Dollywood Expanding To Include A Resort

Next stop, Dollywood! I know I'm nearly 38 years old, but I told my parents the next time we go to the Smokies, I want to go to the theme park again. You may recall plans for a Dollywood-themed water park fell through in Nashville, alas, the country legend has much bigger plans for her Pigeon Forge theme park.

The park plans to open the DreamMore Resort in 2015. It's been a long-time dream of Parton's ever since Dollywood opened 28 years ago. The resort is part of a planned $300 million expansion to take place over the next ten years. A new family-oriented roller coaster is scheduled to open at the park next year.

A recent survey showed 80 percent of people asked about visiting the park, who had not come yet, emphasized a resort on the property would be important to them. On an average day, the small city of Pigeon Forge, TN attracts 50,000 guests.