Dollywood's 30th Anniversary

Dollywood opened on Friday for season ticket holders to honor its 30th anniversary. Over the past 30 years of being open, according to WATE 6 On Your Side, “The park said they have had more than 75 million guests and become one of the largest seasonal employers in Sevier County.” Dolly Parton said that thirty new items, that have not been specified, would be revealed in 2015. They are expecting to add about 2,000 jobs when the DreamMore Resort is done.

Parton is also bringing the “Showcase of the Stars Concert Series” back to try to raise one million dollars for Imagination Library. Parton recently stated in an interview with Whitney Good, a reporter from WATE 6, “Every year we come up with new things, and it’s just been amazing. I think back on it, and I just can’t believe it’s been 30 years. It seems more like 10 or 15 at the most.”

Dollywood was called Silver Dollar City before Parton owned it. There have been several changes and one employee, Morgan Duckworth, has seen them for the 35 years he has been working there. He stated in an interview with WATE 6, “ [I’ve seen] A lot of expansion. We’re standing in what used to be a pasture at one time.”