November 17th, 2010
11:02 AM ET
Dollywood wins theme-park awardYou might want to mock Dollywood simply for being... well, Dollywood. But Tuesday, Dolly Parton's baby won the most prestigious award in the theme park industry, and Parton headed to Orlando, Florida, to accept the 2010 Applause Award in person. "We are so honored to win this award," Parton said at the ceremony. "Our success over the last 25 years is because of the great team at Dollywood that I lovingly call my other family! All those folks back home cooking, cleaning, entertaining and landscaping –- I am proud of every one of them." The Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park features more than 40 rides and attractions that focus on country, bluegrass and other musical inspirations. The park is located on 150 acres near the Great Smokey Mountains. The award presentation came on the same day that Parton announced plans for a new album on her website, DollyPartonMusic.net. Parton plans to release new music and begin a worldwide tour in the summer of 2011.
Next entry »Brandy's 'DWTS' boot - anyone else 'outraged'?
« Previous entryDo you have what it takes to be on 'Glee'?
 |
  About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.  |
Dollywood was just lovely just like the lady
Went to DollyWood this summer kids had a blast! My 6 year old daughter is still talking about the Mine ride! She can't wait to go back.
Robin in Iowa
Woot for Dolly Mountains (and plastic surgery)
They have to be the finest 70 year old knocks around
Yeah baby! Big fake hoobers, fake hair, fake face, fake eyelashes.I bet she sleeps in formaldehyde. That has got to be one seriously scary moring after.
I love to go during their Christmas season. They have the best shows I've ever seen. "Christmas in the Smokies" is wonderful!
Went here last spring with my 3 kids, very underwhelmed and can say that pretty much every theme park I've been to has been better than Dollywood. Maybe they weight this award heavily on shows which don't interest us much, would rather go to Cedar Point, Silver Dollar City or any Disney Park.
I've grown disillusioned by Dollywood. It used to be about the fried food, now it's about the plushy prizes. They sold out. They just...sold out.
We have been to Dollywood 3 times in the last year. The best deal is to buy a season pass.
If you have not been during the holidays, then do go.
They have some of the best shows at Christmas, it get's me in the mood for the holidays.
I have been to other theme parks, and yes other parks have their own speciality. I love to go to 6 flags during Halloween they have one of the best in St Louis, Mo. Bush gardens in Va has some of the better roller coasters and so does Universal Studios, and Island of Adventure in Florida.
We love Dollywood and plan to go back soon.
Congratulations Dolly and Dollywood.
That was the worst amusement park I have ever been to. One rickety roller coaster and some moron doing a not-funny puppet show and it was EXPENSIVE!!!!!!! Not worth it at all
Agreed.
Don't know where you went, but it wasn't Dollywood. Dollywood has four coasters: one pretty tame one that's an indoor wooden coaster with water features, one nice older steel coaster with a double loop, one almost-new steel coaster with one of the steepest drops of any coaster in the world (95 degrees!), and a wooden coaster that's twice been named the No. 1 wooden roller coaster in the world since it opened six years ago (and has stayed at No. 2 or No. 3 pretty much every year since then). As for cost, as I noted in response to another poster above, I visited Dollywood, Disneyland, and King's Island within the past year, and Dollywood was the least expensive of the three and gave us the best experience out of the three.
I can't wait to see her live in concert
I love how CNN only says the attractions focus on country, bluegrass and "other musical inspirations." One of the main attractions is The Southern Gospel Hall of Fame located in the park, as well as the old church that has Sunday morning services. When we were there gospel music was playing all over the park, even on the train! Nice, polite people throughout the park. Dollywood is our favorite!
freaking love her! have to plan a trip to see that park
It's the Great Smoky Mountains...not the Great Smokey Mountains.
It's the great Smoky Mountains...... come on CNN!
I read several news sites daily, and CNN is consistently the lowest quality. Somehow, I'm not surprised.
I was there this summer. I wasn't too impressed with Dollywood. Way over-priced, and not that many rides. I was actually disappointed from all the build up the park gets. A Six Flags park is better any day!!!
Six Flags is the trailer park of amusement parks.
Well-deserved accolades for a wonderful park! Dollywood is my favorite park, hands-down!
Years ago I took my children to Disney World and then a week later to Dollywood. We ALL liked Dollywood better. Better food for less money. Better atmosphere. More fun.
You should try Cedar Point sometime if you are into thrill rides. It is by far the best park in the world as far as thrill rides go. It is located in Sandusky Ohio, about 8 hours north of Dollywood.
I was just there this past summer and I now know why Dolly is always smiling. Have been to amusement parks all over the country and her park/water park is the highest priced I have seen anywhere. I guess cost was not a factor in recieving the award. Anyone would smile if thet were making this kind of money.
You must not go to theme parks or amusement parks very often. In the past year, I've visited Dollywood, King's Island, and Disneyland, and Dollywood was the least expensive of the three and the best experience of the three.
We didn't like this park either.
Dolly is a class act and so is Dollywood! Well deserved award.
I agree totally, classy and sassy and all around fun!
Dollywood is my favorite park because even old folks can have a ball.
get that!!! http://www.SUPERSONIC.US.COM
So you were part of that record breaking gathering.
You're an idiot Joe.
And you're a smelly redneck, Smelly Redneck.
Pigeon Forge, not Ford!
Great Reporting. The park is in Pigeon FORGE, TN. Thanks for the fact-checking.
It looks like they fixed that error but left the misspelling of "Smokey." For the record, the National Parks Service calls the mountains "The Great Smoky Mountains."