Dollywood - June 9th and 10th, 2025

 On June 9th and 10th, 2025, my mom and I made our first-ever visit to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!

As soon as we entered the parking lot on the morning of June 9th, we quickly discovered how lovely and wonderful a theme park Dollywood is! The staff were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, the park was beautifully themed and landscaped, the rides were great and very well themed, and the food was exceptional too! I honestly can't say anything negative about Dollywood as it met and exceeded my expectations! 

Herschend Family Entertainment and Dolly Parton have created a very special place in the Smoky Mountains, one where my mom and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves every single minute we were there. I can see why it has been enjoyed by parkgoers for the last 40 years! We definitely created many wonderful memories while visiting Dollywood for the two days we were there! 😊 🦋

Be sure to enjoy the photos from our first day at Dollywood on June 9th!

June 9th, 2025:

Nestled in the Smoky Mountains is Dollywood, one of the most beautiful theme parks! Our first day at Dollywood started off sunny and warm. It was a perfect day to be at Dollywood!

Once I parked in in parking lot C (for Cotton Candy), my mom and I caught the tram which drops you off near the entrance.

Security quickly processed these two lines. I was highly impressed!

Once through security, we waited at the front entrance, waiting for the park to open. All the employees we encountered up to this point were very friendly and kind.

Once inside, you were greeted by a Dollywood sign near the front entrance. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Dollywood.

You enter the park onto ShowStreet, a beautifully themed walkway lined with many shops housed within charming buildings with an old-time architecture.

Off of ShowStreet is Jukebox Junction. This area is themed to the yesteryears of Sevierville, Tennessee, a small nearby town when Dolly Parton was growing up. Many of the storefronts replicate the places Dolly would visit as a small girl. I really enjoyed the nostalgic vibes of this section.

Reds Drive-In plays homage to Red's Diner, a place which Dolly tasted her first store-bought hamburger. I really love how Dolly Parton has tied in many of her past experiences into the park! It makes it feel truly special!

Even the Dippin' Dots stand fit into the 1950s themed area as it was located in an old airstream trailer.

My first ride of the day was on Lightning Rod, a roller coaster themed to hot rods of the 1950s. Lightning Rod opened in 2016 and was manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction. It originally featured a launched lift hill, making it the world's first launched wooden roller coaster. In 2024, Lightning Rod was modified, with the launch being replaced with a traditional lift hill, to increase reliability of the ride. Lightning Rod is a very fun roller coaster with many moments of airtime within its 3,800 feet of track nestled in the mountainside!

Afterwards, I joined my Mom on the Rockin' Roadway, an electric car ride themed to a used car dealership. 

All the cars were themed to those of the 1950s! 

All the cars featured on the street of Jukebox Junction are actual models, and not hollowed shells, which was really cool to see! 

Here's a look into the 'garage' of Lightning Rod's queue. I really like the detail put into the queue! 

The car and gas pumps outside the entrance to Lightning Rod were a really nice touch! 

Here's a look at Rockin' Roadway as cars drove along the track playing the classic song 'Lollipop' on the radio of each car. It was a fun and relaxing ride. 

Very few sections of Lightning Rod are visible from the paths. Pictured is the swooping uphill turn nearing the end of the ride. 

Afterwards, we headed over to Rivertown Junction, a lovely themed section home to the Smoky Mountain River Rampage. 

This river rapids ride was very fun as it featured many rapids, geysers, and waterfalls! I also really liked how the ride operators were wearing uniforms matching the themes of the areas and rides. At Smoky Mountain River Rampage they were wearing striped sailor suits. 

There are many beautiful flowerbeds spread throughout the park! 

Here's the iconic Dollywood sign, replicating the iconic Hollywood sign, overlooking Rivertown Junction. 

Beside Rivertown Junction is The Village, an old-time section home to the iconic Dollywood Express steam train and Carousel. 

The Dollywood Express features lovely steam locomotives manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Works. Locomotive #70 (pictured) is nicknamed "Cinderella" and dates back to 1938, where it originally operated along the White Pass and Yukon Route between Skagway, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. 

The Dollywood Express takes you along a 2.5 mile (4 km) journey looping through the park and taking you along the mountainside that lines the north end of the park. It is a very scenic journey that predates Dollywood as the park originally opened as Rebel Railroad in 1961. 

As you go uphill, you pass by many sections of the park, including Craftsman Valley, Timber Canyon, and Wildwood Grove. 

Dollywood Express runs near Thunderhead, Dollywood's wooden roller coaster that opened in 2004. 

It also runs near Big Bear Mountain, a Vekoma launched roller coaster that opened in 2023. 

Along the journey of Dollywood Express, you pass by a construction site. It is yet to be announced by the park as to what it will be, so stayed tuned!

The Dollywood Express provides some scenic views of the park and surrounding area!

You pass through some wooded sections along the journey.

The Dollywood Express is a wonderful train ride that is one you don't want to miss!

Here's a view of the Carousel. My mom and I would take a ride on it shortly after our visit to the Country Fair section of Dollywood.

The Country Fair is an area themed to a fair and is home to many family oriented rides and attractions.

The theming in Country Fair is rather creative and fun!

The Waltzing Swinger is one of the rides in Country Fair. It was manufactured by Bertazzon and features a fun and relaxing ride experience.

The pavilion themed to a red barn was a neat touch!

Another ride in Country Fair is the Sky Rider, a 70 foot tall Chance Aviator ride. It gave a nice view of the area as it spun around.

Here's my mom and I on the Carousel.

I really liked all of the water sluices found throughout Dollywood. They really added to the theming!

Craftsman's Valley is home to many beautiful wooden structures including the Dollywood Gristmill (where you can buy the famous cinnamon bread!), the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, Calico Falls School House, and crafting exhibits.

I have heard many great things about the Cinnamon Bread at Dollywood! I am glad to say that it is the best cinnamon bread I have ever had. My mom and I ate it very quickly! 😋

Many of the buildings and stores are inspired by Dolly's childhood.

Here's a small water wheel located under a mine sluice in Craftsman's Village.

In addition to some lovely structures are some great rides in Craftsman's Valley. One of the rides I greatly enjoyed is the Daredevil Falls log flume.

The ride takes you through an abandoned saw mill, finishing with a 66 foot tall drop leading into a splashdown lined with water cannons!

Summer Celebration is one of the festivals held at Dollywood during the summer months. The park is lined with many visual displays including these ribbons hung over the pathway in the Craftsman's Valley section.

Craftsman's Valley is also home to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary.

No detail of theming is spared at Dollywood!

The rainbow of noodles lines the path leading to the iconic Tennessee Tornado roller coaster.

The station and queue house for the Tennessee Tornado was very-well themed and was surprisingly reused from the former Thunder Express mine train roller coaster that operated at the park from 1989 to 1998.

Tennessee Tornado is a looping roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics that opened at Dollywood in 1999.

It was one of the last large roller coasters to be built by Arrow Dynamics. It features a 128 foot tall drop into a tunnel, followed by a whopping 110 foot tall loop, another loop, and a sidewinder element all within its 2,682 feet of track.

Tennessee Tornado is nestled in a valley, making it hard to fully see. In my opinion, Tennessee Tornado provides a smooth and thrilling ride!

After Tennessee Tornado, I took a ride on Firechaser Express, one of two roller coasters in Wilderness Pass.

FireChaser Express is a Gerstlauer Family Coaster that opened at the park in 2014 featuring a sequence of launches, swooping hills, a neat fireworks factory scene, finishing with a backwards launch! it is a roller coaster that visitors of all ages can enjoy!

Up next I rode Wild Eagle, Dollywood's Wing Coaster manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard that opened in 2012. During the ride, you fly through four inversions, including a vertical loop, zero-g roll, Immelmann, and a corkscrew after plunging down a 135 foot drop! It's setting on a hilltop makes it quite different compared to the other two Wing Coasters I have been on!

This wall in Wilderness Pass across from the newly opened Wilderness Pass Restaurant was really neat.

As you're leaving Wilderness Pass, you notice the tall mineshaft structures of Mystery Mine located in Timber Canyon.

Mystery Mine is a Gerstlauer manufactured custom Euro-Fighter looping roller coaster themed to a 19th century haunted mining operation, opening at the park in 2007.

Mystery Mine features two vertical lift hills housed within the heavily themed mine shaft sections of the structure.

A ride on Mystery Mine ends with a quick trip through two inversions before returning back to the station! I greatly enjoyed my rides on the Mystery Mine as it is a thrilling roller coaster that is wonderfully themed!

Up next was a ride on Drop Line, a 230 foot drop tower! It has one of the longest holds at the top, providing a great view of the park before you drop!

The the barrel water fountains near the base of Drop Line were very nice!

After making back to the ground safely, I rode Thunderhead.

Thunderhead is an amazing wooden roller coaster manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI) that opened at Dollywood in 2004! It ended up being one of my favourite roller coasters at Dollywood as it was super smooth and had an awesome layout!

Here's a train on Wild Eagle passing through the vertical loop!

After a ride on Thunderhead, we ventured to Dollywood's newest section, Wildwood Grove. Wildwood Grove opened in 2019 and represents the beauty from Dolly's childhood in the Smoky Mountains.

As you enter Wildwood Grove, you can hear the roar of Big Bear Mountain, a Vekoma launched roller coaster that opened in 2023.

In addition to the thrills of Big Bear Mountain, Wildwood Grove is home to family rides such as the Great Tree Swing.

You can get a great view of Wild Eagle from Wildwood Grove.

With the possibility of rain on the way, I joined the queue for Big Bear Mountain.

Big Bear Mountain is themed to the search for a giant black bear as you navigate the 3,990 feet of track consisting of three launch sections, passing under a waterfall, a tunnel, and 23 airtime filled hills! Big Bear Mountain is a really fun roller coaster, and one that can be enjoyed by roller coaster enthusiasts of all ages!

The swooping drops and banked turns make Big Bear Mountain ridiculously fun!

Just after a ride on Big Bear Mountain, it began to rain. As the new for 2025 Wilderness Pass Restaurant was nearby, we stopped in for a meal there. I ordered the half chicken meal with sides of creamy mac and cheese and corn salad, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. The meal was also served with a very tasty biscuit. The meal was very delicious and reasonably priced for the servings you received!

I really liked the log cabin architecture of this newly constructed dining facility.

With there only being less than two hours before the park closed for the day, we decided to check out some of the park's other attractions as it continued to rain. Here is the Tennessee Mountain Home.

This cabin is a replica of the cabin Dolly lived growing up with her parents and many siblings.

The replica cabin was built by Dolly's brother Bobby and furnished by their mother, Avie Lee. Many of the items on display are original family treasures.

After checking out the Tennessee Mountain Home, the rain began to come down hard and fast, causing paths to begin to flood. We entered the exit gate gift shop where we picked up some Dollywood souvenirs.

Before heading out for the night, we posed with Dolly. 😉After we left the gift shop, we got completely soaked in the pouring rain as we walked to the tram station! We would return to Dollywood completely dried off the next morning. 🙂 

June 10th, 2025:

Our second day at Dollywood on June 10th was just as wonderful as our first day! We started off in Wildwood Grove as it began to rain the evening before. Throughout the day, we wandered through the park, re-riding many rides I enjoyed the day before, and checking out other rides and attractions my mom and I did not experience the first day at Dollywood, as there is a lot to see and do at this lovely park! 

Thankfully the rain had passed, so we were able to enjoy a full day at the park! As I've said before, Dollywood is a truly wonderful theme park, one which my mom and I enjoyed very much! 😊

Our second day at Dollywood started off somewhat cloudy, but that changed not too long afterwards.

As it began to rain heavily the evening before, we started our day where we had left off in Wildwood Grove. On our way over, I captured a photo of these funny grave stones in Timber Canyon.

While waiting for the rest of the park to open for the day, we enjoyed the views of Mystery Mine testing for the day.

Once the rope dropped, I headed over to Dragonflier in Wildwood Grove. On our way over, I captured a photo of some of the pickup trucks parked in Wildwood Grove.

They were a very nice touch!

I was on the first train of the day on Dragonflier.

Dragonflier is a Family Suspended Coaster manufactured by Vekoma that opened at Dollywood in 2019 with Wildwood Grove. I really enjoyed my ride on Dragonflier as it was very smooth and fun, with its overbanked turn and helixes.

The Dragonflier is a perfect roller coaster for new thrill seekers as well as seasoned thrill riders such as myself as it includes elements that make for a great roller coaster!

Wildwood Grove is home to many nature themed attractions, including the Mad Mockingbirds (pictured), and the Great Tree Swing swinging ship ride that I rode during the morning.

Since the line for Big Bear Mountain was very short, I couldn't resist another ride on it! Who can say no to a smooth multi-launch roller coaster with many airtime filled hills and twisted curves? Big Bear Mountain is some Vekoma goodness! North American amusement parks need more of this!

As I was in Wildwood Grove, I couldn't pass up a ride on Black Bear Trail, a track ride from Metallbau Emmeln. While mostly intended for families and small children, I quite enjoyed my ride as the bear rocked back and forth throughout the ride. 😂 Afterwards, I took a ride on Great Tree Swing, followed by a ride on Mystery Mine and Thunderhead.

We returned to Craftsman's Valley so I could get another ride on Daredevil Falls, one of the best log flumes! On my way over, I captured this photo of Tennessee Tornado's station. I would take another ride on it later in the day.

On our way over to Daredevil Falls, we checked out some of the shops and buildings.

One of the buildings we looked in was the Calico Falls school house. It offers a view of how many school houses in eastern Tennessee looked during the 1890s.

The drop on Daredevil Falls is very fun and filled with a bit of airtime too! This was one of my most ridden attractions during our time at Dollywood as it is fun and had the shortest line!

During our first day at Dollywood, we had somehow walked past Owens Farm, so I made sure to pay a visit and ride the Barnstormer!

This S&S Screamin' Swing ride is placed between a heavily themed barn split in half!

The Barnstormer takes you 81 feet into the air as it swings back and forth! I always enjoy my rides on these Screamin' Swing rides!

After a thrilling ride on Barnstormer, we ventured back to Rivertown Junction so I could take another spin on Smoky Mountain River Rampage.

On our way over, we briefly heard the wonderful sounds of the A Cappella Fusion show at the Back Porch Theatre. It's quite awesome what people can do with their voices when they don't have instruments!

As I discovered the day before, don't let the tame looking flow of the river fool you on the Smoky Mountain River Rampage as there are soaking rapids, geysers, and waterfalls around every corner!

After a fun ride on Smoky Mountain River Rampage, I joined my Mom on a ride on Rockin' Roadway.

The theming in Jukebox Junction is quite detailed. I really liked this old telephone booth!

After a spin on Rockin' Roadway, we went across the street to Red's Diner for lunch. It is a 50s themed diner paying homage to Dolly's early years when she had her first hamburger.

It's not everyday you get served crinkle fries with your burger. Both were very tasty!

The interior of Red's Diner was very spacious and well themed!

While in Jukebox Junction, I took another spin on Lighting Rod! The airtime on this coaster is quite insane! Riding with your hands up is a must!

I just love how all the sections at Dollywood are very well themed and landscaped!

On our way over to The Village and Country Fair, I captured this photo of the Dollywood Express making its way back to the station. It is a lovely steam engine!

While in the Village, my mom and I took another spin on the Carousel. The Carousel was manufactured by Chance Rides and has many vintage looking horses and other animals.

We came back to the Country Fair as I wanted to try out the very fast looking bumper cars and the classic Scrambler.

I couldn't believe how fast the cars on Demolition Derby moved! It is fun to drift on bumper cars! 😂

Within the last couple of hours, we headed back to Craftsman's Valley to check out some more of the attractions there. Here is a photo of the Valley Forge Blacksmith shop. It was neat seeing them make metal pieces that you could buy such as bird feeder hangers, wind chimes, and metal décor.

On our way over to Tennessee Tornado, we stopped in the beautifully built Robert F. Thomas Chapel. It is a one-room country church with wooden architecture and pews. It is named in honour of the doctor who delivered Dolly Parton.

There was a write up about the church inside.

Unfortunately the Blazing Fury dark ride roller coaster was closed during our visit. From what I have heard and understand, it is currently being refurbished.

The giant 110 foot tall loop on Tennessee Tornado is wild! To experience it after seeing many photos of videos of it over the years was awesome! After experiencing Tennessee Tornado during the two days at Dollywood, it has become one of my favourite looping roller coasters manufactured by Arrow Dynamics.

We looped back to the front of the park to get a photo of us taken in front of the iconic Dollywood sign.

We headed back over to Timber Canyon where I got another thrilling ride on Thunderhead followed by another ride on Drop Line!

Across from Drop Line are the Lumberjack Lifts. This quirky ride lets you pull yourself to the top of the 25 foot tower as it slowly rotates around.

It is a fun attraction as you pull yourself to the top!

Here I am at the top!

As the final hour of park operations was approaching, I joined the queue of Firechaser Express as the line was significantly shorter than the day before. Firechaser express is really fun!

To finish off our visit to Dollywood, I took one last ride on Wild Eagle.

By the time I got off Wild Eagle, it was almost 8pm.

As we got to Show Street, the recording of Dolly Parton thanking you for visiting and making memories at the park came on. It was a great way to end such a lovely and wonderful visit to Dollywood!

Once outside the exit gates, we took a tram back to our car parked in lot C (for cotton candy). That wraps up our two day visit to Dollywood! It is a very lovely and wonderful theme park nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit! Thanks for following along! 😊🦋🎢