Dolly Parton will be in her native East Tennessee this week to officially break ground on her new waterpark scheduled to open in 2001. The ceremony will be held Friday, June 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the waterpark construction site located adjacent to her popular Dollywood entertainment park off Middle Creek Road in Pigeon Forge.
“We’re going to make a really big ‘splash’ with this ground breaking ceremony,” said Dolly. “My new waterpark will be full of Smoky Mountain water adventures that families and kids can experience together, just like my brothers and sisters and I did as kids. We’ll have rides and activities for everybody - from mild to wild.”
Key attractions for Dolly’s new waterpark include a multi-person family mountain raft ride, a children’s play pool and activity area, a lazy river ride, single and double tube slides, a 25,000 square-foot wave pool, and a free fall water slide. The new park will also offer several food and beverage areas, an arcade, a bath house, and plentiful benches and shady areas that will allow visitors to enjoy the scenery of the Smoky Mountains.
The new $20 million waterpark, which will cover nearly 35 acres upon completion, will be unlike any other recreational park of its kind because of its unique location in the Smokies, the scenic beauty of the East Tennessee area, Dollywood’s commitment to well-themed attractions, and the park’s connection to Dolly. It will allow visitors who don’t plan or have time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the chance to experience some of its natural fun and beauty through unique simulated attractions.
Set to open in mid-May of 2001, the new waterpark’s operating season will continue through early September and is projected to draw in excess of 300,000 people in its first season. In subsequent years after the park’s Grand Opening, the Dollywood Company will add new adventures to the waterpark each season.
For more information on Dolly’s new waterpark and the groundbreaking ceremony on June 23, contact Dollywood Publicity at (865) 428-9486.