Dollywood To Spend $300 Million On New Rides, Attractions

Dollywood is getting a facelift to the tune of $300 million.

Not only will country music legend Dolly Parton’s theme park get a host of new rides, the Pigeon Forge-based attraction will also get a new hotel with a three-story window overlooking the Smoky Mountains. The renovations are expected to roll out over the next ten years.

The DreamMore Resort is set to open in Dollywoood at some point in 2015. However, a new family-oriented rollercoaster should be open to adventurous guests next year. According to TODAY, the project will create thousands of jobs for folks who live in the area.

“It’s gonna be a big deal. And I’m so excited. This has been a dream from the very beginning. It’s got a Southern flair, but it’s done very classy,” Parton explained.

Although the singer said she was excited about the debut of the park’s new rollercoaster, she is definitely eager to unveil the new DreamMore Resort. Parton stated that the hotel will feature approximately 300 rooms, some of which can accommodate a family of six.

The resort will also feature a number of “front porch spaces,” areas where people can congregate and discuss the day. Dolly Parton said the hotel will feature a fishing pond as well as several fire pits. The lobby will offer guests different treats depending on the time of year.

The country music icon told The Associated Press that the Smoky Mountains help bring people to the area every year. However, Dollywood is hoping to transform itself into a destination for tourists with money to burn.

“The national park has always been great for campers. But people come and sometimes they like to say ‘well, let’s get out of these woods for a minute and let’s go down to Dollywood,” Parton explained.

Dollywood opened its doors to the public back in 1986 on the site of the old Silver Dollar City theme park. The attraction draws in around 2.5 million people during a typical season. While the park currently has around 3,000 people on its payroll, the new resort is expected to add quite a few more.

Would having a hotel on the Dollywood premises make you more likely to visit the attraction? Are you planning a trip to the park in the near future?

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]