The Latest Dolly Doins? A New Resort, New Roller Coaster and a New Show in the Smokies!
What’s the latest Dolly Doins? Well, she’s got a new resort, a new roller coaster, and a new show in the Smokies! Dolly Parton has been doing a lot in the Great Smoky Mountains this summer and all of it ensures vacationers a fresh, new Dolly experience while visiting her beloved mountain home in the Smokies!
Dolly’s Penthouse Suite at DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge. Photo credit: Dollywood DreamMore Resort
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort is Open!
And it is just as fabulous as the superstar herself! There’s no mistaking that Dolly put her stamp on every detail of the 300-room resort hotel. The Dolly experience begins as you drive up the hill to the resort and are greeted by signs with messages of welcome and inspiration from her. Then you’re greeted by a beautiful and colorful butterfly fountain in front of the hotel’s grand entrance where attentive staff will happily offer to take your picture in front of the fountain. There’s lemonade, cozy porches with rocking chairs, and other gathering nooks throughout the expansive lobby. The centerpiece of the lobby area is the three-story window that overlooks the beautifully landscaped outdoor pool area with views of the mountains in the distance.
“The personal touches were also nice to see, from instruments that belonged to Dolly to an impressive wall of her discography. It seems like such a small thing, but I also loved that my bathroom had a makeup remover pad. It just seemed like something Dolly would have in her bathroom,” said Brittany Jones Cooper, Yahoo travel editor who recently reviewed her stay.
The hotel was designed with families in mind and offers several different room types that include kid-friendly bunk beds and sleeper sofas. There’s also a variety of suites to accommodate families of all sizes. The top floor features the fabulous Dolly Suite, a luxurious penthouse apartment for two, which very much reflects her personal style. Room rates begin at $189 per night. For reservations, call 800-365-5996 or visit dollywoodsdreammoreresort.dollywood.com.
The resort offers a family-style restaurant, Song & Hearth, that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s the DM Pantry for grab-n-go sandwiches and coffee. Other amenities include indoor and outdoor pools with firepits and kid’s play areas, a salon and spa, fitness center, and complimentary shuttle service to the theme and water park.
Ride the World’s Fastest Wooden Coaster, Lightning Rod, at Dollywood in March 2016!
At 20 stories high and at speeds of up to 73 miles per hour, this isn’t your grandfather’s wooden roller coaster! Lightning Rod is based on 1950’s hot rods and will be located in the Jukebox Junction area of Dollywood adjacent to the ever popular Rockin’ Roadway. Riders will be launched at 45 miles per hour and experience 12 drops where you’ll feel that you’re floating out of your seat! Coaster enthusiasts will note that the ride will last three minutes and 12 seconds. And for those of you who think Dollywood’s other wooden coaster, Thunderhead, is a bit of a rough ride, theme park officials assure the new coaster’s ride will be ” as smooth as glass.” At a cost of $22 million, Lightning Rod is the single largest investment Dollywood has made in an attraction. Wowzie, we cannot wait for this!
Check out Dollywood’s official video for the new Lightning Rod Coaster to debut next spring!
Dolly Parton’s Management Company Buys Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge!
You know if Dolly is around there has to be some music and entertainment close by too. The consummate professional and her management company World Choice Investments bought Lumberjack Feud Dinner Show & Theater in Pigeon Forge earlier this summer. The investment company currently manages Parton’s Dixie Stampede and Pirates Voyage theaters.
According to a press release issued in June, Dolly Parton stated, “We plan to develop a new, exciting version of the Lumberjack show and unveil it next spring. It will include major updates, changes and enhancements that I feel will greatly exceed guest expectations.”
