Dolly Parton’s influence on the Great Smoky Mountains runs far deeper than music. From her childhood in Sevier County to the creation of Dollywood, the legendary entertainer has spent decades celebrating the people, traditions and natural beauty of East Tennessee. Now, as Dollywood looks toward the future, the park is preparing a series of new experiences and installations designed to honor Parton’s extraordinary life and keep her values at the heart of the destination for generations to come.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts recently announced plans for several additions that will celebrate Parton’s faith, imagination, love of the Smoky Mountains and lifelong commitment to helping others. The new experiences will be introduced over the coming months and years, giving visitors additional ways to connect with the woman behind the music and the vision that shaped Dollywood.
“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, president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts. “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.”
The plans reflect an important part of Parton’s philosophy for Dollywood: creating a place where families can set aside the worries of everyday life and focus on spending time together.
A New Chapter for the Robert F. Thomas Chapel
One of the most meaningful additions will take place at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, a beloved location at Dollywood that has long represented Parton’s faith and her connection to the Smoky Mountains. A cascading mountainside waterfall will be added outside the chapel’s front steps, creating a peaceful place for visitors to stop, reflect and enjoy the landscape that played such an important role in Parton’s life.
The chapel also will receive new stained-glass windows inspired by Ecclesiastes 3:1, a Bible verse that held special meaning for Parton: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” The windows will depict the changing seasons of the Smoky Mountains, connecting the passage of time with the mountains and the many seasons of Parton’s remarkable life and career.
Together, the waterfall and stained glass are designed to create a quiet, reflective experience within the otherwise lively atmosphere of Dollywood.
Celebrating Dolly’s Dream for Children
Few parts of Parton’s legacy are as far-reaching as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the global literacy program she founded to put books into the hands of children. The program has distributed more than 330 million books to children around the world and has become the largest program of its kind dedicated to early childhood literacy.
That commitment to children and the power of imagination will inspire a new addition to Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove in 2027. The Dream Maker will become a new character within the area, with stories and interactive experiences encouraging children to dream big, believe in themselves and help others through kindness and courage.
The Dream Maker and her Dream Wagon will give young visitors the opportunity to share their own dreams while hearing stories inspired by Parton’s life and philosophy. The experience will reinforce the idea that dreams can become even more meaningful when they are shared with others.
Visitors to Wildwood Grove also will find special kiosks where they can leave thoughts and notes about how Parton inspired them to pursue their own dreams. It is an especially fitting tribute to an entertainer whose own story began with a young girl growing up in the Smoky Mountains and dreaming of a much bigger future.
A New Gateway to The Dolly Parton Experience
Dollywood also plans to create a new entrance portal into The Dolly Parton Experience, the park’s immersive attraction dedicated to Parton’s life, career and personal story. The new entrance will serve as a gateway into the collection of memorabilia, stories and experiences that explore the different chapters of Parton’s life.
For visitors, the attraction offers a chance to move beyond the stage and discover the person, family history and creative journey behind one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers. The new entrance will further establish the area as a central destination for guests who want to learn more about Parton and her remarkable career.
A Place to Remember Dolly
A memorial already stands in Dollywood’s welcome plaza, offering visitors a dedicated location to remember and celebrate Parton. The memorial provides a place for guests to pause, reflect on her contributions and share in the joy she brought to millions of people around the world.
Rather than creating a single point of remembrance, however, Dollywood’s broader plans weave Parton’s legacy throughout the park—from the chapel and Wildwood Grove to The Dolly Parton Experience. That approach mirrors the way Parton herself shaped Dollywood. Her influence is not limited to one attraction or performance. It is part of the park’s overall personality and the values it seeks to share with its guests.
Following Dolly’s Footsteps in Sevierville
Parton’s story also extends well beyond Dollywood’s gates. A new program called “In Dolly’s Footsteps,” developed by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, will soon give visitors an opportunity to explore some of the places connected to Parton’s childhood.
Special walking-tour markers will be placed throughout Sevierville at locations that Parton and her family frequented during her youth. The markers will help visitors learn more about the people, places and experiences that helped shape the future star.
One of the markers was unveiled for media during the announcement, offering a preview of the walking tour and another way for visitors to experience the region through the lens of Parton’s early life. For travelers visiting the Smoky Mountains, the program provides a chance to see a different side of Parton’s story—one rooted not in fame and celebrity, but in the small-town communities and mountain landscapes that helped define her.
Carrying Dolly’s Vision Into the Future
The new Dollywood experiences are ultimately about more than creating memorials. They are designed to ensure that Parton’s values remain part of the park’s future.
Kindness. Faith. Family. Imagination. Hospitality. Community.
Those themes have been woven into Dollywood since Parton became the driving force behind the destination, and the park says they will continue to guide its growth. Naughton emphasized that Dollywood will continue to evolve, welcome more visitors and build new experiences while maintaining the warmth and hospitality Parton valued.
For travelers, that means future visits to Dollywood will offer both familiar favorites and new opportunities to discover Parton’s story. And perhaps that is the most fitting way to honor Dolly Parton—not by keeping her legacy frozen in time, but by allowing it to continue growing, inspiring new generations of dreamers while celebrating the mountains and communities she has always called home.
At Dollywood, Dolly’s dreams are becoming part of the park’s future, ensuring that her spirit of joy, generosity and imagination remains woven into the experience for years to come.