After Dollywood’s Closure, Dolly Parton Attraction Unveils New Location
Missing Dollywood? A new attraction promises a quick Dolly fix in the meantime.
For the uninitiated, Dollywood – located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – is a theme park co-owned by Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment. Opened in 1986, it features roller coasters, live entertainment, and crafts celebrating Smoky Mountain culture.
As the name would suggest, Parton’s personal brand plays a huge part in the park’s success. While plenty of patrons come for thrill rides like Lightning Rod or Wild Eagle or the park’s iconic tasty treats (shoutout to the cinnamon bread), there are also those who make the pilgrimage to celebrate all things Dolly.
Some of the park’s most Dolly-focused attractions include The Dolly Parton Experience—a museum dedicated to the country icon that replaced the Chasing Rainbows Museum in 2024—and Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home, a recreation of the place where Parton herself grew up. It features some of her childhood stories performed by live actors.
Like a lot of regional parks, Dollywood is closed right now for the winter. The park is currently slated to reopen on March 14, when it will also kickstart its I Will Always Love You Music Festival. Meanwhile, its adjoining water park, Dollywood’s Splash Country, will open on May 10.
But Dolly devotees aren’t totally deprived in the meantime. Dollywood has announced a temporary exhibit beyond the hotel for those needing a quick fix before the theme park reopens.
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort – one of the resort’s two hotels alongside Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa – is now hosting a temporary exhibit featuring iconic costumes from throughout Parton’s career.
Opened on February 6, Dolly Parton’s Wardrobe Exhibit will run through March 12 and include 18 pieces from Parton’s closet, including items worn on her 2002 Halo & Horns tour and for the cover shoot of her 1970 album “The Fairest of Them All.”
The exhibit was curated by Parton’s niece and Dollywood’s Director of Archive Services, Rebecca Seaver, who also curated the wardrobe items in Behind the Seams at The Dolly Parton Experience.
Located inside HeartSong Lodge & Resort’s Acoustic Bar, the exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, guests can visit from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tennessee residents and Dollywood Season Passholders can visit the exhibit on Thursday nights without actually staying at a Dollywood hotel or making an additional purchase. The exhibit is also open to all paying patrons of its restaurants, gift shops, and spa, too.
Do you plan on visiting Dollywood this year?
