PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Nov. 18, 2025) – Dolly Parton added another impressive accolade to her unparalleled list of honors, being named one of the newest inductees to the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Hall of Fame. The recognition celebrates her role in creating and influencing Dollywood Parks & Resorts through her partnership with Herschend.
Dolly and four other inductees were honored during an awards ceremony on Monday night at the annual IAAPA Expo in Orlando. While Dolly was unable to attend the event, she shared her excitement via video.
“To Jack and Peter (Herschend), thank you for being my partners and my friends for more than 40 years,” Dolly said as she began the message. “You are a blessing to me, and I love you dearly. Our partnership is truly special. I trust them and they trust me and they always listen when I come in with one of my big ideas and dreams. And somehow, the amazing team at Dollywood finds a way to make those dreams come true.
“Now, I’m sure you know the theme park world is full of the most creative and kind-hearted people you will ever meet,” she continued. “I’m just so grateful that you consider me worthy of this recognition. Being inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame is a big, incredible way to help celebrate Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for this honor from me and from everyone who makes Dollywood what it is. And to all my friends and partners—and to all of you out there helping families make magic every day in your own parks—remember, I will always love you. Thank you again.”
Regarding her inclusion into the Hall of Fame, the official IAAPA announcement said, “Dolly Parton, who partnered with Herschend in 1986 to bring Dollywood Parks & Resorts to life, has become the luminary behind one of America’s most beloved theme parks. Her passion, investment and commitment to her Smoky Mountain roots have helped Dollywood more than double in size, now welcoming millions of guests each year. Today, Dollywood stands as a world-class resort destination that blends music, crafts and culture with award-winning attractions, inspiring joy for families and theme park operators around the globe.”
As one of the world’s most beloved and accomplished personalities, Dolly continues to expand her unequaled and varied collection of honors which celebrate her achievements in music, film, philanthropy and business. On Sunday evening, she earned an honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. In addition to her recent induction into the premier Hall of Fame for the theme park industry, she also is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.
She has songs inducted into both the Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame, holds multiple Guinness World Records for her music career, and has received Kennedy Center Honors as well as recognition as a Library of Congress Living Legend. She has earned a National Medal of Arts, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been named a MusiCares Person of the Year. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Parton has been inducted into the American Academy of Achievement, received Good Housekeeping’s first-ever personal Seal of Approval, and holds multiple honorary doctorates.
These accolades represent only a portion of her many honors but highlight the extraordinary range and lasting impact of her tremendous career and renowned reputation.
The other industry leaders nominated into the IAAPA Hall of Fame alongside Dolly are Keith James, Gerardo Arteaga Oehninger, Gary S. Wachs and Su Zhigang.
Dolly and the Herschend family opened Dollywood theme park on May 3, 1986, and this year, celebrated its 40th operating season. Earlier this year, Dolly shared her initial vision for the park as well as why she believes Dollywood has grown beyond even her biggest dreams.
“I’ve always believed the Smoky Mountains are one of the most beautiful places God ever made, and I feel blessed to call them home. When I first dreamed of creating Dollywood, I had two simple hopes. I wanted to build a place that would bring people from all over to see the magic of the Smokies and, hopefully, fall in love with them just like I did.”
“And I knew that when they came, they’d meet the folks who live here and feel the kindness and hospitality that make this place so special. I think that’s why Dollywood keeps being named one of the best theme parks in the world—it’s not just the beauty of the mountains, it’s the heart of the people who welcome you here.”
Dollywood made other news during the IAAPA Expo today, as theme park industry media and expo attendees were the first to see the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle which will take guests on an extraordinary and engaging Smoky Mountain adventure when Dollywood’s newest attraction—NightFlight Expedition—opens in 2026. The ambitious new ride marks the largest single attraction investment in park history and offers guests of all ages a groundbreaking experience. The project, which represents a more than $50 million investment, is in Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove area and features four unique ride adventures in one attraction.
For more information about Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts—which celebrates its 40th anniversary season in 2025—consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and two award-winning resort properties: Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and 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. In 2022 and 2024, 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]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room