PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee—(Sept. 14, 2026)—Four more Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards are on their way to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with Dollywood claiming more “best of” honors than any other theme park in the world during the annual award ceremony held Saturday evening.
The Golden Ticket Awards, the theme park industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony, took place Saturday at COTALand, the brand-new theme park at the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas. In addition to the four category wins, Dollywood placed in two other categories.
“We are incredibly humbled by these recognitions from Amusement Today. We don’t set out to win awards. Just like Dolly always wanted, we set out to create experiences that bring families together and give our guests memories they will carry with them long after they leave the Great Smoky Mountains,” Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton explained. “Our hosts are the reason Dollywood continues to stand apart, and receiving honors like Best Guest Experience is especially meaningful because it reflects the care, hospitality and attention to detail they bring to our guests every day.
“We’re grateful to the Golden Ticket voters for recognizing the incredible work of our hosts and for celebrating what makes Dollywood such a special destination. We’re proud of where we are today, and we’re even more dedicated to living out the values of our Dreamer-in-Chief and putting wings on more of her dreams.”
Dollywood continued its clean sweep of the Best Guest Experience category, which was first created in 2019. This marks the seventh-consecutive Best Guest Experience award for Dollywood (Golden Tickets were not awarded in 2020). The Best Guest Experience award combines several attributes—including friendliness, cleanliness, operations and value—into the judging criteria for the award. Dollywood is the only park to ever win the award, a nod to its friendly and welcoming hosts, as well as its clean appearance and overall atmosphere.
Alongside its hospitable hosts and world class attractions, Dollywood may be best known for its location in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains. It is this idyllic location that helped the park earn the Most Beautiful Park award. Natural beauty creates a stunning backdrop for guests to enjoy during their time at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. The park last won the award in 2024.
“Best Guest Experience focuses on friendliness, cleanliness, ride operations and value. These qualities culminate so wonderfully at Dollywood,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator, Amusement Today. “Being a finalist in six categories and winning the top spot in four truly speaks to the quality this park offers.
“It is interesting to see this recent tug-of-war between Dollywood and Busch Gardens Williamsburg for Most Beautiful,” Baldwin continued. “Sometimes a pretty setting can be taken for granted, but when a park focuses on creating a stunning environment, it makes a pleasing impact on the experience. Fun thrills are balanced with a beautiful setting.”
Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove also earned its seventh consecutive award for Best Kids’ Area. The park first won the award in 2019 after that season’s opening of the expansive new land. Wildwood Grove should figure prominently in the running for the award next year as well, due to the recent opening of the park’s much-anticipated NightFlight Expedition in the area. In addition to NightFlight Expedition, Wildwood Grove includes several family friendly rides and attractions including two other guest-favorite roller coasters, Big Bear Mountain and Dragonflier.
Big Bear Mountain earned its fourth win in the Best Family Coaster category. With three launches, on-board audio, plenty of airtime and a number of thrilling moments, Big Bear Mountain has quickly become one of the park’s flagship attractions since its addition in 2023.
“When Amusement Today introduced Best Family Coaster in 2023, we wanted to shine a spotlight on the importance of rides that the whole family can share together,” said Baldwin. “Extreme thrills are great, but the family dynamic is ever-so important. Those are lasting memories kids carry with them as they grow up, and then they want to share that same experience with their own kids one day. Big Bear Mountain has performed spectacularly for Dollywood in this regard, carrying the category since the roller coaster opened.”
Dollywood also placed in two additional categories. The park was ranked the #2 Best Park in the world behind Europa-Park in Germany. Dollywood’s thrilling Thunderhead coaster remained ranked in the Best Wooden Roller Coaster category, finishing sixth.
One honor routinely won by the park, Best Christmas Event, was retired in 2024 after Dollywood won the award for 15 consecutive years. Golden Ticket Awards staff opted for retirement and then named Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas as the legend for Christmas theme park events.
Calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the industry’s leading trade publication, the Golden Ticket Awards are the result of a detailed survey sent to a database of hundreds of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans, industry journalists and ride manufacturers around the world in balanced geographical regions. Voters are asked to rate the “best” in a number of categories such as best parks, roller coasters, water rides, food and more. The pool of eligible voters changes every year to ensure the same votes are not cast each season.
The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. The awards have become the subject of much discussion by park aficionados the world over and have garnered mentions throughout notable media outlets. The awards also were the topic of a one-hour Travel Channel documentary.
The fun continues with the fall family tradition that is Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana. The event, which begins today and runs through Oct. 31, celebrates the beauty of fall in the Smokies with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented singers and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights. New this year is Harvey’s Boo Bash, Dollywood theme park’s very first separately-ticketed, after-hours special event. Harvey’s Boo Bash is set to carve out a new fall tradition, serving up a harvest of family-friendly fun and festivities after dark. The season concludes with the festival known as the industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event —Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6- Jan. 3, 2027). Guests can enjoy 6 million lights, festive holiday shows and the warm Christmas atmosphere they have come to expect during this joyous time of year.
For more information about NightFlight Expedition and Dollywood’s 2026 season, please visit Dollywood.com.
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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts 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 opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on May 3, 1986, and earned the theme park industry’s highest accolade, the Applause Award, in 2010. Dollywood has earned 67 Golden Ticket Awards and 28 Brass Ring Awards for live entertainment. In 2022, 2024 and 2025, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and 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, attractions, shows and crafters inspired by and 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]
Sophia Nieves: Publicist, (865) 428-9456, (256) 631-5413 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Roo