Amusement Parks

sign for ghost town in the sky circa 2007

The 5 Most Missed Attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, According to a Poll

The No. 1 missed attraction won in a landslide, while the others were a close race In his treatise on faith, the power of the past and perception, the great Long Island philosopher William Martin Joel said, “The good old days weren’t always good and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” It’s a sentiment that rings true in the

rebel railroad entrance compared to new dolly parton experience at dollywood in pigeon forge, tennessee

Dollywood Through the Years: The Surprising Transformation of the Theme Park

Local details the full history of Dollywood, from Rebel Railroad to the park it is today It’s taken nearly 60 years of growth for Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to become the elite, award-winning example of theme park excellence it is today. Looking back to 1961, it’s certainly hard to comprehend the evolution. So, let’s take a look at the Dollywood

rendering of brand new water slide

SNEAK PEEK: Soaky Mountain Reveals First-of-Its-Kind Water Slide for 2025

Soaky Mountain reveals plans for new six-person water slide, Rafter’s Rage Soaky Mountain Waterpark is one of the newer attractions in the Smoky Mountains. And yet, they seemingly never cease to add new features. Now, just a few short years after debuting The Edge water coaster, the park has now announced yet another new water slide: Rafter’s Rage. The new

dollywood's new roller coaster with a sign from i will always love you festival

How Much It Costs a Family of 4 To Go to Dollywood Today vs 10 Years Ago

Local looks at Dollywood pricing throughout the years Dollywood is by all accounts a success story of gargantuan proportions. When Dolly Parton partnered with the Herschend Family to put her name on the park formerly known as Silver Dollar City in 1986, little did we know the effect it would have on the theme park industry. It’s approaching 40 years

former dome zipline attraction in pigeon forge, tennessee

4 Hidden Secrets in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Where To Find Them

Local lists most interesting links to Pigeon Forge history and some can still be found around town Coming to Pigeon Forge for a long weekend or a full vacation doesn’t require a lot of planning. You can spend a day in the National Park, a day at Dollywood, a day exploring Gatlinburg and a day shopping the outlets around The

ghost town in the sky in the background with dolly parton and a mic in the foreground (a collage)

Will Dolly Parton Buy the Ill-Fated Ghost Town In the Sky?

Fans are calling for their Appalachian queen, Dolly Parton, to save one of their favorite long-lost theme parks, Ghost Town in the Sky In the mountains of North Carolina, there is a ghost town that used to be Ghost Town begging to be saved. In Maggie Valley, a mountain-top amusement park that used to be the rival of Dollywood is

No. 107 the slow and easy at the dollywood ticket center

The Untold Story of Dollywood’s Third Train, Hidden in Plain Sight

You’ve probably driven past it a hundred times and never thought a thing about it. This is the untold story of Dollywood’s third historic train: The Slow Poke and Easy For most people in Tennessee, the community of Vestal in South Knox County isn’t on the way to anywhere. But for me, growing up in nearby Blount County, Vestal was

the entrance at dollywood vs ole smoky and the wheel at the island side by side

The Island vs Dollywood: Which Is Better? A Brutally Honest Opinion

Dollywood’s only real local competition for an all-day attraction is The Island in Pigeon Forge. But how does the Island stack up to the reigning champ? As someone who has been prioritizing our family’s vacation budget for nearly 20 years, I understand the equation. You only have so much allotted and gas and food are going to take a portion

storefronts for jurassic jungle boat ride and smoky mountain canopy tours

The 3 Best and Worst Reviewed Attractions in Pigeon Forge (2024)

We analyzed over 200 local Google business listings to come up with this list of the best, and worst, reviewed attractions in Pigeon Forge I have lived in the area for more than 30 years and first visited almost 40 years ago. So I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the best and worst attractions in Pigeon

AI generated fan art of one Dollywood goer's imagining of a new indoor coaster at the famous theme park

Is Dollywood Debuting a New Indoor Coaster in 2026?

Dollywood recently announced a “game-changing” attraction will debut in 2026 – does this mean a new indoor coaster is on the horizon? If you’ve watched the park grow at all from the days of Silver Dollar City, you know there is one immutable fact at Dollywood: Change is coming. As someone who remembers the days before Dolly partnered with the