Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13969)           
UK only International

Dolly Parton opens new attraction, Wildwood Grove, at Dollywood theme park

By Andy Knaggs    21 May 2019
Country singer Dolly Parton's latest vision for her Dollywood theme park has been brought to life
All us kids would splash and play in the creeks and ponds around the home and have these daydreams about the world around us, and that’s what’s so special about Wildwood Grove
– Dolly Parton

Country singer Dolly Parton's latest vision at her Dollywood theme park has been brought to life, with Wildwood Grove opening to the public at the attraction in Tennessee, US.

The expansion is a US$37m (€33.17m, £29m), six-acre development with 11 nature-themed attractions.

At the heart of the land, a 55ft-tall (16.7m) tree grows from a cluster of natural rock and boulders, offering a natural platform for live performances from the park's entertainers.

From 15 June, at night, the tree will come to life, with a show featuring butterflies glowing in a kaleidoscope of spectacular colourS.

The expansion will feature 11 new experiences, six new rides among them. The main attraction will be Dragonflier – a suspended family rollercoaster. Joining it will be the Treetop Tower, Black Bear Trail, Mad Mocking Bird flying carousel, Sycamore Swing swinging ship and the Frogs and Fireflies carousel.

"When I was a little girl growing up in the hills of the Smoky Mountains, I’d often let my imagination just run away — something I still do now — dreaming these big dreams about what it’d be like to venture off with a family of bears into the woods, or how fun it would be to hitch a ride with the butterflies and dragonflies," said Parton, speaking to Southern Living.

"All us kids would splash and play in the creeks and ponds around the home and have these daydreams about the world around us, and that’s what’s so special about Wildwood Grove. We’ve been able to create a new area to allow families to experience some of those exact dreams we all had when we were little."

Wildwood Grove increases the size of Dollywood by around 20 per cent and is the first new area added to the park since Wilderness Pass in 2008.

Wildwood Grove is the first expansion of the theme park since 2008 / Dollywood via Twitter
The Wildwood Tree will be lit up every night by hundreds of butterflies and thousands of leaves / Dollywood via Twitter
The acorn on top of the Treetop Tower was hand-carved / Dollywood via Twitter
Dolly Parton  Dollywood  Tennessee  Wildwood Grove  The Wildwood Tree 
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news
Related features

Company profile

Company profile: Power Plate
Power Plate's range of products include whole body vibration platforms, targeted vibration products and the ground breaking REV, combining to create a broad and compelling offering of health, fitness and wellness solutions to health clubs and fitness facilities worldwide
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Supporting long-term health: why whole body vibration belongs in clinical settings
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Stratford, East London.
Company: Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Location: Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Company: Newmark
Location: Newhaven, Sussex
Company: EiA Real Estate
Location: Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire
Company: Savills
Location: Oxford
Company: University of Oxford
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

13-13 Jun 2026
Worldwide, Various
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London
More diary dates