If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting the road with Dolly Parton, you can finally do the next best thing. The country icon’s longtime tour bus is parked at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and it’s open for overnight stays as Suite 1986.
The 45-foot coach’s exterior is shiny and flashy, with a sleek silver and black exterior, and “Dolly” scrolled in cursive across the side. Parton is famously afraid to fly, so the bus was her home away from home, traveling the country and covering more than 360,000 miles before its retirement in 2022. I had a chance to tour the bus on a recent visit to Dollywood. This is what it is like.
The interior
The bedroom features rich, custom textiles
(The Dollywood Company)
Inside, everything remains as Dolly designed it, including a wig closet stocked with hairpieces, pink and silver accents, closets full of clothing, shoes, jewelry, Dolly’s guitar, and a dining nook where she wrote songs between shows. It’s the closest most of us will get to hanging out with Dolly.
Dolly’s musical instruments are on display
(The Dollywood Company)
The space feels like Dolly’s traveling apartment. The layout includes a living area, kitchen, and dining nook; a full refrigerator; two bathrooms; a tiny tub where Dolly took baths; and a pink-trimmed bedroom with hand-painted designs and decorations she personally selected with her sisters. And yes, you can even sleep in Dolly’s bed, custom bedding and all.
Dolly’s personal items are showcased throughout the bus
(The Dollywood Foundation)
The coach was used from 2008 to 2022. During those years, Dolly created albums like Backwoods Barbie and the 9 to 5 musical, writing much of them on the bus.
What the stay includes
There’s even swoon-worthy swag for Dolly fans
(The Dollywood Company)
Suite 1986 isn’t cheap, but the proceeds go to a good cause, and the resort curates a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Dolly fans. DreamMore’s offering is designed to create special memories for fans. Only two guests are permitted to sleep on the bus itself, but an additional resort room that accommodates up to four more people is included with your reservation. It’s perfect if you’re traveling with a group or simply prefer to sleep in the hotel.
The experience requires a two-night minimum, starts at $10,000, and all profits from it are donated to The Dollywood Foundation, which provides scholarships and free books for children through funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. There are perks beyond supporting a great cause, too.
The stay includes a private dinner for two hosted by the DreamMore culinary team. Although the menu is customized for each guest, it usually includes Southern favorites like smoked brisket, fried chicken, collard greens, and banana pudding. And of course, there’s custom swag to take home and enjoy after your trip.
About Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
A fire glows on the grounds of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
(The Dollywood Company)
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, tucked among tall oaks, maples, and hickory trees. The resort just celebrated its tenth anniversary, and amenities include a year-round indoor pool, a seasonal outdoor pool, five dining options, shops, Camp DW children’s activities, a full-service spa, and complimentary shuttle service back and forth from Dollywood Parks. Along with the tour bus, the resort is a reminder that Dolly’s story was never just about the music but about the way she created a home wherever she went.