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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Pigeon Forge Aims to Take Back the Family Vacation

Do you have a friend you’d like to help with $100 in gas money? How about utilities for a year? Or 12 car payments? Or perhaps a year of mortgage payments?

The vacation destination of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., can help you accomplish exactly that.

The method is Pigeon Forge’s “Taking Back Vacation” campaign, which continues through July, when one family will win $15,000 for mortgage or rent payments.

Pigeon Forge, a major family vacation destination and a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is conducting the campaign in reaction to the nation’s economic troubles of the past two years.

“We believe in the family vacation, and we feel family vacationers are our guests. Our whole community feels this way, and ‘Taking Back Vacation’ is our way to demonstrate that. It’s unusual for a whole destination to do this, but its our way to support a lot of families,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

All winners – and the people who nominate them – also will receive three-day vacations in Pigeon Forge.

The nomination process requires two clicks at Pigeon Forge’s Web site, www.MyPigeonForge.com, and composition of a 100-word essay. Visitors to the Web site will choose the winners from the posted essays.

“Too many people have had to curtail family time recently, and we want to draw attention to how important family vacations are. Those times together are vital, and places such as Pigeon Forge can be the glue that binds families,” Downey said.

The “Taking Back Vacation” campaign grows from April through July.

In May, 10 families will win $2,100 for utility payments.
In June, five families will win $6,600 for car payments.
In July, one family will win $15,000 for mortgage or rent payments.

Pigeon Forge made a similar outreach in 2006, a year of unexpected jumps in gasoline prices, by giving away a tanker truckload of gas.

“Our ‘Great Gas Giveaway’ was load of fun,” Downey recalled, “and we want the ‘Taking Back Vacation’ idea to be the same. Our goal in Pigeon Forge is making people happy and creating good memories.”

Pigeon Forge has a resident population of about 5,800, but it attracts more than 10 million visitors a year. It is home to Tennessee’s most visited tourist attraction, Dollywood, as well as more than a dozen theaters, scores of family attractions and more than 250 outlet, craft and specialty stores.

Its next-door neighbor, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is the most visited national park in the U.S.

“We’re in a great location and have tons of fun to offer. We hope parents will see us as a destination for family fun – before their kids outgrow childhood,” Downey said.

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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 Short Trip for a Good Musical Cause!

Wicks, Jessica Harp and GAC's Suzanne Alexander Set to Host Country Weekly Fashion Show
June 10th - Wildhorse SaloonVIP tickets on sale now!

Yes, you heard right! Country Weekly announced yesterday that Chuck Wicks, Jessica Harp and GAC's Suzanne Alexander will be hosting the Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert this year, benefiting Musicians On Call. Now in its third year, the event will take place at noon on June 10th at the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Avenue in Nashville and will be sponsored by Durango and Lifetime Networks. Clothing and boots from Durango, Flavour boutique and Wrangler to be featured in the show.

“After being on Dancing With The Stars, I’ve worn the best and worst of fashion. From silk to lace to materials I’ve never heard of. Nothing can faze me now! I’m excited to co-host with Suzanne,” said Chuck Wicks.

"Being the fashion lover I am, I'm excited to be co-hosting the 3rd Annual Country Weekly Fashion show alongside Chuck Wicks. Perhaps I'll share some fashion tips with him...if he'll share some dancing tips with me!" states Jessica Harp.

Special VIP tickets in the front row areas and prime runway seating are almost sold out! A limited number of $125 Runway tickets and $50 Reserved tickets near the runway are available. You can also purchase a table in “Music Row,” which is a row of premium tables behind the runway seats. These tables are $750 and include 8 seats, name recognition from the stage, appetizers from the Wildhorse Saloon, and two buckets of domestic beer. General Admission seating is on sale through TicketMaster.

For more information and to purchase VIP tickets, go to www.countryweekly.com/fashionshow or call 212-741-2709.
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Top 10 Asheville, North Carolina, Mountain Hiking Trails

/PRNewswire/ -- It's time to hit the trails! The popular online travel guide to Asheville, www.RomanticAsheville.com, selected its top 10 easy and FREE day hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for 2009.

1. Gorges State Park: New parking and trails open in May for much better access to rugged river gorges. Hike along the Horsepasture River to see several waterfalls, including Rainbow Falls.

2. Mt. Mitchell: After enjoying the 360-degree vistas from the new observation deck atop the highest peak east of the Rockies, head to the Deep Gap Trail and hike over four more peaks over 6,000 feet.

3. Craggy Gardens: The Blue Ridge Parkway reopens here in May after more than a year of repairs. The Craggy Gardens Trail takes you across a rhododendron bald, and a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to Craggy Pinnacle offers panoramic views.

4. Point Lookout Trail: This new 3.6-mile paved greenway climbs 900 feet in elevation in Pisgah National Forest. Bike or hike from Old Fort and enjoy mountain views.

5. Dupont State Forest: The best waterfall hike is a three mile trail to three waterfalls, including the impressive 150-foot High Falls with great places for wading and waterside picnics.

6. Max Patch: Hike the loop around the summit or continue further on the Appalachian Trail to enjoy breathtaking views from this bald mountaintop.

7. Cold Mountain: This famous mountain offers a strenuous 10.6-mile roundtrip hike to its summit. The hike includes a 2,800 foot elevation gain to the 6,030-foot peak.

8. Graveyard Fields: This highland hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway features a mile-high valley filled with wildflowers and surrounded by 6,000-foot peaks. With an easy four mile hike, you see two nice waterfalls.

9. Black Balsam Knob: Hike across more spectacular mountain balds. These treeless mountaintops offer sweeping views and alpine-like appearance. Hike three miles without dropping back into the trees.

10. Urban Trail: If you are looking for an urban hike, walk the 1.7-mile journey that showcases the art and history of Asheville, with 30 downtown stops, each with public sculpture.

For details on these trails plus others, see the comprehensive Asheville hiking and waterfall guides at www.romanticasheville.com/hiking.html.

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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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Southeast's Largest Indoor Waterpark Opens at Wilderness at the Smokies

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winter weather won't stop the family fun in East Tennessee with today's opening of the southeast's largest indoor water park at Wilderness at the Smokies.

Named the Wild WaterDome, the new indoor waterpark spans more than 60,000 square feet with a see-thru, energy-efficient Foil Tec roof that lets guests tan indoors year-round. The facility features the Smokies SurfRider, Tennessee's only surfing simulator. The Surf Rider uses 50,000 gallons of water a minute to create a continuously moving sheet of water on which people can surf or boogie board. “It's like riding an ocean wave, but indoors,” says David McGregor, general manager of Wilderness at the Smokies. “Parents and kids alike will love the thrill of riding a wave in a safe and controlled environment.”

The Wild WaterDome also includes the Storm Chaser, a four-person tube slide that begins with a 58-foot drop into a giant orange-and-white funnel where riders swoosh back and forth up the sides of the funnel. Other activities at the waterpark, which is reserved exclusively for resort guests, include a 10,000-square-foot wave pool, two tube slides, an indoor/outdoor hot spa, a multi-level play structure with a gigantic dumping bucket and 50-plus play-and-spray features. Plus, there is a special toddler area with mini-slides and a swing tree.

Wilderness at the Smokies, the region's first full-service waterpark resort, also unveiled the property's 472 multi-room suites conveniently connected to the Wild WaterDome. The units include three different floor plans ranging from one to three-bedrooms designed to accommodate up to 16 guests. “The enthusiasm for our resort has been tremendous,” says McGregor. “We are already sold out for several days over Christmas break and we are receiving more and more reservations daily.”

Wilderness at the Smokies is located in one of the nation's most popular vacation destinations in the scenic foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Phase I of the resort opened in June 2008 with a 234-room hotel and outdoor waterpark adjacent to the 240,000-square-foot Sevierville Events Center. The resort will be unveiling a second outdoor waterpark next to the Wild WaterDome in the summer of 2009. The developers are the owners of Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, America's Largest Waterpark Resort in Wisconsin Dells. For more information on the resort or for reservations, visit www.wildernessatthesmokies.com or call 1-800-867-WILD (9453).

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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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