State Truthful of Texas + extra September journey concepts

Millions of followers world wide are nonetheless mourning the lack of musical and cultural icon Dolly Parton, who handed away Tuesday, August 25, after a quick battle with most cancers on the age of 80. The queen of sparkle and nation music was beloved for her blonde wigs, fast wit, songwriting and storytelling, and maybe most of all — her philanthropic spirit and loving character that appealed to generations of audiences from all walks of life.

Heartbroken followers from Texas planning to pay homage to Queen Dolly within the coming weeks, months, and years to return may not notice the variety of Dolly-fied locations she owned in Tennessee, the celebrity’s dwelling state. Parton served because the “Dreamer-in-Chief” for 3 lodge resorts (together with one opening subsequent month in downtown Nashville), two theme parks, a number of dinner reveals, an expansive new museum (opening in Nashville late September), and even an 18-acre journey cease – the positioning of her final public look in late June throughout its grand opening.

Here are a number of methods to have a good time Parton’s life and legacy which can be both a brief flight or a highway journey away. Each is certain to deliver plenty of smiles, laughter, and pleasure – not simply disappointment — simply because the entertainer would have wished.

Theme Parks

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Opened in 1986 within the Great Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and spanning 160 acres, Parton’s iconic theme park is dwelling to greater than 50 rides, entertaining reside reveals, and award-winning Southern delicacies, from the fried hen and pot roast at Aunt Granny’s (it’s what her nieces and nephews known as her) to the park’s world-famous cinnamon bread. (You can odor it upon arrival because it’s baked contemporary day by day on the Grist Mill bakery – simply search for the road.)

Dollywood is stuffed with alternatives for followers to get a glimpse inside Parton’s complete life. There’s a reproduction of the two-room cabin the place she was raised with 11 siblings, a reproduction of her hometown Sevierville, Tennessee (together with Red’s diner the place she had her first hamburger and the Pines Theater the place she noticed her first film), and even a chapel named for the physician who delivered her in alternate for a sack of cornmeal – the Robert F. Thomas Chapel. (Services are held each Sunday.) Opened simply final 12 months is the Dolly Parton Experience, an immersive museum that lets park guests stroll by means of Dolly’s life and profession by means of photographs, tales, music, and memorabilia.

While Dollywood boasts loads of thrilling coasters and rides – together with the brand new $60 million NightFlight Expedition indoor journey coaster that opened on August 19 – the park’s two oldest are a pair of coal-fired steam trains, collectively known as the Dollywood Express. Built in 1939 and 1943 for the U.S. Army, they’re now used to present friends 30-minute excursions of the park.

It was essential to Parton to pay homage to the skills of mountain artisans. Visitors can watch them in motion as they reveal their abilities, from dipping candles and blowing glass to forging metallic, and buy their wares and even strive crafting themselves.

Upcoming Dollywood occasions:

Run Dollywood: Launched by Parton final spring and expanded to incorporate fall dates of September 25-27, 2026, the race weekend features a youngsters’ enjoyable run, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon proper by means of Dollywood. Registration deadline is September 12.

Pumpkin Lumi-Nights & Harvest Festival: A not-so-scary fall household expertise that runs September 14 – October 31.

Smoky Mountain Christmas: Launched in 1990 and options greater than six million twinkling lights, dozens of Christmas bushes, weekend fireworks, and Christmas musical reveals. Runs November 6, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Admission: 1-day tickets begin at $99.99 for adults (ages 10-61), and $89.99 for kids and seniors (ages 4-9, 62+)

How to get there: Dollywood is situated about an hour from the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee, and about 9 miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Dollywood’s Splash Country, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Just subsequent to Dollywood is Parton’s water journey park, providing 35 acres of water slides, swimming pools (together with one which’s butterfly-shaped), splash zones, lazy rivers, and points of interest. Dollywood’s Splash Country celebrated its 25^th anniversary this 12 months, and it’s the place Dolly followers can cool off throughout its seasonal operation from mid-May by means of mid-September.

Admission: 1-day tickets begin at $59.99 for adults (ages 10-61), and $49.99 for kids and seniors (ages 4-9, 62+). Combo Park Tickets (Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country). 1-day tickets begin at $109.99 for adults (ages 10-61) and $99.99 for kids and seniors (ages 4-9, 62+).

How to get there: Dollywood’s Splash Country is situated simply subsequent to Dollywood, about an hour from the McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Hotels & Resorts

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
With the recognition of Dollywood, it’s no shock Parton opened a lodge simply subsequent door the place friends might kick up their toes after park hours. Opened in 2015, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa sits on 20 acres with 300 visitor rooms and suites, together with the apartment-style penthouse Dolly Parton Suite on the resort’s prime ground. The lodge places an emphasis on nostalgic experiences, corresponding to checkers by the fireside, porch-sitting in a rocking chair with iced tea or a cocktail, and household actions like arts and crafts and hearth bedtime tales that includes books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Amenities embody an indoor and out of doors pool complicated, a number of eating locations, together with a Southern eatery known as Song & Hearth and a bar and restaurant known as The Lounge, and a full-service spa.

New at DreamMore is the Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience, named for Parton’s very personal extremely customized motorcoach that’s parked on-site. Guests can reserve unique experiences within the tour bus that embody a visitor room contained in the resort, VIP dinner, and choices for Dollywood park tickets, dinner present reservations, and Pink Jeep Adventure Tours. Net proceeds from every Suite 1986 keep are donated to The Dollywood Foundation.

Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Dolly Parton opened a second spot for in a single day lodging subsequent to Dollywood in 2023. Called Dollywood’s Coronary heartSong Lodge & Resort, the property is Parton’s homage to the Smoky Mountains by means of its design that displays the pure wildlife of the area and an emphasis on bringing the outside in. The 4,000 square-foot atrium foyer includes a showstopping four-story stone hearth with a display screen depicting Parton as a little bit woman interacting with a butterfly. Other distinctive options embody a glittering guitar-shaped chandelier, a show of Parton’s personal guitars, and black-and-white photographs of the musician herself. Amenities of the 302-room lodge embody balconies with most rooms, a pure playground for kids constructed into the hillside panorama, strolling paths, splash pad, scorching tub, and indoor and out of doors swimming pools, nature-inspired crafts, nightly campfires with marshmallow roasting, and a number of eating choices together with Ember & Elm recognized for its welcome basket of biscuits together with deviled eggs, fried inexperienced tomatoes, steaks and fried hen.

Rates for each Dollywood’s DreamMore and Coronary heartSong: Shoulder season charges begin at $139 and peak-travel interval charges begin at $369.

How to get there: Located 9.5 miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, 10 miles from the doorway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and about an hour from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).

Dolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee
Overnight stays start September 14, 2026 at Parton’s beautiful new 12-story lodge, situated within the coronary heart of downtown Nashville. Guests can count on a energetic ambiance in true Music City trend, the place Parton’s songwriting spirit – and plenty of hues of pink – might be evident in every of the property’s 245 rooms and suites. The lodge can also be dwelling to Parton’s new Life of Many Colors Museum, which encompasses the whole third ground and would be the largest exhibit celebrating her life anyplace on this planet, together with two reside music venues – Parton’s Live, an intimate cocktail lounge with culinary choices, and Jolene’s, and 11^th-ground membership with small plates and skyline views.

Rates: Starting at $386, with rooms nonetheless out there for opening day.

Life of Many Colors Museum: Standard basic admission tickets begin at $31.99. Grand opening is September 29, 2026.

How to get there: Texans ought to fly into the Nashville International Airport (BNA), which can soon be renamed after Dolly Parton. “At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness,” stated Tennessee governor Bill Lee in an announcement. The airport is about 7.5 miles from SongTeller.

Travel Stop & Dinner Shows

Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, Cornersville, Tennessee
Opened in June and the positioning of Dolly Parton’s final public look, this first-of-its-kind roadside vacation spot is impressed by Parton’s lifelong connection to the open highway. More than only a pit cease for fuel, the 25,000-square-foot venue, located on 18 acres, includes a full-service restaurant and bar, Tennessee barbecue served 24 hours, the Doggy Parton canine park, and even reside music stage reveals. Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop can also be dwelling to Parton’s new line of espresso, Cup of Ambition, launched in partnership with Community Coffee. The model is known as for Parton’s iconic opening line in her hit anthem, “9 to 5,” and might be out there nationwide on-line on September 29, 2026, and in shops by spring 2027. More journey stops are within the works throughout Tennessee and the US, particularly in underserved counties in an effort to deliver new jobs.

How to get there: Located about an hour south of Nashville, Tennessee, off Interstate 65, Pulaski Highway. Fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA).

Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri
This entertaining dinner present that’s enjoyable for all ages options thrilling horseback trick using and unique musical manufacturing in an enviornment setting whereas friends partake in a four-course feast. Menu highlights embody creamy vegetable soup, scorching biscuits, rotisserie hen, pulled pork, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and a signature dessert.

Tickets: Both places begin at $59.99 for friends 10 and up and $29.99 for kids ages 3-9.

Pirates Voyage, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Panama City Beach, Florida
Combining sword fights, cannons, and full-sized pirate reveals, Parton’s swashbuckling dinner present takes friends alongside an epic battle for treasure. Fans will wish to pay attention to the music “Sail Away,” written by Parton and carried out through the present’s mermaid sequences. Menu gadgets are much like Dolly Parton’s Stampede and range barely by location.

Tickets: All places begin at $59.99 for friends 10 and up and $29.99 for kids ages 3-9.

More Dolly Coming Soon

At the time of her passing, Dolly Parton nonetheless had many tasks in numerous levels of improvement. A number of of these embody:

DOLLY: A True Original Musical on Broadway: Previews start December 7, 2026. Opening evening is January 19, 2027, with tickets at the moment on sale by means of November 21, 2027. Tickets begin at $66.

Kendra Scott x Dolly – The 9 to five Collection: The new assortment will launch in January 2027. See Parton’s present Kendra Scott collab assortment here.

Dolly’s Dog Treats: Launching early 2027

Dolly Bedding & Home Decor: Launching in third quarter 2027

Other future tasks embody a Dolly avatar present, a Dolly Musical documentary, a Dolly biopic, a Dolly docuseries, and a Dolly scripted collection.