywood?  I don't have any insider info to know what they're thinking about doing, but based off of Ed Naughtons' comments, he said they would consider using the entrance as a sort of hub, making use of the theaters and restaurants.  Chasing Rainbows Museum is not far away from the entrance, and it was closed in 2022 for a major re-thinking of the experience.  Will it move closer to the entrance to align with the 10-year plan? [10/17/23 - now we know the Dolly Parton Experience will take over the space of Chasing Rainbows!]

Drop Line can operate in temps down to 5-degrees F and Thunderhead has, I think, four trains.  I believe they have the two trains from Celebration City's shuttered GCI coaster, so that means two trains could be in rehab at any given time and potentially would never have seasonal downtime, or at least not very long.  Mystery Mine seems to struggle with cold temperatures, so Im not sure it would open on the coldest of days.  So, Dollywood could open The Entrance area/Showstreet, Timber Canyon and maybe Wildwood Grove for winter, which would allow for seasonal maintenance in the rest of the park.  As years went on, they could introduce Wilderness Pass, then Craftsman's Valley the year after that.  They love to incrementally grow things, so that would seem to make sense.

Another possibility is that Dollywood adds an entire Snow Themed Area in the park that features cold-weather activities like snow tubing, ice skating, bonfire areas, stuff like that.  Before it was cancelled, the Nashville combo Water Park/Snow Park was a real idea they had.  They were set to partner with Gaylord, but it fell through.  So, they're well aware of the types of things they could do to make a snow park work.

Like I mentioned, I have no idea what they'll end up doing.  They hold their secrets pretty well.  I will certainly keep my eyes peeled for any developments.

🦋 The Dolly Parton Experience - Construction Update Video, Renderings and New Info! 🦋

Hi Everyone,

Dollywood has released some information and an awesome rendering of the New for 2024 - Dolly Parton Experience.  It's set to expand into multiple buildings.  Let's check it out!

These are on Dollywood.com.

link

link

Just looking at the rendering, and knowing what it looked like before as Chasing Rainbows, this looks like a fitting, if not over-the-top area that represents Dolly well.  Glitter, sequins, rhinestones, diamonds - everything that sparkles!  That's one way to describe Dolly and this looks like it belongs in Dolly's world - Dollywood.   I do like how the big expanse of concrete is broken up with new landscaping beds and adds a lot of interest.  Of course, the giant butterflies are one of the things associated heavily with Dolly and Dollywood too, they both honor the butterfly.  Then, off in the distance, the two twin peaks of Lightning Rod - talk about sightlines.  

Off to the right, in the theater it looks like some new programming.  "Precious Memories" is what's on the marquee.  On the left, the former Dolly's Closet looks to be transformed into Behind The Seams, which I imagine could be similar to Dolly's Closet - or perhaps they'll change it up?  We'll find out more, I'm sure, the closer we get to the 2024 season, which, by the way will begin on March 8, 2024.  That's one week before the more recent opening date of Mid-March.  Dollywood is inching closer and closer to year-round operations.

Im excited to see how this looks in the end.  If I recall, Dollywood mentioned they were incorporating some of the technology used in the recent Van Gogh Exhibit and Beyond Monet - that should be a real leveling up from Chasing Rainbows more traditional exhibits.

Dollywood posted this on facebook -

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Here's the three bullet points that are cut off:

Exhibits in multiple buildings spanning Dolly’s iconic career, inspiration behind her dreams, the importance of family and her signature style through the years

Feel like you're alongside Dolly as she journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world

Three times the size of the former Chasing Rainbows Museum

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If you're feeling nostalgic, or never got experience Chasing Rainbows - Take a look at my video filmed a few months before it closed in 2021.

⭐Lightning Rod received a lot of off-season changes - Opens March 8th, 2024!

March 6, 2024 Announcement ⤵️⤵️⤵️

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Big News out of Dollywood regarding Lightning Rod:

• LSM Launch will be replaced with a High-Speed Chain Lift.
• The new chain lift experience will be very similar to the current launch experience.
• 13 mph - the speed of the chain lift, per the video.
• The rides peak-speed will stay the same at 73 mph.
• It was not said, but I think the structure of the lift hill will change materials, from wood to steel.  Not Confirmed.
• Spring 2024 New and Improved Lightning Rod will open.
• Two Brand New Trains for Lightning Rod.
• No mention of any changes above the chassis.  We'll see!
• No other specific changes were made regarding the replacement of the wooden track to IBox Steel track.
• About 40% of the current track remains the original wooden "Topper Track".
• In 2020/21 Off -season, the process of replacing much of the wood track to steel was completed.

Watch Dollywood's Video to hear all of the details they share:

Well, that is certainly promising news.  I think we all know that Lighting Rod has had its share of down time since it opened in 2016.  I know that pain of travelling far away to go ride something and then you get there, and it's down.  Its unfortunate, it really is.  And Dollywood realizes that, and they are going to try and remedy that.  Yay Dollywood! 

Dollywood, to my knowledge, has never really said what exactly the issues are, but from all the credible internet rumblings that I have heard, it boiled down to the lift hill being made of wood, which created some sway and stability issues and all the sensors working properly, and so on.  So, based on what Dollywood is changing, and what Pete & Eugene said about realizing that 'now they know why launches and wooden coasters don't pair well together' - paraphrasing, but you get the idea. ...that seems to me to be the likeliest scenario.

Enjoy Lightning Rod until the end of the Harvest Festival as it will close on October 30th for a major overhaul and two brand new trains.

Follow me and of course I'll post more as details come out.

What are you thoughts about it?  Let me know in the comments!

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Here a couple of pictures of Lightning Rod from Tuesday, November 28, 2023. All of the old hardware used for the launch has been removed. The overhead structure at the top of the lift has been temporarily removed to allow for the installation of the new high-speed chain lift.

November 28, 2023

November 28, 2023

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Dollywood Opening Day 2023 - Photo Trip Report, including a Dolly Parton Parade!

Hi Everyone, 

Dollywood opened for its 38th Season on Friday March 10th, 2023, and I have made this photo trip report.  I will have videos out soon!  The weather was rainy early on, but the skies cleared, and it was a pretty great day to be at Dollywood.   My day, basically:  I went around the entire park to see what changes I noticed.  I took in three shows, Love Always, The Smoky Mountain String band and the Tones show at the Village stage next to the train.  They were all great and polished - no indications of opening day jitters!  And then I finished the day with the Dolly Parade, which was surreal.  

What I noticed first as I entered the park was that the entry plaza, Showstreet and Market Square were decked out to celebrate 50 years of Dolly's musical see-you-later to Porter Waggoner, "I Will Always Love You". There are new photo opportunities throughout this part of the park, new related merchandise and even new limited time treats you can enjoy celebrating IWALY.

General Observations:  The crowds seemed heavier to me than a year ago.  I'm not sure the reasoning behind that.  Dolly was expected to be there, which draws people in.  The weather forecast was iffy and at some point, included potential snow.  In the end it rained in the morning and turned into a beautiful sunny day.  The park looked great I thought.  It felt to me like most of the projects were wrapped up before opening day.  There's always lots of little changes that I go around and try and notice.  I will point those out in each area below.

The ride operations that I noticed were mostly uneventful.  I checked the app and the boards around the park from time to time.  Lightning Rod went down for the day sometime in the afternoon.  Dizzy Disk wasn't running and had a sign in front of it.  I saw some social media reports of ride stoppages and evacuations, so there were some minor hiccups, but those happen every day.  These types of events are perfect indicators of how safe Dollywood's rides are.  They are designed to come to a very safe stop when there are minor issues that pop up during the course of operating heavy machinery.  They can seem frightening when you're less familiar with how it works, but when a ride stops it's nothing to worry about.  Stay in your seat and wait for instructions.  Here's a couple of posts you can see - safety first!

Blazing Fury Evac - Facebook

Firechaser Safe Stoppage - Facebook

Here's a area-by-area breakdown of my day looking around the park:

Tram Station - I didn't notice any changes.

Entry Plaza - Permanent structures replaced the temporary tents for ECV Rental Annex as well as the Security Screening pass through area.

ECV-Wheelchair-Stroller Rental Annex

Security Screening Pass through area

Showstreet Right (from the front gate perspective) - It was decked out for the "I Will Always Love You" 50-year celebration.  There was a pop-up merchandise spot next door to Showstreet Snacks that has a huge selection of the 50-year Merch, so check that out.  There are other places in the park to get the 50-year merch as well.   You can see the photos above of Showstreet in IWALY finest.

pop up IWALY merch on Showstreet

Showstreet Left - The ECV/wheelchair/strollers Rentals, Lockers and the Ride Accessibility Center has been rearranged in a more spacious way.   Next to the Emporium you'll find the Measuring Center and, on the right, adjacent to the Palace Theater you'll find oversized lockers and the ECV/Wheelchairs/Strollers Rental location.  I'm not sure if this layout is final but take note that it has changed around.  

Wildwood Grove - seemed to me to be the hotspot of activity in the park.  As I got closer to Big Bear, I noticed some of the planters in the middle of the pathway had changed shape a bit.  A new permanent fence has replaced the wooden work-fence at the Waterfall part of the ride.  All the track is complete, so now the focus is on wiring up the ride components, and lots of hardscaping and landscaping yet to be completed.  There is quite a bit left to do before the opening sometime in May.

I spied a bunch of new Big Bear merchandise at Mountain Grove Merchants in between Frogs n Fireflies and Black Bear Trail Ride.

There's a lot of work left to do for a May 2023 opening.

Big Bear Nano Coaster, $34.99.

Timber Canyon - the major change that I saw was Thunderhead has had a lot of wood replaced in areas near the station.  I think this is the last phase (maybe?) of the multi-year phase full replacement of track.  IIRC they were switching to a Brazilian wood - Ipe, I think it is known as.  It's much stronger than the pine that it's replacing.  According to the social media comments I saw about Thunderhead this weekend, the changes were described in extremely positive terms.

new wood on Thunderhead!

Wilderness Pass - The Food Truck Plaza was back with two Food Trucks there.

Craftsman's Valley - I noticed a new water wheel outside of the Bird Show theater, and some work on the water trough has happened as well.  Daredevil Falls' exit ramp was looking good with new paint.  The Food Truck Park was back in the Tennessee Tornado Plaza.  The setup has been rearranged a bit.

Lots of new paint on the exit of Daredevil Falls

Rivertown - Butterfly Strings.  A new shop with Dolly, Elvis, Willie, Johnny Cash merchandise, and other cool music stuff.  It's next door to the Back Porch Theater.   If you're looking for the Dolly Funkos, they can be found here.

#funko #dollyfunko #FunkoPop #Collectibles #MusicIcons #CountryMusic #9to5 #Jolene #IWillAlwaysLoveYou #Dollywood #Tennessee #EastTennessee #Memorabilia #VinylFigures #PopCulture #LimitedEdition #ToyCollection

Country Fair - Dollywood has expanded its picnic/Group pavilions.  The Celebration Hall has been converted into group dining space.  CH is next door to the Blue Ribbon Pavillion which, both buildings have been there for a million years, at least.  I imagine both pavilions will be busy on weekends for the warmer months.  Scrambler received some paint-love in the off season and is looking sharp in its mustard-ketchup color scheme.  Does anyone know what has happened to Lemon Twist?  It turns as fast as a minute hand on a clock, and it has not always been this way.  

All Smiles on the Scrambler

Scrambler with fresh paint

The Village - New accessibility ramps for the train.  This will hopefully make this easier for those that need the ramps.

Adventures In Imagination - The biggest news came from Dolly about the replacement for Chasing Rainbows Museum, expected to open in 2024.

Chasing Rainbows prepares to morph into Dollys Interactive Experience

Dolly Parade - Dolly made one parade appearance this opening weekend and it was on Friday.  Enjoy my video below of Dolly going down Showstreet.

That wraps up my Trip Report.  I am working on several videos to share, so do be sure to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel (HERE) and click the bell for notifications, and you'll catch all my Dollywood videos.  

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