A Tennessee theme park just beat Disney for the world’s top honor — here’s why visitors are obsessed

Disneyland calls itself the happiest place on earth, but many say that title goes to Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood was just voted America’s favorite theme park for the third year in a row by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

Located in the foothills of the ancient Great Smoky Mountains, even the scenery feels different with thick forests surrounding the roller coasters and other attractions. I recently visited for the first time. Here’s what makes it different than other theme parks.

Dollywood is more affordable

It’s no secret that theme parks are expensive. And of course, the longer you stay and the larger your group or family, the higher your costs will be. Although Dollywood is far from cheap, I was really impressed with how much more affordable it was than theme parks like Disney World. At Dollywood, a one-day adult ticket is listed $94.99. If you plan to attend more than one day, you’ll save a great deal of money since two-day adult tickets are $124.99, and 3-day adult Dollywood tickets are $134.99. Plus, there are discounts for seniors and children.

Tickets to Disney World cost quite a bit more. Admission for parkgoers 10 and up starts at $119, and on some days, ticket prices can soar to $186 per person.

Tickets aren’t the only way you’ll save money at Dollywood. Food at Disney World is expensive. It can easily cost $200-$300 a day to feed a family of four, and that’s if you avoid expensive items at down restaurants. At Dollywood, most food cart meals, like potato skillets or jambalaya, are under $15. And at the sit-down restaurants, the average meal is under $20. You could easily spend less than $150 to feed four people, including drinks and snacks.

You’ll also see a similar price difference in keepsakes and souvenirs. If you want to stretch your buck, Dollywood is the clear winner.

Dollywwod rehabilitates wildlife

Dollywood is home to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, the largest exhibit of non-releasable bald eagles in the United States. The eagles live in their natural habitat, tucked into a steep forested hillside where visitors can watch them nest, fly, and raise their young. The eagles are cared for by staff because none of them can survive on their own.

The American Eagle Foundation also presents a fascinating Wings of America birds-of-prey show at Dollywood, offering visitors a close-up glimpse of eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures.

Dollywood is old-fashioned, in a good way

Dollywood is more than a theme park. It’s a celebration of rural America and the people and traditional mountain skills that have all but vanished elsewhere. Blacksmiths stand over a coal fire and shape metal by hand; glassblowers help visitors make treasures to take home; woodcarvers make art; and a team keeps two antique coal-fired steam engine locomotives in working order so they can carry parkgoers to see the sights.

These experiences feel extraordinary because so few places still practice these skills. They remind visitors that this country was built on hands-on labor, practical skill, and the kind of knowledge passed from one generation to the next. Keeping these crafts alive is part of honoring the community and people Dolly comes from, and her theme park preserves their legacy.

Dollywood gives back

Dolly Parton was recently honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an Oscar presented to an individual whose philanthropic work brings credit to the film industry. Although she was struggling with health issues and couldn’t attend the ceremony, she recorded a message saying: “My mom and daddy showed me by example that the more you give, the more blessings come your way,” she said. “And I have tried my whole life to live by their example. And I’ve been blessed more than I ever dreamed possible.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was founded in 1995 and today mails more than 1 million free books each month to children across the United States and abroad. She said, “When I started the Imagination Library to honor my Daddy. My Daddy was so smart, but he felt crippled by the fact that he couldn’t read or write.”

At the park, Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse celebrates that mission by bringing books to life through colorful performances. The Dollywood Foundation also supports community causes in Sevierville, Tennessee, scholarships, disaster relief, and alzheimers research.

Dollywood is inspiring

There are few success stories like Dolly’s. In her classic song, “Coat of Many Colors,” the star famously sang about being so poor that her mother had to sew her a coat out of discarded rags. Rather than feeling sorry for herself when the other children made fun of her, the song’s lyrics make it clear that little Dolly felt “rich as I could be” because the garment was made with love.

There’s no doubt she’s come a long way from these humble beginnings, and one of Dollywood’s underlying themes is that anything is possible. One of the park’s most popular attractions is a replica of Dolly’s two-room childhood home. The cabin had no electricity or running water, and pasted newspapers served as wallpaper. The replica was built by her brother, Bobby, and decorated by her mother to make sure every detail was exactly right.

You can also learn more about the superstar’s life at The Dolly Parton Experience, which includes a walkthrough Dolly museum, one of Dolly’s retired tour buses, a collection of her costumes, and a theater where Dolly’s talented family members sing.

Today, Dolly is one of the most beloved and influential figures in the entertainment industry. Dollywood is a reminder that if she can achieve her dreams, we can, too.

Dollywood is comforting

Dolly is a big fan of glitz, glam, and rhinestones, and you’ll find plenty of this sprinkled around the park. But the overall vibe of Dollywood is grounded and comforting. The food focuses on Southern favorites like fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, and the world-famous Grist Mill cinnamon bread. It feels familiar and like something meant to be shared, much like Dollywood itself.

Is Dollywood the happiest place in America? That I don’t know. But it certainly feels good to be there.