Dollywood -- Busy Tennessee Park Continues To Expand

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. - Dolly Parton vividly remembers the first movie she ever saw.

Because of his personal interest in the subject, Parton's father broke his long-standing rule against his children going to the movies.

Her dad loaded up his family and headed off to the Sevierville, Tenn., drive-in. The Parton brood sprawled on the ground to watch Robert Mitchum in "Thunder Road," the 1957 action adventure about moonshiners in the Smoky Mountains.

"It was based on a true story, and Daddy knew all those people," Parton said recently.

Dolly was hooked, and 39 years later she has brought "Thunder Road" back to the Smokies with a multimillion-dollar motion simulator for the 11th season of the Dollywood theme park.

With nearly 2 million visitors last year, the park continues to expand. Along with the natural attractions of the Smokies, it's the reason this corner of Tennessee, about 35 miles from Knoxville, is a fast-growing tourist destination in the Southeast.

Dollywood's theme for 1996 is its co-owner's lifelong interest in Hollywood. That fascination added up to an $8 million expansion of the park and a seven-acre region called Dollywood Boulevard.

Billed as the "world's largest turbo-ride action theater," Thunder Road straps visitors in and takes them on a chase through the Tennessee back country via movie bucket seats and a specially constructed movie screen that stands five stories high and seven stories wide. Bumps, jolts and crashes are all part of the adventure.

Dolly didn't get strapped in - she's not much of a get-bounced-around type of person. "It scared me to death, and I was just standing in the hall, watching," she said.

Dollywood Boulevard also has roving celebrity look-alikes, from Marilyn and Rhett to W.C. and Elvis. The impersonators are pleased to pose for plenty of pictures.

Dollywood Boulevard also houses the Silver Screen Cafe, a place called Magic Moments where visitors can act out famous scenes from epic movies, and a movie-themed shopping extravaganza called Centerstage.

What is now Dollywood actually opened in 1961 as the Rebel Railroad. It was a pretty simple operation, with a saloon, a steam train, a blacksmith and a general store.

A decade later, the founding Robbins brothers sold out to the Cleveland Browns football team, which renamed it Goldrush Junction.

Part of the expansion was the Robert F. Thomas Church, which opened on the site in 1973 and is still used for twice-on-Sunday services to which Dollywood visitors are welcomed for worship.

The park was purchased again and in 1977 was renamed Silver Dollar City. The focus remained on mountain crafts until 1980, when theme rides began to be added. Among them: The Wonder Wheel, Tennessee Twister, Country Fair Falls and Thunder Express.

Parton became a part-owner and lent her name to the property in 1986. Since then, it has doubled in size to more than 100 acres, and now is one of the top 25 theme parks in attendance across the country, one of the top 50 worldwide.

Dolly's image is everywhere - on T-shirts at dozens of shops, in her "Rags to Riches" family museum on the grounds, at the re-creation of the home in which the 11 Parton children (Dolly is No. 4) grew up and in the music that coos quietly from speakers around the park.

Since the transformation, new park attractions have been added on a year-by-year basis. A children's area was opened in 1987, and the Dollywood Celebrity Theatre was added in 1988. Last year, a $6 million expansion with a '50s theme called "Jukebox Junction" was unveiled.

Food is never far away, with homespun restaurants like Aunt Granny's, Red's Diner and Miss Lillian's Chicken House.

For those seeking entertainment, you're likely to find Dolly's kin and childhood friends working on stages like Dolly's Mountain Music in the park. Combined, more than 40 performances take place at the park each day.

The Celebrity Theatre features names that will be familiar to anyone who keeps up with country music. Performers such as Billy Dean, Wade Hayes, Patty Loveless, Pam Tillis and the Oak Ridge Boys are appearing this summer. Tickets are in addition to park admission.

The park is in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., not far from Gatlinburg and about 35 miles from Knoxville in eastern Tennessee. It is a tourist mecca whose road system has yet to catch up with its growth.

One main road, simply called The Boulevard, connects 15,000 motel rooms and at least as many cars. Start driving early, before the traffic gets unbearable and parking spaces are gone.

Dollywood also operates the Music Mansion in North Pigeon Forge and a Dixie Stampede closer to the park.

Nearby is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park which attracts more tourists per year (about 9 million) than any other national park. Camping and lodging are available in the park, but reservations often are needed well in advance.

There's plenty to keep the youngsters and oldsters occupied for a day or two. There's an Elvis museum, a car museum, several non-Dolly theaters and a Guinness world-records museum. Riding, rafting, hiking and golf compete with laser tag, motion simulators and a haunted house. ----------------------------------------------------------------- IF YOU GO

Helpful hints for a Dollywood trip

Where: Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., about 35 miles southeast of Knoxville.

When: Operating hours vary depending on the season.

Cost: Tickets are $25.99 for adults, $17.99 for children ages 4-11 (excluding tax). Children ages 3 and under, free. Anyone entering the park after 3 p.m. can return the next day without charge. Parking is $3 per vehicle.

Take note: In the Smokies' mountainous terrain, good walking shoes are needed. Summer showers are to be expected, and sunscreen is a must for the fair-skinned.

Important telephone numbers:

Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism: (423) 453-8574.

Gatlinburg Visitors & Convention Bureau: (423) 430-4148.

Dollywood information: (423) 428-9488.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park: (423) 436-5615.