News

Dollywood theme park will add new features, including a waterfall, to honor Dolly Parton

Dollywood theme park will add new features, including a waterfall, to honor Dolly Parton

A memorial wall for Dolly Parton stands outside the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Camden Hall) Photo: Associated Press


SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton’s theme park in east Tennessee will unveil new features for fans to honor the life of the “dreamer-in-chief,” Dolly Parton, who died at the age of 80.
Sevierville, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, will also be placing markers throughout the city for a self-guided walking tour of places that were important to the singer, actor and philanthropist. She grew up in rural Sevier County and transformed the theme park into the county’s largest employer and a major tourist destination.
In a press conference held Wednesday, park officials announced plans to add a new character to the park called the Dream Maker, inspired by Parton’s Imagination Library, as well as adding a waterfall and stained glass windows to a chapel inside the park to reflect her deep faith.
The park will add kiosks for visitors to share their thoughts about Parton and new additions are also coming to The Dolly Parton Experience, a multibuilding section that includes exhibits about her life and career.

Latest Stories

5 hours ago in Entertainment

Dollywood theme park will add new features, including a waterfall, to honor Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's theme park in east Tennessee will unveil new features for fans to honor the life of the "dreamer-in-chief," Dolly Parton, who died at the age of 80.

5 hours ago in Sports

With a new-look roster and no A’ja Wilson the US FIBA World Cup title defense gets tougher

The U.S. has dominated the women's FIBA World Cup for nearly two decades, winning the last four titles. A young American roster led by the trio of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese now complement U.S. stalwart Breanna Stewart as the team looks to win its fifth straight championship.

5 hours ago in Sports

First Trump, now Everton: Balogun at center of another fiasco as deadline-day transfer fails

U.S. striker Folarin Balogun pulled out of a deal to join Everton in the final minutes of European soccer's summer transfer window because he felt uncomfortable that the English club raised doubts about his health in a medical check, Monaco's sporting director has revealed.

5 hours ago in National, Trending

Gloria Steinem, a potent voice of US feminism and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, dies at 92

Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who became one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women's movement and a fierce advocate for feminist causes for over six decades, has died. She was 92.

22 hours ago in National

Top US doctors offer updated flu and COVID vaccine recommendations, aiming to ease confusion

Leading U.S. medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together Wednesday to issue shot guidelines — and highlight the science behind them — saying they hope to ease confusion caused by the Trump administration's changing advice.