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Dollywood Theme Park

Have you ever been to Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? I’d heard about it a while ago, and decided to take a family vacation and check it out!

My boys love roller coasters.  Disney World and Universal Studios are only a couple of hours drive away, so our frequent trips have gotten them used to riding a myriad of rides.  Rollercoasters are their number one favorite, though!

Wherever we travel we always look for two things:

  • Street art (more for the hubby and I)
  • Amusement parks (fun for everyone!)

In California, we went to Knotts Berry Farms.  You can’t NOT go to Coney Island when in NY.  We had a blast at Lake Compounce when we visited the cousins in Connecticut.  The kids were super psyched to go to Six Flags on our summer trip to Chicago.  Living in Florida allows us to visit Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Sea World, and Legoland on a whim.

DOLLYWOOD THEME PARK

We couldn’t have picked a better weekend to visit Dollywood theme park (other than the water park closed for the winter the weekend before).  The weather was great, and the park wasn’t super crowded.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

We noted that the park is separated into themed sections:

  • Showstreet
  • Timber Canyons
  • Wilderness Pass
  • Craftsman’s Alley
  • Jukebox Junction
  • Owen’s Farm
  • Rivertown Junction
  • The Village
  • Country Fair
  • Adventures in Imagination

TIMBER CANYON

The kids mapped out which ride to start with based on popularity – and the wooden roller coaster, Thunderhead, won!  It is situated between two mountains and has an exhilarating 100-foot drop!

Dollywood Theme Park G and the Thunderhead

Having the TimeSaver pass allowed them to ride it three times before the park opened to the general public.  That made for some thrilled kids!

Dollywood Theme Park Drop Line Ride

From there, we followed the path around to the next ride, Drop Line, where a few of the kids braved that crazy 20-story free fall.  They tested their upper body strength at Lumberjack Lifts and then headed right over to the Mystery Mine.

Dollywood Theme Park Mystery Mine

While they were on the Mystery Mine, I kept myself entertained, listening to a very opinionated buzzard.

WILDERNESS PASS

Sky Zip was the first ride we enjoyed in Wilderness Pass.  Wild Eagle was insane (in a good way)!  The first ride of its kind in the US, Wild Eagle, allows for the riders to feel like they are soaring above the mountains. You sit on either side of the actual roller coaster track instead of on it, the air above and below you!

FireChaser Express was another one of the rides that they opted to go on over and over again before moving on to the next section.

CRAFTSMAN’S VALLEY

While the kids went on Blazing Fury, Daredevil Falls, and Tennessee Tornado, I took the time to stroll around the other attractions.

I enjoyed a show at the Wings of America Theater, watched the blacksmith make a neat hook, marveled at the glassblowers, purchased a wooden bat for my little guy at the Valley Wood Carvers.

Dollywood Theme Park Bird

Dollywood Theme Park Screech Owl

Dollywood Theme Park glass blower

Do not leave this section without trying the cinnamon bread at the Grist Mill.

Dollywood Theme Park Grist Mill

Dollywood Theme Park cinnamon bread

OWEN’S FARM

Owen’s Farm is perfect for smaller guests.  It didn’t stop our guys from playing on the playground and having a blast!

RIVERTOWN JUNCTION

The kids got soaked on the Smoky Mountain River Rampage while I toured the replica of Dolly’s two-room childhood home.

Dollywood Theme Park sign

COUNTRY FAIR

Country Fair is another section perfect for the little ones.  Lucky Ducky, Lemon Twist, Piggy Parade, and The Amazing Flying Elephants are some of the super cute rides to choose from.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION

Lightning Rod was closed, which was a bit of a bummer as they were looking forward to riding it, but we stopped for lunch at Red’s Drive-In.

We toured Dolly’s Home on Wheels (a.k.a. super cool tour bus).

Dollywood Theme Park Dolly's Home on Wheels sign

You can’t NOT window shop inside Dolly’s Closet – a huge retail store with some cool stuff!

Dollywood Theme Park Dolly's Closet

Dollywood Theme Park Ornate Boots

Dollywood Theme Park Inside Dolly's Closet

There was SO much to do and see at Dollywood – it took us two days to take our time and enjoy everything.

PRE-VISIT PREP

If you are flying, depending on where you are flying from, you’ll land either in Nashville or Knoxville.  We landed in Knoxville and drove about an hour and a half to get to the resort and park.

We purchased our tickets as a package with our stay at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort.  Check out their website for ticket prices, as well as season passes and special offers.

SIDE NOTE: Dollywood Theme Park is enormous; you will want to pack comfortable shoes.

Because we were staying at the resort and opted for the TimeSaver pass, we were able to enter the park an hour before everyone else!

Be sure to check Dollywood hours as they vary, as well as the minimum height requirements for each ride.

I’m sure this post got you excited to visit!  I feel like Dollywood is a hidden gem – both the resort and the park itself!

Are you ready to visit the Dollywood theme park? Don’t forget to check my article on what to bring when visiting an amusement park!

28 Comments Filed Under: United States

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Queen Tourmaline says

    at

    I’ve never been here before. It looks like a grand time. It makes me a little sad that it’s Fall now an not summer as I’ve never gone to an amusement park in the Fall.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      This is the perfect amusement park to visit in the Fall! I believe they close down completely in January for a few months (winter gets too cold I’m sure!).

      Reply
  2. Chad says

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    All your pictures made me so happy! I would love to visit it one day, seems so much fun!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Awww, I am so glad they made you happy Chad!

      Reply
  3. melissa says

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    my family and I also love amusement park, going to put this on my bucket list.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Cool, I hope you get to visit sometime soon, Melissa!

      Reply
  4. Maartje van Sandwijk says

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    I would really love to go here 🙂 Big fan of Dolly Parton <3

    Reply
  5. Helen Neale says

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    Wow, such a detailed post that would be so helpful to plan a great trip to Dollywood them park. Loving the pictures so much.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Thanks, Helen!

      Reply
  6. angel says

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    my son loves the theme park and he enjoyed seeing your photos. that is one cool owl. i love owls!

    Reply
  7. Alexis says

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    We love Pigeon Forge, we’ll likely be heading that way this weekend. I’ll have to put some of these attractions in our list. Love that area of TN!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Pigeon Forge is really cool! I wish we had more time there to explore. I definitely want to go back!

      Reply
  8. Czjai Reyes-Ocampo says

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    Museums are our first priority whenever we travel. Theme parks come in second. Dollywood is such a fun place – definitely worth-visiting. 🙂

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      We love visiting museums as well! A little bit of educational fun and then off to the amusement parks!

      Reply
  9. Noor says

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    First time to hear Dollywood. Looks like full of fun with amazing attractions. Kids will love it.

    Reply
  10. Lisa Rios says

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    This looks like so much fun! I had never heard of Dollywood before, but I want to go next summer now!

    Reply
  11. Frank says

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    The whole Dollywood thing always impressed me. She is a massive icon in Tennessee. I have family in Tennessee and this was all the talk for them when we would visit them from time to time. I’ve been a few times as a kid and it was a lot of fun.

    Reply
  12. Ashley N Rice says

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    Ooo! This looks like so much fun! I really want to go there!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Ashley, it is a lot of fun! You should totally try to get there soon 🙂

      Reply
  13. Wendy Polisi says

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    I would love to visit Dollywood. I have heard nothing but great things about it!

    Reply
  14. Crystal says

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    I would love to visit this place. It sure looks like you all had a fabulous time.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Crystal, put it on your bucket list!

      Reply
  15. Catherine Santiago Jose says

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    That looks like an awesome place to visit and I am sure my nephew’s and nieces will definitely love this place.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      They would love it, Catherine! If they like roller coasters, then this park is right up their alley!

      Reply
  16. Geraline Batarra says

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    Dollywood sound like a nice place to visit these holidays and I am sure my kids will def like to be there.

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Geraline, they go all out for both Halloween and Christmas time – you should totally look into it for the kids!

      Reply
  17. Kaitlyn Knoll says

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    Wow this looks like so much fun!

    Reply
    • Dana says

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      Kaitlyn, if you like theme parks and rollercoasters like we do – you would love it!

      Reply

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