Dollywood’s Splash Country Dives into 2011 Season May 21

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dollywood’s Splash Country opens Saturday, May 21, for another season of fun in the sun in the Great Smoky Mountains.

“After the cold winter months, we’re anxious to welcome guests to Dollywood’s Splash Country where soaking up the sun and enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains outdoors is a truly one-of-a-kind experience,” said Mike Brown, Dollywood’s Splash Country General Manager.

Named America’s Must-See Waterpark in 2009 by the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, Dollywood’s Splash Country features more than 35 water adventure slides, along with The Cascades leisure pool, the Mountain Waves wave pool, the Downbound Float Trip lazy river, children’s water play areas and much more.

New for the 2011 season, Dollywood’s Splash Country offers waterside Swedish massages. Guests staying in Riverside and Waterside Retreats, private 200-square-foot rental facilities, can schedule a 30-, 60- or 90-minute massage or neck and shoulder massage. Guests renting Canopies, which offer a 65-square-foot shaded area and two chaise lounge chairs, can enjoy neck and shoulder massages. Prices start at $40. All are performed by a licensed massage therapist and offered in the privacy of the Retreat or Canopy. Massages must be scheduled in advance by calling 1-800-DOLLYWOOD. Visit dollywood.com for more details.

Saturday exclusives return this season for the waterpark’s season passholders. Passholders and their guests (park admission required) are admitted one hour prior to the posted opening time each Saturday. Plus, a selected ride is open during this exclusive hour and an exclusive merchandise offer is available. The park’s popular Slick Rock Racer is open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 21.

This season, Dollywood’s Splash Country features several events that welcome Guest participation:

* 9th Annual Dollywood’s Splash Country’s Float-A-Thon on May 28, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. benefitting the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House
* Water Safety Day on June 8, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
* World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 14, 2011, at 11 a.m.
* Eco Awareness Fair on July 18, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Valid Dollywood’s Splash Country admission required for all events. For more information, please visit Dollywood.com.

Dollywood’s Splash Country is located adjacent to Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Dollywood Vacations offers all-inclusive vacation planning through which cabin guests receive complimentary admission and free parking at Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, call 1.866.857.2123.

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Dollywood Theme Park Announces New Barnstormer for 2011

(BUSINESS WIRE)--High-flying high jinks take to the sky at Dollywood for the 2011 season with the new Barnstormer ride, a $5.5 million family thrill ride situated in a barnyard-themed area which also includes play areas for younger guests.

“I remember my daddy and granddaddy talking about the old barnstormers that used to do all kinds of crazy stunts above the fields where they’d work crops,” Dolly Parton said. “My new Barnstormer ride offers folks those same breathtaking moments, high in the sky above Dollywood. And I’ve recreated a critter-themed barnyard that reminds me of growing up on the farm here in the Smoky Mountains!”

Taking its name from the daring aerialists and stunt pilots of the 1920s, the Barnstormer features two pendulum arms with seating for 32 riders. Seated back to back, riders travel progressively higher on each swing of the Barnstormer’s massive arms, reaching a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour and 230 degrees of rotation. At its peak, the Barnstormer reaches a staggering 81 feet in the air, taking riders high above the barn’s rooftop and the area’s treetops. Situated in the lush foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Barnstormer rests amid a traditional red barn on the Owens Farm, a nod to Parton’s family’s rural upbringing.

While the Barnstormer fills the air above the barn, children’s play areas dot the landscape around the barn. With a fun, barnyard theme, children can enjoy a 22-foot by 16-foot bi-plane play area as well as a pig pen water play area.

The Barnstormer has a ride capacity of 450 passengers per hour, and a 48-inch minimum height requirement.

The Barnstormer is adjacent to the Mountain Slidewinder, one of the park’s most popular rides which opened in 1987.

The new area opens in March 2011 to usher in Dollywood’s 26th operating season.

The number one ticketed attraction in Tennessee, Dollywood is an award-winning 150-acre family adventure park located in Pigeon Forge near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Open nine months a year (late March to early January), Dollywood hosts four of the South’s largest festivals and offers more than 40 rides and attractions, including Thunderhead, twice named the world’s No. 1 wooden coaster, and Mystery Mine coaster, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 Best New Attraction. In addition to the 2009 Golden Ticket Award for Best Shows, Dollywood is the recipient of 15 Big E Awards in recognition of the park’s live entertainment which features country, bluegrass, gospel and Appalachian music. The Golden Tickets’ 2007 Publisher’s Pick for best theme park, Dollywood also is a two-time winner of the Golden Ticket Award for Best Christmas Event. In addition, a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region demonstrate daily. For more information, visit www.dollywood.com.

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Dollywood’s Splash Country Wins Must-See Waterpark Award

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dollywood’s Splash Country won the Must-See Waterpark Award on Monday, Nov. 16, at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo 2009 in Las Vegas.

The program recognizes outstanding waterparks around the world that provide visitors with a unique and memorable experience, top-notch guest service, operations, and safety.

“IAAPA’s Must-See Waterpark Award truly is an honor for our entire Dollywood’s Splash Country team and all of Herschend Family Entertainment, which is dedicated to providing a one-of-a-kind guest experience in a wholesome family setting,” Dollywood’s Splash Country Vice President and General Manager Gene Scherrer said.

The park twice has been recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the country’s top ten water parks. In 2001, Dollywood’s Splash Country was named the World Waterpark Association’s Best New Water Park in America.

In August, Dollywood’s Splash Country announced the addition of Slick Rock Racer, a multi-lane mat slide, for the 2010 season. Slick Rock Racer spans 300 feet and features four water-drenched lanes, each side by side. Positioned belly down on mats, each rider travels head first on a channel which includes an initial dip to build speed. Multiple bumps along the length of the slide allow riders to gain additional momentum which propels them to the finish. The new attraction can accommodate approximately 600 guests an hour.

Slick Rock Racer joins Dollywood’s Splash Country’s more than 30 water adventure slides including The Butterfly, Mountain Scream, Mountain Twist, and the 70-foot-tall Fire Tower Falls®, the state’s tallest twin speed slides.

Marking its tenth year of operation in 2010, Dollywood’s Splash Country is a 35-acre water adventure park located adjacent to Dollywood theme park. Situated in a unique wooded mountain setting, Dollywood’s Splash Country operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, visit http://www.dollywoodssplashcountry.com.

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Nation’s Best Christmas Event Begins Nov. 7 with Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Presented by Humana

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dollywood unwraps its 20th anniversary holiday season on Nov. 7 with the opening of its award-winning festival Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, which continues through Jan. 2, 2010.

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival recently won its second consecutive Golden Ticket Award for Best Christmas Event. The awards are presented annually to the “best of the best” in the amusement industry by Amusement Today magazine from an international poll.

“I just love spending the holidays with family and friends, so I hope my Smoky Mountain Christmas festival brings families closer together this time of year,” Dolly Parton said. “My wish is for everyone to be wrapped in warm holiday memories, just like the ones of my family that I cherish and hold so dear.”

The Golden Tickets also honored Dollywood for Best Shows, which includes the park’s lineup of holiday entertainment. Dollywood’s live stage shows feature Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland, Christmas in the Smokies, O’ Holy Night, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs, and An Appalachian Christmas. Multiple performances are featured each day, and all shows are included with park admission.

Set amid a colorful display of four million holiday lights, Dollywood also offers guests more than 20 rides and attractions, including The Polar Express 4-D Experience™ which takes guests on a magical journey to the North Pole. Guests can enjoy the world-renowned Thunderhead and Mystery Mine coasters, as well as the Dollywood Express, a 110-ton steam engine that takes a nostalgic railroad journey into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Santa’s Workshop is Santa’s home-away-from-home at Dollywood where a larger-than-life-sized display of toys awaits visitors. Santa also appears twice each evening in the Parade of Lights, joined by a cast of fun characters and brightly colored floats. Breakfast with Santa is featured from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each Saturday during the festival. Seating is first-come, first-served for the meal which includes bacon, sausage, eggs, sausage gravy and grits. Prices are $15.99 for adults, $7.99 for children ages 4-11. Dollywood admission is required.

Seasonal favorites and special recipes from Dollywood’s best chefs are on the menu at the park’s many restaurants. Endless buffets featuring oven-roasted turkey and dressing with all of the trimmings are holiday favorites. Each year welcomes new additions, like this year’s chicken pot pie served at Backstage restaurant, all sure to become classic dishes offered for years to come.

Dollywood is a 150-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

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All-Star Southern Gospel Concerts Headline Dollywood’s National Gospel & Harvest Celebration Presented by Humana

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nowhere does fall make its arrival so abundantly known as in the Smoky Mountains, and Dollywood’s annual National Gospel & Harvest Celebration presented by Humana (Oct. 2-31; closed Tuesdays & Thursdays) honors the season with special music, crafts and food.

Southern gospel music takes top billing during the monthlong festival with more than 200 free concerts. Some of the artists appearing include Mike & Kelly Bowling (Oct. 2 & 3), Gold City (Oct. 4 & 5), The McKameys (Oct. 9 & 10), The Ball Brothers (Oct. 9 & 10), Brian Free & Assurance (Oct. 11 & 12), Michael Combs (Oct. 12), Legacy Five (Oct. 11 & 12), The Kingsmen (Oct. 16 & 17), Mark Bishop (Oct. 16 & 17), The Crist Family (Oct. 18 & 19), The Greenes (Oct. 18 & 19), The Inspirations (Oct. 23 & 24), The Whisnants (Oct. 23 & 24), Mark Trammell Trio (Oct. 25 & 26), The Isaacs (Oct. 25 & 26), Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 30 & 31) and The Perrys (Oct. 30 & 31). Plus, Dollywood’s own award-winning Kingdom Heirs quartet performs daily.

Southern gospel and bluegrass music share a common ground with great songs deeply rooted in beautiful vocal harmonies and a powerful message. In addition to a lineup of gospel music’s most popular acts, the festival welcomes special gospel performances by Riders in the Sky (Oct. 2 & 3), Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen (Oct. 4 & 5), Dailey & Vincent (Oct. 18 & 19), and The Gibson Brothers (Oct. 14 & 21).

All concerts are included with Dollywood admission. A complete concert lineup is available at dollywood.com.

The country’s most talented crafters visit Dollywood throughout the festival, showcasing a one-of-a-kind display of beautiful and unique artistry as well as up-close demonstrations as they create their works of art. Craft demonstrations include woodturning, spinning, dyeing, basket weaving, wool rug hooking, papermaking, and weaving. Crafters also will make hats, sorghum, fiddles, Windsor chairs, rugs, woodworking tools, and rope. Other featured crafters’ booths will showcase stained glass, handmade jewelry, woodcarvings, glassworks, dulcimers, harps, oil and acrylic artwork, games, toys and more.

Dollywood’s 18th annual Woodcarving Showcase and Competition, one of the Southeast’s top woodcarving events, takes place Oct. 2-4 with daily demonstrations by master carvers who showcase this unique art form through a variety of carving styles. This year’s competition features a special competition honoring Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 75th anniversary. The exhibit will be displayed throughout the event. Each day also features a special carving competition. The Team Carving Championship is slated for Oct. 2 (2 p.m.) The Whittling Competition takes place Oct. 3 (1:30-3:30 p.m.) and the always-fun Pumpkin Carving Competition wraps things up on Oct. 4 (1:30-3 p.m.)

Rusty’s Trailblazing Chuckwagon returns to this year’s festival, bringing with him the nostalgia of the Western frontier as Rusty shares stories of feeding hungry cowboys from his completely restored 1901 John Deere wagon. From “tongue to tailgate,” Rusty’s working wagon is an accurate model of chuck wagons that date back to the 1860s. His trusty Dutch oven is the vessel through which Rusty prepares a variety of campfire dishes that are slow-cooked over an open fire. And don’t miss Rusty as he shares the secrets behind the age-old technique of cowboy coffee.

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Take a Journey to the Center of the Earth™ 4D At Dollywood’s KidsFestSM

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dollywood welcomes the summertime travel season with its seventh annual KidsFest celebration which began June 12 and includes two new entertainment offerings.

“I’m the biggest kid I know, and nobody gets more excited about my KidsFest celebration than I do,” Parton said. “I’m especially pleased about all of the great entertainment that we have for families with children of all ages. I’m calling it our ‘Summer of Adventure’ because there’s something to suit every little adventurer here at Dollywood.”

Dollywood’s Imagination Cinema welcomes the Journey to the Center of the Earth 4D adventure. Brendan Fraser stars as Professor Trevor Anderson who, along with his teen-aged nephew Sean and their mountain guide, Hannah, embarks on an action-packed odyssey. The trio encounters a series of hair-raising close calls only to discover there is just one way out of this incredible quest to discover a lost world.

Something new is stirring at Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse where the award-winning Penguin Players debut two brand-new sing-along stage shows. The popular children’s storybooks Llama Llama Red Pajama and Skippyjon Jones join the lineup this year. Llama Llama Red Pajama tells the story of Baby Llama and his mama while teaching audiences that there’s no problem too big for the two of them. Skippyjon Jones is a rambunctious Siamese kitty boy with very large ears and a gigantic imagination to match, and he just can’t stay out of trouble. The much-loved favorite The Little Engine That Could! returns to complete the lineup.

To coincide with the opening of KidsFest, Parton releases a new children’s book entitled I Am a Rainbow in which she explores the rainbow of emotions inside us all. The book encourages children to understand their own feelings while also respecting those of others. Published by Putnam Juvenile, I Am a Rainbow also inspired a new song featured during each Penguin Players performance. Parton also wrote all of the songs featured in the three Penguin Players shows.

The Kratt Brothers make a triumphant return with their award-winning live stage show Creature Adventures starring the Kratt Brothers! Stars of the popular PBS children’s Zoboomafoo television series, Chris and Martin, the original creature adventurers, are back at Dollywood this summer with a cast of their amazing animal friends. The Kratt Brothers take audiences on an exciting expedition to discover some of the world’s most interesting animals on stage at Showstreet Palace Theatre.

The Knoxville Zoo’s animal caregivers are back for a summer of Kamp KidsFest featuring Kreatures, Kritters and Krafts. Open daily, Kamp KidsFest lets guests of all ages get up-close with a variety of small animals, remarkable reptiles and captivating bugs.

Sandscapes, 12-time winner of the World Sand Sculpture Championship, delights audiences as the world’s most amazing sandbox come to life. Sandscapes creates large-scale, three-dimensional sand sculptures. Last year’s design featured Dolly aboard the Dollywood Express steam locomotive.

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Dolly Parton Unveils Sha-Kon-O-Hey! at Dollywood

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dolly Parton showcased her songwriting in her second musical production in as many weeks at the Dollywood premiere of Sha-Kon-O-Hey!—Land of Blue Smoke on Saturday, May 9.

Billed as “a show as big as the Great Smoky Mountains,” the $1 million production is the largest and most elaborate in the theme park’s 24-year history.

“Having grown up and lived in the heart of these beautiful mountains, my love for this area is deep, genuine and heartfelt,” Parton said. “Sha-Kon-O-Hey! celebrates the wonderful people, music and proud heritage of this spectacular place.”

Sha-Kon-O-Hey is derived from the Cherokee name for the Smoky Mountains meaning “land of blue smoke.”

The new show coincides with the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for which Parton is the official international ambassador.

Parton wrote the eight songs featured in the show. She recently released a CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! which includes all eight songs. Proceeds from first-year sales of the CD benefit Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit organization devoted to preserving and protecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park by raising funds and public awareness. The CD is available for purchase at Dollywood or dollywood.com.

Guided by Parton’s heartfelt songs, Sha-Kon-O-Hey! takes audiences back to a time of great change in the Smoky Mountains during the 1930s. The captivating story is a musical journey to the hidden land of Sha-Kon-O-Hey where a wizened storyteller guides a reluctant family as it bids farewell to the area that eventually becomes Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 45-minute production features a cast of eight singer/dancers and 10 acrobats plus a six-piece live band with fully orchestrated accompaniment. The musical introduces audiences to the settlers, the rail and lumbermen, the Cherokee warriors and the shiners while capturing the spirit of the mountains and the rich heritage of the people who call them home.

Upon entering the theater, guests are greeted by a cascading waterfall which is the gateway to the land of Sha-Kon-O-Hey. In addition to the stunning waterfall and lush set, Sha-Kon-O-Hey! incorporates scenic elements and stage effects never before seen at Dollywood. The musical reaches a dramatic culmination as the action unfolds amid the audience with the aid of state-of-the-art special effects.

Dollywood, a 150-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., won the Golden Tickets’ 2007 Publisher’s Pick for best theme park. Open nine months a year (March 27, 2009-Jan. 2, 2010), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions, including Thunderhead, twice named the world’s No. 1 wooden coaster, and Mystery Mine coaster, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 Best New Attraction. The winner of 11 Big E Entertainment Awards, more than any other park in the world, Dollywood’s live entertainment features country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music. Plus, a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region demonstrate daily. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas won the Golden Tickets best Christmas event in 2008. Operating days and hours vary. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com.

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First Multiple Zip-Line at a Theme Park Debuts at Dollywood

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starting in May 2009, Dollywood guests will be able to fly like an eagle over the 150 acre theme park and experience the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains with the opening of SkyZip. SkyZip is the first multiple station zip-line experience to open in a U.S. theme park.

“SkyZip is the first of a series of premium experiences Dollywood plans to launch in the coming year. These high level family experiences are ‘ready-to-go’ meaning our guests just show up for the thrills, no previous experience or expensive gear needed,” said Ken Bell, president of Dollywood. “These deeper, personalized experiences will challenge our guests and often, fulfill lifelong dreams.”

Beginning early summer, the hour-long, premium SkyZip adventure will include up to five zip-line treks ranging in length from 100 to nearly 1,000 feet and a 100-foot long swinging bridge perched above the trees. Each zip-line is an elevated and inclined wire from which a pulley and a seating apparatus are suspended allowing the guest to move between two points via gravity.

Each SkyZip tour offers a distinctive adventure with a theme. Fliers will launch from a perch above the park’s region called Wilderness Pass and soar to Dollywood’s famed triple spiral-looping rollercoaster, Tennessee Tornado, and beyond. One trail takes adventurers breathtakingly close to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. After a brief hike, the adventurers will zip above Craftsman’s Valley, which houses Dollywood’s talented artisans, to the same point where their adventure began.

As part of Dollywood’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the tour will also provide an environmental and historical tour of undeveloped and unspoiled property surrounding Dollywood hosted by specially trained adventure guides.

The new SkyZip is powered by Hawaii-based Skyline Eco-Adventures. In addition to park admission, an additional fee is required to experience SkyZip.

Skyline Eco-Adventures is a Hawaii-based, award-winning, zip-line developer and operator dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment. It is the first and most experienced U.S. zip-line operator, as well as the first zip-line company in the world to become a member of “1% for the planet,” a group of businesses committed to giving at least one percent of its sales back to environmental preservation. Skyline Eco-Adventures will continue that effort at Dollywood.

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Dollywood Claims Best Christmas Event at 2008 Golden Ticket Awards

T2F Note: As the fall approaches, trips to the mountains increase. Gathering apples, admiring the leaves changing color, and visiting Dollywood all make a great weekend getaway from Fayette, Coweta and the rest of Georgia.

BUSINESS WIRE --Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival won Best Christmas Event during the 2008 Golden Ticket Awards on Sept. 3, 2008, at the Give Kids the World Village, in Kissimmee, Fla.

Dollywood was a finalist in eight categories, more than any other park in the world.

Dollywood received 38 percent of the votes in this new category created for the 2008 Golden Tickets. Dollywood’s Thunderhead, twice named the number one wooden coaster in the world, placed second in the rankings of Top 50 Wooden Roller Coasters in the World. Dollywood also captured second place for honors for Best Food, Best Shows and Friendliest Park. Dollywood took third place honors for Cleanest Park 9 (a tie with Magic Kingdom), and fourth place for Best Landscaping. In the Best Park category, Dollywood ranked tenth place.

“We commend the Golden Ticket Award winners and all of the finalists for their varied achievements,” says Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of Amusement Today. “These awards are the pinnacle of honors in the amusement industry, and it is nice to recognize parks and attractions around the world who are striving for excellence each and every day.”

The Golden Ticket Awards are presented to the “best of the best” in the amusement industry and calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today magazine. Surveys were sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world–in balanced geographical regions–asking them to rate the “bests” in 25 categories such as amusement parks, roller coasters, shows, friendliest staff and water rides.

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Dollywood Fires up for Fall with Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival

BUSINESS WIRE --Dollywood’s third annual Barbeque & Bluegrass festival (Sept. 5-28) kicks off Sept. 5, featuring three weeks and more than 500 free concerts by a lineup of award winners that includes Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder (Sept. 5 & 6), The Del McCoury Band (Sept. 7 & 8), Cherryholmes (Sept. 9 & 10), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Sept. Sept. & 14), Rhonda Vincent & the Rage (Sept. 27 & 28) & many more.

“It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of bluegrass music, and I love great barbeque, too,” Dolly Parton said. “I love to sing one and cook the other, so it’s only natural that I would treat folks to my Barbeque & Bluegrass festival at Dollywood each year. Whether it’s your ears or your appetite, you’ll find something you’ll love!”

Skaggs headlines the festival’s opening weekend with a 2 and 4 p.m. show on Sept. 5 and 6 in DP’s Celebrity Theatre. One of the genre’s most popular and influential musicians, Skaggs has 12 No. 1 hits and dozens of career accolades, including 13 Grammy® Awards and eight Country Music Association Awards. Skaggs’ last four albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard bluegrass chart.

Dollywood features free concerts on seven stages throughout the 21-day festival, along with roving bands. All concerts feature general admission seating and are included with Dollywood admission. For a complete concert lineup, please visit Dollywood.com.

Bluegrass music shares the stage with barbeque, with the park serving barbequed ribs by the slab, pulled pork and barbequed chicken, complete with potato salad and baked beans. Kid’s meals are offered as well. Special desserts served during the festival include three-pound slices of apple pie, each carved from a 25-pound pie. Restaurants throughout the park feature new recipes to celebrate Barbeque & Bluegrass, including cream of smoked vegetable soup and chipotle Tabasco® shrimp, both of which are served at Aunt Granny’s, a location that takes its name from the nickname given Parton by her many nieces and nephews.

Other highlights include demonstrations and Q & A sessions by professional chefs. Guests also can visit the Sauce Tastin’ Station which features some of the hottest barbeque sauces.

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All Aboard! The Polar Express 4-D Experience Joins Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival Lineup

BUSINESS WIRE --The Polar Express 4-D Experience pulls into Dollywood’s 19^th annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival Nov. 8, 2008 through Jan. 3, 2009, in the theme park’s Imagination Cinema.

“This Christmas, I’m inviting families to take a spectacular holiday journey where dreams become real, and everybody knows I dream bigger than just about anybody else,” Dolly Parton said. “On The Polar Express 4-D Experience, all you have to do is believe, and I sure do!”

This holiday season…What if there is a place beyond your imagination and to get there all you have to do is BELIEVE! Dollywood guests are invited to come journey to the North Pole where dreams become real and all of their senses come alive in this magical 4-D Experience. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on an epic journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. The Polar Express 4-D Experience is based on the film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment, inspired by the beloved Caldecott Medal children's book by Chris Van Allsburg, and includes 3-D and 4-D effects that will make you BELIEVE.

SimEx-Iwerks is the worldwide exclusive distributor of The Polar Express 4-D Experience.

“The Polar Express is by far the finest magical cinematic experience of our lifetime,” Mark Cornell, SimEx-Iwerks Vice President, Attraction Development said. “This iconic film is further brought to life with the perfected use of our own 4-D Special FX technology, and makes for an unforgettable multi-sensory adventure, leaving all who see with hair-raising goose-bumps! Upon your arrival at the North Pole…it actually begins to snow inside the 4-D Special FX Theater and when the conductor sings “Hot Chocolate” and the dancing waiters begin to pour, the audience can smell the delightful aroma of every cocoa cup!! The state-of-the-art 3-D Digital projection system allows you to see images virtually leap off the screen and when combined with 4-D FX, a blend of realism and fantasy unlike anything seen before is impeccably delivered. A must see for the whole family!!”

In addition to a winter wonderland of more than four million holiday lights, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas festival includes a lineup of award-winning entertainment. Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland, highlighted by the march of the 21 toy soldiers and a spectacular surprise finale, won the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Honorable Mention for 2007 Best Overall Production. Rounding out the Christmastime entertainment lineup are Christmas in the Smokies, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, An Appalachian Christmas, Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs, The Victorian Melodies, O’ Holy Night, Carol of the Trees plus the nightly Lighted Christmas Parade. All shows are included with park admission.

Families also can explore Santa’s Workshop, a magnificent 500-square-foot home away from home featuring larger-than-life-sized toys including “Jumbo the Elephant,” which measures nine-feet-tall; a seven-foot-tall sailboat; a five-foot-tall tricycle; an eight-foot-tall dollhouse; a six-foot-tall View·Master^® that displays a variety of holiday images and more. Dollywood is a 130-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and operates mid-March through Jan. 3, 2009. Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.

The Kratt Brothers, Cast of Amazing Animals Headline Dollywood’s 2008 KidsFest

BUSINESS WIRE--Get ready as Dollywood goes wild this summer during KidsFest (June 13-Aug. 3) as The Kratt Brothers star in the never-before-seen live stage show Creature Adventures starring the Kratt Brothers, created especially for the theme park.

“The Smoky Mountains are full of all God’s creatures, but The Kratt Brothers are going to entertain families with some of their special critter friends that I can’t wait to see at Dollywood, like a penguin!” Dolly Parton said. “They tell me there’ll be a snake on stage that’s as long as I am tall, even with my high heels on!”

Stars of the popular PBS Zoboomafoo children’s television series, Chris and Martin Kratt are the original “creature adventurers.” Their adventures bring a menagerie of amazing animals to the stage at DP’s Celebrity Theatre for this exciting new 40-minute show. Animal lovers of all ages will get to see a zebra, red kangaroo, coati, porcupine, beaver, rainbow boa, spurred tortoise and more. Learn more about these fascinating creatures as The Kratt Brothers share interesting animal tales from their worldwide escapades that have found them face to face with animals of all walks of life. Creature Adventures is included with park admission; multiple performances are scheduled daily throughout the seven-week festival.

Dollywood is crawling with animal encounters all summer long. Kamp KidsFest featuring Kreatures, Kritters and Krafts, located in the Valley Exhibition Hall, is open daily and lets guests of all ages get up-close with a variety of small animals, remarkable reptiles and captivating bugs. A professional animal caregiver from the Knoxville Zoo is on hand to share fascinating facts about each creature while showcasing the animal to park guests.

For a rare, up-close view of birds of prey, guests also can visit the new raptor facility located next to the park’s Wings of America Theatre, featuring 10 viewing stalls filled with different birds, including those that perform in the show. Representatives from the Dollywood-headquartered not-for-profit American Eagle Foundation are on hand to answer questions and provide information about the fascinating birds which include the bald eagle, black vulture, African pied crow, great horned owl, Peregrine falcon and more.

Summer’s most remarkable sand sculptures aren’t just at the beach this summer. Sandscapes, 12-time winner of the World Sand Sculpture Championship, will create large-scale, three-dimensional sand sculptures throughout KidsFest. Located in the Village area near the Train Depot, Sandscapes’ original KidsFest designs will feature trains and animals. The sand artists will use 75 tons of sand to create their designs—some of which stand as tall as eight feet—in a 24-foot by 24-foot sandbox. Guests can watch the Sandscapes artists’ ongoing work as they build new pieces.

Some familiar faces make a heralded return to KidsFest this summer. VeggieTales LIVE! finds Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber matching wits with The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything. At Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse, the Penguin Players are back with three sing-along stage shows featuring music written by Dolly.

Dollywood Hosts Thrills in the Hills Event June 6-8

BUSINESS WIRE--Roller coaster fans from across the country will converge on Dollywood this weekend for the theme park’s first-time Thrills in the Hills event set for June 6-8.

“Thrills in the Hills is a much-anticipated opportunity to see some very unique rides from a really up-close perspective that isn’t ordinarily available,” said Matthew Lambert, American Coaster Enthusiast member, “but everyone is really looking forward to enjoying the warm Southern hospitality that Dollywood is known for.”

Approximately 70 attendees will enjoy exclusive ride time and behind-the-scenes tours of the park’s coasters, including Thunderhead, twice named the best wooden coaster in the world by the Golden Tickets Awards, and Mystery Mine, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 best new themed attraction, as well as the Tennessee Tornado and Blazing Fury. Participants also will see two of Dollywood’s award-winning stage shows—the 2006 international Heartbeat Award winner Dreamland Drive-In and the 2007 winner, The Great American Country Show. The weekend’s itinerary also offers opportunities to visit Dollywood’s Splash Country and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner attraction.

“It’s an honor for Dollywood to host Thrills in the Hills and showcase all that our properties have to offer,” said Pete Owens, Dollywood Public Relations Manager. “We hope Thrills in the Hills is the first of many events of this type.”