The team at Dollywood is working “9 to 5” to celebrate Dolly Parton and her life after the country icon’s death on Aug. 25. Eugene Naughton, the president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, revealed the plans for the theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., during a press conference Wednesday (Sept. 2).
“Dolly would be telling us to get back to work. She knew what she wanted Dollywood to be. She always wantd this to be a place of fun and togetherness, and most of all … she taught us here at Dollywood how to dream big,” he began in the televised conference. “The last seven days have been filled with a lot of grief … but now, it’s time to look at how we’re gonna honor her on property moving forward.”
A “cascading mountainside waterfall” will be installed outside of the Robert F. Thomas Chapel front steps to encourage visitors to take a beat and reflect, as well as enjoy the nature that inspired the country icon, according to the press release. Naughton also noted during the press conference that the waterfall will include a “sculpted” guitar. The chapel itself will also feature new stained-glass windows depicting the changing seasons that reflect the beloved late star’s appreciation for the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Robert F. Thomas Chapel at Dollywood will be getting a new waterfall to honor Dolly Parton.
Courtesy of Dollywood
A new character to honor Parton’s celebrated Imagination Library — which has donated more than 330 million books to children since its 1995 launch — is also coming to Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove in 2027. The Dream Maker “will encourage guests to dream big, believe in themselves and lift others up through courage and kindness,” the press release shared. “The Dream Maker and her Dream Wagon will give children an opportunity to share their own dreams, hear stories inspired by Dolly and discover that dreams can become even more meaningful when they are shared with others.”
The grove will also include kiosks where visitors can share how the 10-time Grammy winner inspired their own dreams.
Other new features include what Naughton called “a new grand finale” to the I Will Always Love You room in the Songteller experience; a new entrance celebrating the park’s Dreamer-in-Chief and her life and work; and more. In addition, the city of Sevierville, which is located near Dollywood, will soon debut “In Dolly’s Footsteps,” a walking tour with markers to indicate locations that had special significance in the country star’s life. According to Naughton, there will be 11 markers around the city, and installation is set to begin in days.
Fans won’t have to wait too long for the new features celebrating Dolly — who landed 23 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 during her career — at her theme park. “A lot of the projects we mentioned before are planned and underway,” Naughton said during the press conference. “Many of them will be ready when we open in March of 2027.”
“Dollywood will always be a place where families find fun, kindness and joy — a place where they can make memories that last a lifetime, just like she would have wanted,” Naughton also said in a statement. “We will carry her dreams forward by continuing to grow, welcoming even more guests and sharing the warmth and hospitality of which she was so proud.”
Watch the press conference below:
