 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
|
|
Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country
Dolly Parton's Theme Park - Dollywood
1198 McCarter Hollow Road
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37862
Packages: (423) 743-9255
| Since 1986, visitors from around the world have become well acquainted with the Dollywood name and experience. However, the entertainment park actually traces its roots back to 1961 when Rebel Railroad first opened on the site that, over time, has expanded and grown into Dollywood.
The Robbins Brothers from North Carolina operated a small-scale attraction that featured a coal-fired steam train named Klondike Katie, a general store, a blacksmith shop and a saloon for visitors to enjoy. The Robbins Brothers had indeed created a winning formula. Visitors were intrigued by the Smoky Mountain way of life, and vacationers were eager to catch a glimpse of what Rebel Railroad had to offer. Little did the Robbins Brothers know that they were laying the groundwork for what would later become Tennessee's most-visited attraction.
In 1970, Rebel Railroad underwent a change in ownership and name when it was purchased by Art Modell, then owner of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. Under new ownership, Rebel Railroad was renamed Goldrush Junction and was touted as "Tennessee's Million Dollar Fun Attraction." Though the name had changed, the experience was unaltered; actually Goldrush Junction began to expand. Visitors still enjoyed the five-mile train ride into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, complete with mock Indian attacks and train robberies.
New attractions including a wood shop and a saw mill were added in a nod to the area's rich history as a logging community. Further additions included an outdoor theater, log cabins, a campground, and several children's rides. Goldrush Junction visitors could pan for gold, stop by "The Lady Gay" saloon which featured live entertainment, and ride the Log Flume which had been relocated to Goldrush Junction from the New York World's Fair. In 1973, the Robert F. Thomas Church was constructed. Named for a well known doctor in the Sevier County area, the Robert F. Thomas Church represented the strength and devotion of this Appalachian community to its Christian values. Later on, the Robert F. Thomas Church would have a strong link to a very well known Sevier County native.
Visitors continued to flock to this attraction located just outside the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains. For a single season in 1976, Goldrush Junction was known simply as Goldrush. In 1977, the park would undergo yet another name change as well as a change in ownership. Jack and Pete Herschend of the Branson-based Herschend Enterprises purchased Goldrush, and it would now be known as Silver Dollar City, Tennessee.
Dollywood also experienced tremendous increases in attendance, drawing 1.3 million visitors in 1986, an increase of approximately 75 percent as compared to Silver Dollar City's last season in 1985. Dollywood consistently entertains more than two million visitors annually (a 54 percent increase over its inaugural 1986 season and a 160 percent increase over its 1985 attendance.)
In the years since the Dollywood name has graced the theme park's main entrance, more than $110 million in expansions and additions are now visible as a result of Dollywood's ongoing commitment to offering guests something new each season. And, several old favorites continue to welcome guests including Klondike Katie, a 110-ton coal-fired steam train built in 1943 that still roams the tracks through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. And, the Robert F. Thomas Chapel remains but its significance to the park grew stronger after Dolly joined the family. It was Dr. Robert F. Thomas, the local Sevier County doctor, who one day delivered the fourth of twelve children to Lee and Avie Lee Parton-Dolly Rebecca Parton.
Visitors from across the country and around the world flock to the Pigeon Forge entertainment park to experience the heart and soul of the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood prides itself on creating "Memories Worth Repeating™." By offering a blend of thrilling rides, spectacular shows and master craftsmen in the Great Smoky Mountain and presented by employees with a genuine interest in the guest's experience-all sprinkled with Dolly's own special brand of charm and appeal-Dollywood more than delivers. Click Here to visit their website... |
COMBINE DOLLYWOOD AND DOLLYWOOD SPLASH WITH THE
"Haunted Historic Gatlinburg GhostWalk"
Appalachian GhostWalks strives to present a positive perspective about the afterlife and on each and every tour you'll learn the results of years of professional, experienced scientific investigation and how the real history of our region actually later verified our findings! All of this is set in the historic setting of an area rich with hundreds of years of culture and heritage of Native to early American History. The towns in which we tour are lined with buildings that pre-date the Civil War and look like a scene from an old western movie set! You and your travel companions will tour very active
 | 
Tours along Tennessee's two oldest wagon / stage roads! |
| properties lining the path of all thirteen lantern-led walking tours while your guide points out photo opportunities where you can and probably will go home with some very interesting photographs - so don't forget to bring a camera! Our tours bring the Cherokee, Frontier, Revolutionary and Civil War history of our mountains to life for all ages. Each guide is a highly trained and certified ghost hunter who will present a positive and realistic blend of science, real history, and true ghost stories which, in the words of our past guests, is... "Humor and History, Emotion and Education... Absolutely Entertaining, Edifying, and Enchanting!" |
| Come experience and explore America's First Western Frontier with our "Spook and Save" multi-day vacation packages designed to save you money on your next couples getaway, family vacation, or group outing. Choose from one to nine days of fully planned vacation itineraries packed with everything from rafting, to horseback riding, carriage rides, visits to local history museums and real Victorian mansions, |
 | as well as our region's most haunted State historic sites and landmarks... and that's just getting started! We custom design the perfect vacation based on your interests and desires with more than twenty years of experience in the Travel Industry and strive to exceed our guests expectations. Be sure to visit our Customer Feedback page to see what previous guests have said of their visit... |
| All of our confirmed guests receive discounts on their accommodations with any confirmed evening tour, full day, or multi-day vacation package reservation. These include haunted and historic bed and breakfasts, inns, and family hotels with all the amenities. Be sure to visit our Area Accommodations page to view a list of choices available. Then, just let us know which accommodation provider is your preference when you call for tour reservations and we'll take care of all the arrangements... |
Call (423) 743-WALK (9255) for "Spook and Save" Reservation Discounts
|
 | Visit the "Spook and Save" Haunted Vacations page of our site and fill out the vacation information request form, or call for further information and reservations... and start planning for an unforgettable experience
you will treasure for a lifetime!!! |  |
|  |
|
|
|
|
|
