Larisha Paul
Contact Larisha Paul on X View all posts by Larisha Paul September 2, 2026
The sign for Dollywood, the theme park started by Dolly Parton in 1961, is lit up at night amid a few momentos left by fans on August 25, 2026 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images Dollywood Parks & Resorts, the theme park created by Dolly Parton in 1986, will be expanded to include “several new experiences” currently in development to honor the life and legacy of its founder in the wake of her death at the age of 80.
“Many of us had extensive conversations with Dolly through the years about how she would want us to carry her vision forward,” said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. “Dollywood will always be a place where families find fun, kindness, and joy — a place where they can make memories that last a lifetime, just like she would have wanted.”
Among the new additions to Dollywood is the Dream Maker, an on-site character who will engage with guests in the Wildwood Grove area of the park. Its goal is to “celebrate this important part of Dolly’s work and to inspire the next generation,” according to a release from Dollywood. Through stories and interactive experiences, the Dream Maker will encourage guests to dream big, believe in themselves and lift others up through courage and kindness.
Guests visiting Dollywood will have an opportunity to leave behind kind words of their own through special kiosks located throughout Wildwood Grove. They will be encouraged to share notes and memories about how Parton influenced and inspired them. Her life and legacy will continue to be spotlighted in the Dolly Parton Experience, a pre-existing exhibit that will receive a new entrance in her honor.
In the coming months, the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce will unveil “In Dolly’s Footsteps,” a walking tour that visits locations throughout the area that were important to Parton in her youth.
