There’s a new restaurant, Wilderness Pass, that recently opened at Dollywood, and here’s what we know so far
Choosing from the many Dollywood dining options is one of the great joys of visiting the park. Do I want a sit-down meal from Aunt Granny’s? Or maybe some delicious mountain barbecue.
On some trips, I’m craving ham and beans. But there isn’t a trip that goes by that I wouldn’t be satisfied with sausage or potatoes from the Market Square Big Skillet options. I could live on Big Skillet options. Throw in some cinnamon bread, a funnel cake or kettle corn for dessert and you’ve got a full day.
But Dolly does not have a reputation for resting on her laurels. There is also something new, something bigger, or something better on the horizon. Welcome to Wilderness Pass Restaurant, which opened in 2025, the 40th season of Dollywood.
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What does the restaurant offer?
Wilderness Pass Restaurant offers diners covered outdoor seating. When guests enter to place their order, they have a choice of two lines. There will also be a mobile pickup window.
Although there is no indoor seating, a covered pavilion and tables with umbrella covers are available for use. The pavilion is open on all sides but has the option of canvas roll-down panels and gas heaters for the colder months.
There are also fans to help move the air around in warmer months. It appears the fountain at the location has been retained.
What’s on the menu?
The menu includes rotisserie chicken, braised beef, pulled pork, country sausage, and catfish. Sides include cheddar grits, mac ‘n’ cheese, hush puppies, corn salad, and more. There is even a three-bean vegan chili on the menu. The southern dessert offerings are pineapple upside-down cake and banana bread pudding.
Additionally, keeping a menu packed with Dollywood favorites would make sense in many ways. First, that part of the park needs a quality dining option, and it does not require a reinvention of the wheel. Ain’t nobody clamoring for Dolly’s Mountain escargot. Second, from a logistical point of view, offering more or similar options to what’s available in the rest of the park makes sense. You can save on ordering in bulk, after all, and if things get low at one location, you can replenish from other parts of the park.
The location
The restaurant is beside Mystery Mine. It is said to be a nod to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It opened in mid-April.
Dollywood officials appear to be aiming for a relatively minimal construction effort for the 40th anniversary. There are a handful of smaller projects, including the addition of water to Blazing Fury, but nothing big, aside from the restaurant, before 2026 when some real major projects should kick off, including a massive $50 million attraction.
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