It’s not easy being green… It’s not inexpensive either but protecting the environment and the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the missions at Dolly Parton’s new venture Dolly’s Splash Country, a 25 acre water adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
At use is a state of the art filtration system that treats the park’s water efficiently to limit the amount of “new water” the park needs after its attractions were initially filled.
The park also used several state of the art products and processes in its construction, including “lumber” made from recycled PET plastic commonly found in milk bottles. The decking was used in the park for boardwalks and in benches and tables at seating and dining areas.
Laminated beams were also used as structural members in buildings and in the stair structures on the park. “The composite beams are really just made of wood waste products combined with glue and placed under pressure to make these beams,” said Roger Walters, Dollywood’s Vice President of Maintenance and Construction. “They save trees and are structurally very strong. It’s a great opportunity for the park to be environmentally conscious.”
The recycling also extended to reuse of wood formerly used as track supports for Dollywood’s Thunder Express Roller Coaster dismantled in 1998. The poles ranging in size from 25 to 40 feet are being used as “trees” to support potted plants.
Dolly’s Splash Country is also working to introduce more trees into the park’s 35 total acres. Hundreds of trees have been planted since construction began in 2000. “Trees are replaced at a ratio of 7-1 if we unfortunately have to remove an existing tree,” Walters said. “We’re trying to give Mother Nature a hand in re-propagating the area.”
-Dolly's Splash Country 2001-