On September 2nd, 2026, Dollywood announced its plans to honor Dolly Parton’s legacy at the park. Dollywood President Eugene Naughton spoke to the audience about his time working with Dolly, what’s in store in the coming years, and how the Dreamer-in-Chief will be honored at the park. Keep reading to learn more about Dollywood’s future:
Dolly Parton’s Legacy Lives On
During his announcement at the park, Naughton expressed that the time has come to start talking about the journey forward and how to bring smiles back to everyone’s faces. He is confident that if Dolly could speak to the Dollywood staff now, she’d tell them to “get back to work,” so that’s what they did. Everyone’s been hard at work planning how to honor the Dreamer-in-Chief at the park and how to keep her legacy alive. Currently, banners can be found throughout the park, as well as a memorial wall where guests can pay their respects and leave flowers and/or cards. There is plenty more to come in the future! Here are some of the things guests have to look forward to at Dollywood:
Updates to the Dolly Parton Experience
The Dolly Parton Experience tells Dolly’s story like never before and allows guests to feel as if they were alongside her on her journey. That’s why it deserves a proper portal into the zone. Dollywood has plans to extend the experience out onto Showstreet and make it even more special for visitors ready to explore the Dolly Parton Experience. The I Will Always Love You room at Song Teller will also get a new grand finale. Additionally, there will be changes to Precious Memories. Currently, the exhibit features 6 videos narrated by Dolly, during which you’ll hear her talk about her faith and family. When the time is right, Dollywood intends to work with the family to create a 7th video and give them the opportunity to share special memories they have with Dolly.
Robert F. Thomas Chapel & Waterfall
This chapel at Dollywood is named to honor the doctor who delivered little Dolly Parton on January 19th, 1946. It’s only fitting that the park adds something even more special to the area. There are plans for a waterfall that has a reflection area, which will be designed to give guests a chance to reflect on the impact Dolly had on each individual personally. There will also be a beautifully sculpted guitar with pieces of stained glass, which showcases the inspiration Dollywood is putting into the church. They’ll be featuring the seasons of life that we all go through and adding a beautiful glow inside the chapel.
New Character in Wildwood Grove
One thing that’s always been evident is Dolly’s love for children. That’s why it only makes sense for Dollywood to do something special for kids in her honor. In 2027, a new character will be introduced in Wildwood Grove named The Dream Maker. The Dream Maker will interact with kids and help them learn about the foundational things Dolly talked about her whole life, including dreaming big.
Wildwood Grove will also be home to a special tribute kiosk that will give everyone a chance to digitally document Dolly stories that they want to share. Guests can choose to keep the stories private, or will have an opportunity to share it publicly. Dollywood has plans to use the public stories in a unique way at the park to showcase Dolly’s impact long-term.
Dolly’s Footsteps Throughout Sevierville
Naughton also announced a project that the City of Sevierville is working on titled “In Dolly’s Footsteps.” This new memorial will allow visitors to walk through Dolly’s story and discover places throughout town where her dreams began. One of the places where the footsteps will be is The Pines in downtown Sevierville. While reimagined today, the original Pines Theater was where Dolly performed her first paid show at 10 years old. There are intended to be a total of 11 footsteps and stories told around the city, and the City of Sevierville is expected to start installing them within the coming days.
Plan Your Visit to Dollywood
The new changes at Dollywood to honor Dolly Parton’s legacy are expected to roll out during its 2027 season, with some ready upon its season opening in March. But you don’t have to wait to witness Dolly Parton’s magic at the park! Plan your visit to Dollywood to explore the Dolly Parton Experience, visit the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, explore her Tennessee Mountain Home, and learn more about her story.
