Dollywood is a theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, just a few miles from Gatlinburg. It is co-owned by the famous country music singer Dolly Parton who purchased it in 1986. The park offers thrill rides as well as local crafts and music of the area. The park also hosts a number of concerts and musical venues each year, including concert appearances by Dolly Parton herself. The Dollywood amusement park is organized into nine themed areas. These include: Showstreet – This area includes the Friendship Gardens, the Celebrity Theatre, the Palace Threatre and the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame. Rivertown Junction – This area includes the Back Porch Theatre, the Smoky Mountain River Rampage whitewater rafting ride, the the Tennessee Mountain Home. Craftsmen’s Valley – This area contains the Tennessee Tornado coaster that has two overbanked curves and a 110 ft. tell spiro loop, the Blazing Fury coaster where riders cross a collapsing bridge and getting run-over by a stream train before dropping through a pool of water, the Daredevil flume ride, and many craft exhibits. The Dollywood Grist Mill, Valley Theatre, the Wings of America Theatre and the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary are located here as well. The Village – This area house the Dollywood Express full scale steam train, Heartsong, a grand carousel and the Magic Laughmaker. The Country Fair – Some great rides that you may have remembered at the county fair are located here, including the Shooting Star, the Amazing Flying Elephants, the Dizzy Disk, Piggy Parade, Busy Bees, Lucky Ducky, the Scrambler, and Wonder Wheel, and many other attractions. Timber Canyon – This area has the Mystery Mine Coaster through a haunted mine, the Timer Tower, the Lumberjack Lifts and the Thunderhead Coaster. Jukebox Junction – This area holds the Pines Theatre and the Rockin’ Roadway car ride. Dreamland Forest – This area has an interactive play area for the kids and a Mountain sidewinder toboggan ride. Adventures in Imagination – This area holds the Thunder Road simulation ride and the Dolly Parton museum called “Chasing Rainbows”. Wilderness Pass – This is a new area completed in 2008 that now includes the new River Battle ride. This $5 million interactive water raft ride is equipped with soaker guns that let you take aim at each other and over 100 targets along the way. There are even talking animals – bears, beavers, skunks, otters! Some of these animals even shoot back! Although Dollywood attracts 2.5 million visitors annually, there is still plenty of room for families to run around and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The operating season runs from early spring until Christmas time. Come join us! ©2008 gatlinburg.be. All Rights Reserved.