PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Oct. 25, 2024) — Dollywood’s Splash Country water park recently received the Al Turner Memorial Commitment to Excellence Award, presented annually by the World Waterpark Association (WWA).
According to the WWA, this honor is awarded to individuals, parks or organizations that provide leadership or fostered a sense of community.
“We are so proud of our entire Splash Country team and their commitment to giving every guest the best experience they can,” said Jordan Leach, Dollywood’s Splash Country Director of Operations, who was in Las Vegas to accept the award at the World Waterpark Association Symposium & Trade Show on Oct. 9. “We’re honored to receive this award, but we don’t do it for the awards. We simply want to provide all families with a safe and fun time at our water park.”
Dollywood’s Splash Country has been a consistent family-favorite vacation spot for more than two decades and is known as the Most Trusted Water Park in the Smokies. Opened by Dreamer-in-Chief Dolly Parton in 2001, the water park was built into the natural landscape of the Smokies. Splash Country spans 35 acres and immerses guests in the shaded beauty of the area to help them beat the summer heat in East Tennessee.
The water park is home to the only platinum award-winning lifeguards in the East Tennessee region. Splash Country lifeguards recently were honored with back-to-back Ellis and Associates’ Platinum International Safety Awards which recognizes organizations for achieving the highest quality of lifeguard operations. Splash Country also hosted its 14th annual Water Safety Day this year, with more than 700 people attending the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.
Dollywood’s Splash Country is open annually from May to September and offers a variety of water slides and other attractions, as well as delicious summertime treats and meals for every appetite. For more information about Splash Country, please visit https://www.dollywood.com/waterpark/.
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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and the newly opened Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 64 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. This year, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to mid-September. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Media Contacts:
Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or [email protected]
Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or [email protected]
Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or [email protected]
Jennifer Webb: Sr. Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or [email protected]
Josh Sauer: Publicist, (865) 428-9891, (865) 323-2653 or [email protected]
Eve Thompson: Publicist, (865) 428-9496, (703) 232-2248 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room