Dollywood: $300 Million Expansion

Dollywood’s $300 million expansion will include a new roller coaster and a 300-room resort. Dolly Parton’s theme park has been a Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, destination for nearly 30 years.

The resort will open in 2015. It will be located on 100 acres of land next to Dollywood Splash Country. As reported by USA Today, the resort is designed to make guests feel at home.

The building’s exterior will feature porches, where guests can sit in rocking chairs and enjoy the views. Three story windows in the lobby will offer a spectacular view of Mount LeConte.

Parton discusses her plans for the resort’s theme:

“We definitely wanted to keep it with a down-home atmosphere, but we wanted it to have some class and some glamor. … It is a lot of fun. It is the ultimate dollhouse –Dolly’s dollhouse.”

Dollywood’s $300 million expansion included the purchase of 20 additional acres of land. Within the next 10 years, the plan includes the addition of several resorts, attractions, and rides.

Dollywood president Craig Ross explains that the expansion will allow for a wider variety of attractions. However, the theme park will maintain the family friendly atmosphere.

The resort is expected to attract new guests, and encourage former guests to return. With accommodations on Dollywood property, guests will have more convenient access to the park.

The hotel will include indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a family activity center, fire pits, a conference center, and at least one full-service restaurant.

Guests will have the added convenience of transportation from the resort to the theme park entrance.

The Dollywood resort will not open until 2015. However, the FireChaser express roller coaster will debut next year. As reported by ABC News, the coaster will be “the first dual launch family coaster.” Riders will travel forward, then backward, along the coaster’s track.

Dollywood’s $300 million expansion will begin with the resort’s groundbreaking this weekend.

[Image via Flickr]