Following the passing of renowned country music star Dolly Parton at the age of 80, Dollywood amusement park, named in her honour, reopened its doors to visitors on Wednesday. In a statement on its website, the park expressed its desire to remember Parton with a continuation of celebration rather than silence, encouraging “laughter, music and shared dreams” as a tribute to her legacy.
Despite challenges faced by other regional theme parks, such as closures and asset selloffs, Dollywood continues to expand, illustrating its robust position in the industry. The park is undergoing a significant $500 million expansion, aligning itself with heavyweight competitors like Disney and Universal by leveraging Appalachian culture and Parton’s personal brand.
Dollywood representatives have not provided additional comments. However, Parton had previously expressed her aspirations for the park in an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier in the year.
Reporting based on coverage first published by skift.com.