PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. An all-new curler coaster and luxurious lodge are among the modifications coming to Dollywood for its thirty eighth season, giving 2023 the potential to be a breakout yr for the theme park and its related properties.
Entertainer Dolly Parton was at her beloved theme park in March to greet media and season cross holders, the day earlier than the park opened to the general public. Her go to additionally kicked off a month-long celebration of her iconic music “I Will At all times Love You,” launched 50 years in the past as her farewell to enterprise accomplice and mentor Porter Wagoner. The tribute to singer-songwriters continues by means of April 8, after which extra festivals will transfer by means of the seasons.
“Belief us to create recollections for households,” she advised the gang concerning the upcoming debuts.
Here is a have a look at among the new points of interest and previous favorites in retailer this season.
(READ MORE: Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks to Host ACM Awards in Might)
NEW PAD
At a whopping $25 million, the Large Bear Mountain curler coaster is the biggest single funding since Dollywood opened in 1986. At a staggering 3,990 toes in size, it’s going to grow to be the park’s longest curler coaster, spanning almost 6 acres of Wildwood Grove. The coaster boasts three launches and a built-in audio system — a primary at Dollywood — together with a number of turns and tunnels at a high velocity of 48 mph.
Will Parton experience?
“Now you already know in addition to you already know my identify that I will not experience that factor!” she stated. “I do not need my hair to fly straight on nationwide tv or one thing!”
The opening of the coaster is deliberate in Might, on the peak of the Meals and Flower Competition.
NEW ACCOMMODATION
Dollywood guests can start reserving one of many 302 visitor rooms on the park’s latest resort, HeartSong Lodge, in June. It’s positioned on a hillside throughout from DreamMore Resort & Spa and can function 26,000 toes of indoor and out of doors assembly area, in addition to a pool, restaurant, bar, snack bar and reward store. Better of all, visitors arrive early on Saturdays for the park’s unique experience occasions.
“I will be excited to be again for the grand opening in November,” Parton advised the gang.
NEW MENUS
There are a number of full-service eating places at Dollywood and about 15 places the place you may decide up snacks, such because the well-known cinnamon bun, pizza, burgers, rooster and different on a regular basis staples, in line with Aaron Banks, the theme park’s director of culinary companies.
“We dangle our hats on the truth that we’ve a various providing for our visitors,” he stated.
This yr, there are a number of new additions to the principally Southern menus provided at full- and quick-service eating places: Until & Harvest Meals Corridor, Entrance Porch Cafe, Miss Lillian’s BBQ Nook and Smokehouse, Crimson’s Drive Inn and Aunt Granny’s Restaurant.
For starters, there’s Entrance Porch’s new Again Yard Crispy Rooster Sandwich served on a bun with a dollop of throwback sauce, a facet or coleslaw and scorching, crispy fries. Or loosen up with the brand new Caesar salad. And for dessert? New strawberry cake.
One of many new snacks you will discover within the park is a spiralized, deep-fried potato — with a scorching canine within the center, in the event you like. For a barely more healthy snack, there is a candy potato taco crammed with black beans.
Though menus change now and again, there’s one factor Banks says she retains in thoughts: “We won’t overlook who we’re, so I believe, ‘How can we nonetheless be Southern, however put a singular spin on it?'”
DOLLY SLEPT HERE
Parton’s pink-trimmed Prevost RV, her former tour bus, is now retired from her highway warrior days. It’s parked subsequent to the DreamMore Resort and is offered for reserving for visitors who need to spend two nights the place Dolly as soon as rested her head.
(READ MORE: You Do not Must Drive Throughout the Nation to Stay Like Dolly Parton on Tour)
Dolly Suite 1986 does come at a worth, although: beginning at $10,000 for each nights, however that features a resort room for added visitors, plus tickets to Dollywood and Splash Nation Water Park, a pink Jeep tour by means of the Smoky Mountains, and an Eat Like Dolly chef’s dinner with extra sequences.
While you make a reservation, you will additionally assist Parton’s Creativeness Library, a program that sends free, high-quality books to kids from start to age 5, one thing that is crucial to Parton, a local of close by Sevierville, Tennessee. who is aware of properly what penalties illiteracy can have on a household. Her personal father may neither learn nor write.
IMAGINATION LIBRARY
Creativeness Library is a worldwide literacy program with almost 200 million books given away without spending a dime.
“I am so pleased with that entire mission,” Parton stated. “It began right here on this county (Sevier County), and my dad labored with me on it. He did not have an opportunity to go to high school, he could not learn or write, and it bothered him quite a bit, and it bothered me too. I obtained concerned dad and he was very pleased with it.”
One factor she’s found about her Creativeness Library is not simply that youngsters love discovering their very own books of their mailboxes, she stated dad and mom additionally study to be higher readers by studying books to their children.
“I am as pleased with it as something I’ve ever carried out,” she stated of the library.
For extra info, go surfing to imaginationlibrary.com. Books arrive in mailboxes month-to-month.
FESTIVAL SEASON
Till April 8: The season’s first particular, the I Will At all times Love You fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, is timed to Parton’s unique 1973 recording of “I Will At all times Love You” — earlier than pop star Whitney Houston’s model gave it a second life in 1992 . The celebration commemorates the artwork of songwriting and the tales behind the songs with particular decor and restricted merchandise.
April 21 – June 11: Greater than half one million flowers bloom at Dollywood. The Spring Flower and Meals Competition attracts consideration to magnificent shows.
Parton’s favourite? The sculpture ‘Coat of many colours’ means essentially the most to me personally, she stated. “It covers a whole lot of floor.”
The competition additionally presents sure meals not obtainable year-round, similar to spicy Korean barbecue meatballs, road corn salad, bacon fries, and smoked mac and cheese. Friends can stroll by means of a floral wonderland whereas sipping raspberry tea or a cranberry watermelon cooler.
“I really like doing the festivals as a result of they actually enable us to showcase a whole lot of expertise and we will put totally different meals at totally different stations across the park,” stated Christopher Seabrook, Dollywood’s govt chef.
June 17-August 6: The Flower & Meals Competition is adopted by Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer time Celebration that includes the favored Candy Summer time Nights drone and fireworks. Additionally this yr is the favored Gazillion Bubble Present: Aurora at Dolly Parton’s Superstar Theatre.
September 20 – October 30: Dollywood’s Harvest Competition returns within the fall with its unimaginable carved pumpkins and Nice Pumpkin LumiNights, voted the very best theme park harvest occasion on this planet.
November 24 – January 6: The conclusion of the season is the Smoky Mountain Christmas with 6 million lights and vacation reveals.
LOOKING AHEAD
Along with the modifications coming for 2023, Parton introduced that Dollywood will proceed to develop in 2024. The Adventures in Creativeness park space will function a brand new Dolly Parton museum crammed with memorabilia from her household, objects from her huge wardrobe, a storytelling expertise and a have a look at Parton’s accomplishments all through her profession .
“I am actually pleased with this and the individuals who labored actually onerous on it,” Parton stated.
“I’m grateful to God and to all of you for making your Smoky Mountain desires come true,” she added. “The Bible says honor your mom and father, and I believe my mother and pop could be pleased with me.”
(READ MORE: Wisconsin faculty bans Miley, Dolly duet from class live performance)
IF YOU ARE GOING
Dollywood’s thirty eighth season runs by means of January 6, 2024. Hours differ from month to month. In April and Might, the park is open daily besides Easter Sunday and Tuesday, from April 18 to Might 30.
For park tickets, DreamMore Resort reservations — and beginning in June, HeartSong Lodge reservations — go surfing to dollywood.com.
Contact Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com or annebraly.com.