Dollywood Reveals Plans To Honor Dolly’s Life & Legacy
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Dolly Parton‘s East Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, has shared its plans to keep her memory alive.
On Wednesday, September 2nd, Dollywood president Eugene Naughton held a press conference to talk about the “journey forward” or next steps following the passing of their Dreamer-In-Chief. Dolly Parton died at the age of 80 on August 25th, 2026.
She opened her namesake theme park in May 1986, and it has consistently been voted one of the country’s favorite tourist destinations. Following her death, Dollywood released an emotional statement which read:
“Dolly’s enduring legacy extends beyond her music and generosity to her remarkable work ethic—an inspiration to people everywhere. In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle — ‘the show must go on.’ Together, we honor her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance, and hope.”
Dollywood President Details Plans To Honor Dolly Parton
While he admits that the last seven days have been “filled with grief,” Naughton says:
“Dolly would be telling us to get back to work.”
He added:
“She always wanted this to be a place of fun, and togetherness, and most of all… she taught us how to dream big.”
The theme park executive recalled that Dolly always loved being on the property and would describe it as a “relaxing” change of pace from her crazy life. He detailed some of the many changes that will happen in the coming year to honor her legacy:
- Work will begin in the coming days on a new installment called “In Dolly’s Shoes,” which will mark historic spots in the surrounding town of Pigeon Forge, TN, that held a special meaning in Dolly’s story.
- The Dolly Parton Experience, which has been open since 2024, will be brought onto the show street for all park visitors to enjoy.
- The “I Will Always Love You” banners created following the icon’s death will continue to be displayed across the park.
- Currently, there are six videos narrated by Dolly in the “Precious Memories” exhibit. When the time is appropriate, the Dollywood team will work with Dolly’s family to create a seventh video that allows them to share their favorite personal memories with the country star.
- A new grand finale will be added to the Songteller experience in the “I Will Always Love You Room.”
Creating Space For Inspiration And Reflection
While she never had children of her own, Dolly’s love for children was evident in her work with the Imagination Library and her partnership with the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. In that spirit, a new character will be added to Dollywood in 2027. Located in the Wildwood Grove area of the park, the character will be called “The Dream Maker” and will be an interactive and inspirational opportunity for kids of all ages.
Naughton described how the “centerpiece” of the work will center on the chapel, a spot that held special significance for Dolly. A special reflection area will be added to the waterfall outside of the chapel, complete with a guitar sculpture.
Naughton hopes this will be a space where fans can come and reflect on the impact Dolly had on their own lives. Renderings of the new feature can be seen in the video below.
