Dolly Parton was larger than life, so it’s no surprise that she had a whole theme park dedicated to her.
Originally named “Rebel Railroad,” the theme park based in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., went through several iterations before Parton came into the picture in 1986. She bought an interest in Silver Dollar City, as it was called at the time, and the name was promptly changed to Dollywood.
“We’re lucky to be in the part of the world that I believe is just absolutely the most perfect place that God has created, so we just look outside the window and those big, beautiful Smoky Mountains provide all the inspiration we could ever dream of finding,” Parton told National Geographic of her decision to invest in Dollywood.
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“The Smokies — and the wonderful people who work here — are what make Dollywood so different than many of the other theme parks around the world.”
Sadly, Parton passed away at the age of 80 on August 25, 2026, and now fans are worried about the future of Dollywood.
At the time of her passing, Dollywood was jointly owned by Herschend and Dolly Parton Productions, the entertainment company of the late country singer. Parton also owned the sister water park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction.
In a video announcing her death, her nephew Bryan Seaver reassured fans that her legacy would be preserved, and presumably that of Dollywood, by her family.
“Our family and the team she has entrusted with her legacy will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever,” he said. “She will always love you.”
Dollywood is currently open for 2026, operating from March 13, 2026, to January 3, 2027, if you want to swing by for a visit to pay homage to the Queen of Country.
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