Dollywood Crowned America’s ‘Favorite Theme Park’ for Third Year in a Row

Dolly Parton is celebrating any other hit!

On May 16, the Dollywood theme park, co-owned via the rustic song legend, used to be named America’s favourite via the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA).

Dollywood won the highest honor for the 3rd 12 months in a row, as voted for within the 39th annual NAPHA Amusement Park and Attractions Survey, in line with a unencumber from the group. 

The theme park beat Disneyland in California, which landed 2d. Dollywood in the past received the name of favourite theme park in 2022 and 2023, in keeping with the discharge.

Dollywood is positioned within the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., close to the place Parton, 79, grew up and opened to the general public in 1986. Parton co-owns the theme park with Herschend Family Entertainment.

The cherished park spans 165 acres with over 50 rides and sights, together with the preferred Big Bear Mountain Roller Coaster and the Wild Eagle, and draws two million guests yearly. It additionally has a 35-acre water park.

While attending Dollywood’s 40th anniversary party in March, Parton spoke about her preliminary targets in launching the theme park. “On opening day in 1986, I was just hoping that people would really want to come visit a theme park with my name on it,” the rustic famous person stated. “And even though I always try to dream big, I’ll admit I was a little bit nervous that first morning.”

“But other people did pop out to enhance us that first day, and I’m so proud to peer that Dollywood has persisted to develop over the years to transform a spot of a laugh and togetherness for everybody who has come to seek advice from,” added Parton.

In January 2024, Parton shared what makes Dollywood so particular is that guests all the time need to come again.

“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,” she informed the National Geographic. “We’re right on the front porch of the most-visited national park in the country, so we take what God gave us and use it to dream up the big dreams we want our guests to experience while they are here riding rides and making memories.”

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Along with its expanding reputation, Dollywood is constant to make bigger in 2025.

Parton and The Dollywood Company president Eugene Naughton introduced in March that the theme park is development a brand new enchantment, in keeping with WATE. A video shared all through the 2025 season preview day teased that the enchantment would pass “up, over and through the Great Smoky Mountains and down to the heart of the ancient wildwood tree.”