Dolly Parton has always been one of my personal heroes. Not only does she have talent for producing beautiful music and acting in delightful films, she's also proven to have one of the kindest hearts of any celebrity in the world.
That was clear when the classic country songstress recently donated money from her own pocket to help families who were affected by the wildfires in her home state of Tennessee. Of course, her philanthropy is no surprise to those who know even a little about her — especially when it comes to the folks from her neck of the woods.
For instance, her amusement park, Dollywood, might just seem like another extravagant aspect of her bigger-than-life personality. However, there's so much more to it than meets the eye.
Take a look below to discover what really makes her Smoky Mountains park so special and let us know in the comments if we missed your favorite thing about the iconic tourist spot.
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Thumbnail source: Flickr
1. The Park Wasn't Always Dolly's
The park opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad. It was renamed Goldrush Junction in 1970 after being purchased by one of the owners of the Cleveland Browns.
In 1976 it became a Tennessee branch of the Missouri-based amusement park Silver Dollar City, which was owned by the Herschend brothers. A decade later, they welcomed Dolly as a co-owner and rebranded with the now famous moniker.
2. Her Financial Team Thought It Was Too Risky
Despite what her accountants said, Dolly was determined to bring lots of jobs to the county where she was raised.
As Dolly said in an interview, “I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, that I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area.”
The park currently employs more than 3,000 people.
3. Dolly Doesn't Go On The Rides
Though the park boasts more than 40 rides, the singer admitted to Knoxville News Sentinel that she never partakes as she suffers from motion sickness, something she inherited from her father.
4. She Used To Have A Secret Apartment In The Park
Visitors are able to catch a glimpse of the singer’s early life with a replica of her childhood home. Dolly also used to have her own secret living quarters right above Apple Jack’s Sandwich Shop.
She left in 2011 and auctioned off all the items in it for charity.
5. The Park Boasts A Large Number Of Bald Eagles
As home to the United States' largest population of bald eagles that are deemed "non-releasable," guests are welcome to observe the species and other breeds of birds at the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.
6. Pups Can Stay At Doggywood
Though only service animals are allowed inside the actual park, you don't have to leave your pooches at home: Doggywood offers rustic boarding for pets while you're out enjoying yourself!
7. A Gristmill Supplies Food Ingredients
Though technically built in 1982, the mill was meticulously constructed in exactly the same way it would have looked 100 years ago. It grinds all of the corn and wheat for the Southern recipes at the park's restaurants and food stands.
8. The Park Doubled In Size Since Dolly Took Over
It's probably not surprising that the larger-than-life star's park has frequently expanded its original foundation, growing to its current 150-acre span.
9. There's A Church Service Every Sunday
You can attend the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, named after the local doctor who delivered Dolly and many other babies in the area. The services are held in the morning during the regular season and in the evening during Smoky Mountain Christmas.
10. Dollywood Earned The Industry's Most Prestigious Award
Dollywood joined the ranks of other parks like Universal Studios and Disney World's Magic Kingdom by winning the Applause Award in 2010. It's essentially like winning an Oscar for theme parks.
11. Dolly Has Plans For More Parks
While celebrating the park's 25th anniversary in 2011, Dolly mentioned how she'd like to build similar parks across the country, each one paying homage to the history of the local culture.
Did we miss your favorite facts about the amusement park? Let us know below, and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
