There is something for everyone at Dollywood, a popular amusement park located in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee! The youngest visitors will enjoy the kiddie rides and arcade games in the County Fair, while their older siblings will enjoy the thrill of riding on one of the roller coasters. Numerous restaurants and snack shops are scattered throughout the park, so grabbing a bite for lunch is just a matter of choosing what to eat. As the day turns warmer, the entire family will enjoy cooling off while riding one of the water rides—you will get wet on most of them! As the day wears on and you find yourself a little tired, sit down and enjoy one of the shows—listen to some good country music or watch the magician near the train depot. Of course, no day is complete without a ride on one of Dollywood Express’s steam engines. Enjoy a leisurely five-mile trip through the park and into the foothills of the Smokies while listening to the conductor tell you the history of the steam engine upon which you are riding. Now, let’s take a more thorough look at what is inside the park at Dollywood— ALL ABOARD!

Dollywood is the number one tourist attraction in Tennessee, offering more than 40 rides, live entertainment, and a dozen craftsman demonstrations throughout the 125-acre park. More than 2.2 million people visit Dollywood each year. The adventure park is open nine months out of the year, from April through December. Dollywood opens in the spring with the Festival of Nations, a five-week long festival that includes shows and acts from over a dozen countries around the world. The weather is still a little chilly at this time of year, so the water rides are a bit cold. Therefore, the Festival of Nations provides lots of entertainment for the entire family. These entertainers are not to be missed! Other festivals follow throughout each season. Summer offers the KidsFest, featuring special shows and attractions for the young and the young at heart! There are two festivals in the fall—Bluegrass & BBQ and the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration. November marks the beginning of the Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration. Visitors will be enthralled by more than three million holiday lights that are hung on every building and ride in the park and will also enjoy special Christmas shows and displays.

Dollywood is not your typical amusement park. It is more than just roller coasters, arcade games, and water rides. First of all, great care is taken to surround you with beautiful landscaping. Trees shade a large portion of the park. Even on the hottest day, it is easy to find some relief from the sun somewhere! Dollywood brings back the nostalgia of yesteryear while also providing opportunities for educational enrichment. In Craftsman’s Valley, you will find demonstrations of turn-ofthe- century crafts. Watch the blacksmith, woodcarver, or glassblower create items that will be sold in the gift shops. Learn how to make lye soap and candles or watch the men work to create a one-ofa- kind wooden carriage! There is also a gristmill that has been in operation since 1982. It grinds corn and wheat, products that are available for purchase by park visitors and used to bake the gristmill’s popular cinnamon rolls.

One of the most unusual attractions at Dollywood is Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. In operation since 1991, the sanctuary is home to about a dozen bald eagles inhabiting a 1.5 million cubic foot natural outdoor aviary. These birds are nonreleasable due to permanent disabilities and, therefore, would not be able to live on their own in the wild. They find refuge in the park and are used to educate people about this endangered species. The Wings of America Theater features a show about birds of prey, including hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, and the eagles. Audience members are often surprised when the birds take flight during the show!

Of course, no amusement park is complete without thrilling rides for the entire family. Each year at Dollywood brings something new for park visitors. The last three years have seen some great additions. Dollywood is home to Thunderhead, which opened in 2004 and has been voted “Best Wooden Coaster” two years in a row by Amusement Today. The ride’s 3,230- foot track crosses over and under itself 32 times in addition to a 100-foot drop, a top speed of 55 miles per hour, and 22 turns. This is one exciting ride! In 2005, ten new rides were added to the County Fair area. Timber Tower is the newest attraction, added in 2006. The Mystery Mine will be added to the same Timber Canyon area in 2007. Water rides are located throughout the park and offer a fun way to cool down on a hot day. The D r e a mland Forest area includes a waterplay area that is perfect for kids of all ages—water shoots up out of the ground, and mounted water guns offer another chance for families to have a soaking good time!

As mentioned before, no one should visit Dollywood without enjoying a train ride on an authentic steam engine. Two Baldwin coal-fired steam trains—Klondike Katie, built in 1943, and Cinderella, built in 1939—have interesting histories. They were originally built for the US Army, and both engines were used in Alaska during World War II to transport troops and lumber. These engines use 5,000 gallons of water and five tons of coal daily as they take passengers on a scenic tour of the park.

Each August, Dollywood hosts its annual Homeschool Day. On Homeschool Day, in addition to gaining entrance to all of the park’s rides, visitors are offered special craft classes taught by Dollywood’s master craftsmen—leatherworking, woodcarving, stenciling, and stone mosaics offer the children a chance to make an item they can keep as a memento of their trip. Lunches are offered at discounted prices, too, with children eating free if accompanied by an adult. Train rides are offered early to accommodate the families, and children have a chance to ride in the engine by signing up with the engineer!

Another special offer at Dollywood is the “After 3 PM Program” through the end of October. Guests entering the park after 3 PM are allowed to get in free the following operating day. To receive more information about planning a trip to this one-of-a-kind adventure park, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit www.dollywood.com. Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Gatlinburg. Other area attractions for families include the Wonderworks Museum, Rainforest Adventures, Smokies Baseball, and Ripley’s Aquarium. Plan your next fun family vacation in the Smoky Mountains and create some wonderful family memories that will last a lifetime!