History of Dollywood

Dollywood is a theme park and entertainment center located southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee in Pigeon Forge. Want to know more about the history of Dollywood?? Well here ya go!

The history of Dollywood is a great one! The original theme park was built in 1961 as a Civil War attraction known as Rebel Railroad. The name changed several years later to Goldrush Junction when it was transformed into a Wild West theme park. In 1970, the Cleveland Browns football organization purchased Goldrush Junction theme park and expanded it to include a log flume thrill ride and several smaller rides with the name remaining the same. The park changed hands again in 1976 when it was bought by Jack and Pete Herschend. The theme park had some changes, including the name to Silver Dollar City Tennessee.

Dolly Parton came into the picture in 1986 when she bought into the theme park. The additional of Dolly Parton as part of the ownership pushed forward redevelopment into what is now known as Dollywood. The park continues to grown under the the hands of Dolly Parton, Pete Herschend and Jack Herschend and is currently the top tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee.