Dollywood Adventure: New attraction opens

Theme park featuring a new challenge course as the 2010 season gets under way

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Dressed as a park ranger, Dolly Parton stood with a whistle in her mouth as she launched the new Adventure Mountain attraction at Dollywood on a rainy Friday afternoon.
Adventure Mountain is not a ride; it’s a challenge course. Participants fasten themselves to a harness, pull on ropes and tug on ladders.
“It’s a special little area that we have,” Parton said. “I am real proud of Adventure Mountain.”
The $6 million challenge course has been designed with a waterfall. The decor matches the buildings constructed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, decades ago, by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Park spokesman Pete Owens called Adventure Mountain “the largest challenge course in America ... You can pick your own adventure each time.”
Families can try the challenge course together – in different areas, Owens said.
“You also have an opportunity to challenge one another, in addition to challenging yourself,” Owens added. “What’s different is that this is a totally active experience. It’s not a passive experience at all.”

‘IN THE PLANNING’
Each year, Parton said she’s excited to help plan additions like Adventure Mountain at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
“People ask me, a lot of times, if I’m really in the planning of all these things,” Parton said on stage during a grand opening ceremony at Dollywood.
“Yes, I am,” Parton added. “I love getting in that conference room and sitting around that table with all those men and acting like I’m as smart as they are.”
In 2010, Dollywood celebrates a milestone anniversary.
“I cannot believe that it’s been 25 years since we’ve opened this park,” Parton said, opening a sly smile. “When I started the park 25 years ago, my business managers told me it was a bad idea. They really did.”
Parton cackled.
Neither of those business managers work for Parton anymore, she said, eliciting laughter from her audience at the theme park.

‘ADORABLE PERSON’
This year, across Dollywood, displays note the anniversary. Inside one exhibit hall, hundreds of tiny photos make up a giant poster, splashed with Dolly’s signature. Just around the corner stands remnants of rides that have come and gone – like the Flooded Mine.
Gallatin, Tenn., residents Joyce Hall and Robbin Adcock are among thousands of park fans who buy season passes – and visit often.
It’s all about Dolly: “She’s just an adorable person,” Hall, 60, said.
And the theme park?
“It’s for the family,” Hall added, studying the giant poster. “I love this.”

‘LUCKY ENOUGH’
Dollywood was a dream for Parton.
“I thought, ‘Well, if I can be lucky enough to be successful in show business, then I want to come back to my home area,’ because I’m so proud of the people here,” she said. “And I love the Great Smoky Mountains. And I wanted to do something special, and it would bring jobs into the mountains.”
To date, the entertainer said, about 40 million people have visited Dollywood – now ranked as the No. 1 ticketed attraction in Tennessee.
“We have a lot to brag about, and we don’t want to sound boisterous,” Parton said.
“But 25 years is really a long time to be still growing every year,” she added. “And it’s just a wonderful place. And, it is one of the things that I have taken some of the greatest pride in my whole career, over the years.”

IF YOU GO
What: Dollywood
Where: Use I-40 Exit 407. 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Direction signs are posted.
Info: (865) 428-9488 or (800) 365-5996
Web: www.dollywood.com

THERE’S MORE ONLINE
Watch a new documentary of Dollywood by 11 Connects’ Tim Cable at www.tricities.com.