Dollywood President Reveals Dolly Parton Helped Shape Plans for the Park’s Future

PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee — Dolly Parton may no longer be here to see the next chapter of Dollywood, but many of the changes coming to her beloved Tennessee theme park were shaped by conversations she had with its leadership before her death.

Dollywood President Eugene Naughton revealed that he and other members of the park’s leadership team had extensive discussions with Parton about how she wanted her vision for the attraction to continue.

Dolly’s Vision Lives On

Naughton said the park’s future plans were guided in part by conversations with Parton about what she wanted Dollywood to represent.

Her vision centered on creating a place where families could experience fun, kindness, joy and inspiration — values that the park plans to continue emphasizing.

Rather than making Dollywood a static monument to its famous co-owner, the team intends to keep growing the attraction while preserving the spirit Parton helped establish.

New Features Will Honor Her Legacy

Several new additions are planned to celebrate Parton’s life and the values she championed.

Among them is a new waterfall near the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, designed to create a peaceful place for guests to reflect.

The chapel will also receive a stained-glass feature depicting Parton’s favorite Bible verse, adding another personal connection to the park.

Another planned addition is the Dream Maker, a new character expected to debut in 2027. The character is inspired by Parton’s belief in dreaming big and her longtime commitment to children through the Imagination Library.

Guests Will Be Able to Share Their Dolly Stories

Dollywood also plans to install interactive kiosks where visitors can share personal memories and stories about how Parton inspired them.

The park’s existing Dolly Parton Experience attraction will receive an enhanced entrance, giving guests a refreshed introduction to her life, career and accomplishments.

The goal is not simply to display memorabilia, but to keep Parton’s personal message alive for future generations.

A New Way to Explore Dolly’s Hometown

The tributes will extend beyond the theme park itself.

A new self-guided walking tour called “In Dolly’s Footsteps” will highlight important locations connected to Parton’s childhood and early life in nearby Sevierville.

The tour will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Appalachian community that shaped the singer long before she became a global superstar.

Dollywood Will Keep Moving Forward

Parton co-owned Dollywood from 1986 until her death and remained closely involved with the park’s development.

According to Naughton, she did not want Dollywood to stop being a place of happiness simply because she was gone.

That philosophy is now guiding the park’s response to her passing.

Instead of closing for an extended period of mourning, Dollywood is continuing to welcome families while gradually introducing permanent tributes to its legendary co-owner.

Keeping Dolly’s Dream Alive

For Dollywood’s leadership, the challenge is balancing remembrance with growth.

The new features are designed to ensure that visitors can continue experiencing the qualities Parton valued most: imagination, generosity, faith, kindness and the courage to dream.

Naughton said the park will continue to grow and welcome more guests while carrying forward the vision Parton shared with its leadership.

In that sense, the next generation of Dollywood isn’t replacing Dolly Parton’s influence — it is building on plans she helped shape herself.

Her name may be on the park’s sign, but the people behind Dollywood say her greatest legacy will be the atmosphere she wanted the park to create: a place where families can laugh, make memories and leave inspired to dream a little bigger.