Entertainment
Dollywood and Sevierville announce new tributes to honor Dolly Parton
Theme park additions and a regional walking tour will commemorate the late country music icon beginning in 2027.
The short version
- Dollywood announced several new park features, including a waterfall and a new character, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dolly Parton following her death.
- The neighboring city of Sevierville is creating an 11-marker walking tour highlighting significant locations from Parton's life.
- Most of the new park additions are scheduled to debut when Dollywood opens for the season in March 2027.
Key facts
- Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on August 25, 2026.[Billboard · ABC News]
- Dollywood Parks & Resorts president Eugene Naughton announced the new installations during a press conference on September 2, 2026.[Billboard]
- Park additions include a mountainside waterfall with a sculpted guitar outside the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, seasonal stained-glass chapel windows, and updates to the Dolly Parton Experience.[Billboard · ABC News]
- A new character called The Dream Maker and a Dream Wagon inspired by Parton's Imagination Library will be introduced to the park's Wildwood Grove area in 2027 alongside visitor kiosks.[Billboard · ABC News]
- The city of Sevierville, Tennessee, will establish an 11-marker self-guided walking tour titled 'In Dolly's Footsteps' highlighting key local spots from her life.[Billboard · ABC News]
- Many of the planned theme park projects are slated to open to the public in March 2027.[Billboard]