Dolly Parton and Her Huge News about the Dollywood Theme Park in the Smokies!

When you think about the Great Smoky Mountains, of course you think about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After all more than 9,000,000 people a year come to the park, but did you know that more than 2,000,000 people each and every year now come to the Dollywood Theme Park too?

Since 1986, close to 30 years, Dolly Parton's Theme Park Dollywood in the Tennessee Smokies set the standards for clean, safe, family friendly fun, just like the Disney theme parks in California and Florida.

When you add in Dolly's Splash Country Water Park next to Dollywood and the fabulous unique dinner show Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, you have entertained more than additional 1,000,000 people, many of which keep coming back every year.

As staggering as those figures are, what Dolly Parton just announced today makes all of those numbers seem quite small in comparison. How does a $300,000,000.00 investment in the Dollywood Theme Park and new 300 room resort sound? Intriguing? Exciting? Truly amazing!

Since opening day, the Dollywood theme Park wins award after award. This is no backwoods carnival, but a true world class amusement park and destination for young and old from around the world. Just last year Dollywood was awarded the distinction of having the friendliest hosts of any theme park in the world.

Get ready to be able to enjoy the first major improvement made this with 300 million dollar investment this spring when the exciting new FireChaser Express dual-launch "family-style" roller coaster. This amazing new roller coaster launches both forward and backward as it winds along the 2,427-foot track.

What makes this coaster also very unique is that takes riders 39 inches and taller from zero to 20 miles-per-hour in 1.1 seconds and when it reaches the end of the track, goes backward from 0 to 20 mph in 1.1 seconds back to the coasters starting point! The FireChaser Express Roller Coaster is slated to open in March of 2014.

Of course the Dollywood Theme Park has so much more to do already for young and old alike. Great Roller Coasters, adventure rides of all shapes and sizes, zip lining, live shows indoors and out, traditional artisans blowing glass, blacksmithing, and so much more.

Wait! Don't forget all the great water rides, splash zone, street performances, museums, eagle aviary, delectable mouth watering food and drinks and that all before you even get to the Splash Country Water Park!

Tourism in the Great Smoky Mountains has grown up quite a bit since Dolly Parton came back home and created Dollywood in the same type of hills and hollers and just a stone throw from where she was born and raised. Entertaining millions of guests a year in a family friendly safe environment is what she wanted to provide, and that is just what she got.

There is no better way to enjoy Dollywood and explore the Great Smoky Mountains in privacy with all the peace and quiet you deserve on your vacation than from renting a secluded cabin close to Dollywood. Not only will you have lots of room, your own hot tub, fireplace, outdoor decks with breathtaking views, game rooms and so much.

The price of a cabin rental is about the same as a decent hotel and look at how much more you get! Do you really think you have enough privacy and space in a hotel room? Is there enough to do if the weather turns bad and you are stuck inside with the kids? Of course not. Renting a log cabin style vacation is no longer a luxury but a wise investment so that your vacation can be the best ever no matter what!

When you are on vacation, do you have any desire to wait in long lines in a restaurant to pay about $10 a person for some eggs, toast, bacon or sausage, juice and coffee and have a view of seeing dozens of other people eating or would you have to enjoy a home cooked breakfast for far less sitting on your own deck with a stunning view? Easy choice right? Nothing like having your own full kitchen and even a BBQ grill in the Smokies!

To make a good deal even better, when you stay in one of the American Mountain Rentals Cabins or in the luxurious Brothers Cove Resort not too far away, you not only get a great deal on a cabin rental, you even qualify to be able to buy the cheapest discounted Dollywood and Splash Country Theme Park Tickets!

If for some reason you insist in staying in a hotel to enjoy the Dollywood Theme Park we suggest you wait until the park's 30th anniversary in 2015 when Dollywood's DreamMore Resort is set to open. The resort will have 300 rooms, an indoor and outdoor resort pool, spa, and a full-service farmhouse-style restaurant.

The Dollywood DreamMore Resort may not be a cabin rental with tons of space and privacy but it will have fire pits, swings and hammocks, and story spots scattered throughout the grounds and will surely live up to the high expectations we all have.

While a 300 million dollar investment spread over 10 years sounds likes a tremendous commitment which it is, Dollywood, which is the biggest ticketed attraction in the state of Tennessee is committed to further expansion and improvements with plans already stretching out for the next 25 years!

Come to the Smokies and see what all the fuss is about. You won't be disappointed!

Cabins for rent by the Dollywood Theme Park

Who doesn’t love a Pigeon Forge parade and want to see Dolly Parton in person?

There is now more beautiful time than springtime in the Great Smoky Mountains and also that means it is time for the annual Pigeon Forge Parade and this year being the 25th silver anniversary of the Dollywood Theme park means that a special day will be even more special!

Now of course what would a parade be in the Smokies without everyone Smoky Mountains Sweetheart Dolly Parton? Not nearly as much fun - but it would still be a good time for all!

Dolly Parton grew up right here in the Smoky Mountains foothills and her family came from what is now the Greenbrier section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park so it is only natural that the world famous Dollywood theme park would be less than 5 minutes from where the 25th Anniversary Homecoming Parade will start.

Since this is the Dollywood Theme Parks 25th anniversary, besides being able to get special discount tickets to the Dollywood theme park from American Mountain Rentals if you stay in any one of almost 200 cabins for rent in the Smokies, Dollywood is going to have special performances and exciting special surprises for individual randomly selected guests of the park.

This year the theme for the 2010 parade in Pigeon Forge Tennessee is "Celebrate the Dreamer in You" and for many that will line the 2-1/2 mile parade route on the parkway from traffic light 6 all the way to the end at traffic light 3, seeing country music star, Hollywood actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton will be a dream come true!

But wait! There are lots more to see and be entertained by in the Pigeon Forge parade in the Smokies tomorrow May 7th at 6 pm than just Dolly Parton! Young and old, there will be hundreds of participants proudly marching and showing of their talents along the whole parade route.

Sure, it is fun watching the Shiners' drive around in their miniature cars and trucks along the parade route, but you also have to appreciate rival marching bands from Pigeon Forge High School and Sevier County High School, which is Dolly Parton's alma mater.

To lead off the parade will be a color guard from Boy Scout Troop 110 and behind them many performers from local Smoky Mountains attractions such as the Smith Family Theater, the Knoxville Zoo, Zorb of the Smoky Mountains, the Foothills Antique Tractor and Engine Club and a Wells Fargo stagecoach.

Will there be representatives from the Red Hat Society be at the parade? Of course they will! Overall, there will be than 100 floats, bands, equestrian clubs, twirler groups, dance teams and other groups in the 25th anniversary Pigeon Forge parade.

Dolly Parton will of course be the most anticipated participant on the parade that everyone will want to see as she is coming down the Pigeon Forge Parkway on her own float and everyone will be interested to see what glamorous or outrageous costume she will be wearing.

Last year Dolly Parton she was dressed as an over the top sexy park ranger in honor of the Great Smoky Mountains national parks 25th anniversary. Dolly donated more than $100,000 to the park through Friends of the Smokies last year and any member of Friends of the Smokies will get 10% off a cabin Rental in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg through American Mountain Rentals (Click here to see full details).

Besides Dolly Parton there will be another local hero that will be representing the Smoky Mountains, Dylan Presnell, of Sevierville, TN also known as "Smokey Mountain Thunder".

Dylan Presnell is an extraordinary young race car driver of late model stock cars including the American Mountain Rentals Super Late Model in the PASS/CRA Series! Dylan Presnell stock car hauler is a sight to see and will be featured in the parade to the excitement of many of his loyal fans.

Local and international celebrities, talented musicians, acrobats, twirlers and dancers, classic and custom cars and so much more...all for free - so don't miss out on the Pigeon Forge 25th anniversary parade on the parkway starting at 6 PM on May 7th 2010.