PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee —(July 8, 2026)—Dollywood Parks & Resorts continues to earn remarkable accolades this summer with another announced this morning. TIME has named the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, destination to its inaugural list of the top 500 privately held companies in the United States. Dollywood was the only theme park on the list.
According to TIME, “The America’s Best Private Companies 2026 ranking is a comprehensive analysis aimed at identifying the best private companies in the United States. The ranking focuses on two key dimensions: Employee Satisfaction and Company Impact. The analysis highlights 500 privately owned companies ranked high on both employee satisfaction surveys and positive net impact on society, global knowledge and health, and the environment.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts ranked #49 on the overall list and was ranked fourth in the category “Hospitality, Travel & Leisure,” a grouping which also included restaurants. Other companies in the Hospitality, Travel & Leisure category included, Great Clips (#38), P.F. Chang’s (#110), Chick-fil-A (#125), Drury Hotels (#183), Panda Express (#232) and In-N-Out Burger (#325).
Companies on the overall list included Patagonia (#1), Wegmans (#2), 1-800-CONTACTS (#16), PetSmart (#20), Chobani (#29), Carhartt (#42), Bass Pro Shops (#57), Books-A-Million (#84), Ocean Spray (#169), Buc-ee’s (#198), National Basketball Association (#308), Blue Origin (#359), Nordstrom (#366), Food City (#381) and New Balance (#403). The full list and methodology may be viewed here.
“Being included among these esteemed companies on TIME’s inaugural Best Private Companies list is a truly humbling yet proud moment for us,” said Dollywood Parks & Resorts President, Eugene Naughton. “Every day, our aim is to make our guests feel like family. We deeply value their feedback and ideas, and we use those insights to guide our decisions. I believe that dedication is a big part of why we were honored with inclusion on this prestigious list.”
TIME determined employee satisfaction based on nearly a quarter-of-a-million surveys from employees across various industries in the United States. The employees evaluated employers on overall recommendation scores, workplace culture, working conditions, compensation, equality and other workplace-related factors. Employees also were asked to recommend other employers within their industries.
Company impact was assessed using data provided by The Upright Project, a group which measures the net societal and environmental impact created through a company’s products and services. Companies were evaluated across four impact pillars: society, knowledge, health and environment. Once the data was collected and evaluated, it was consolidated and weighted by a scoring model. The scores of both dimensions were combined on an equal percentage basis to form the final ranking score.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts’ placement on the list could certainly be attributed to the status the company has garnered within the theme park industry. The company’s properties have earned numerous awards and “best of” designations during the last few years. In just the past year, the park has garnered impressive recognition within the industry and beyond.
In June, Dollywood was named to two of Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces lists, landing on both America’s Greatest Workplaces and Tennessee’s Greatest Workplaces. The National Amusement Park Historical Association voted the park as top theme park in the country in May. Newsweek named the company a Best Workplace for Women in February, followed by an award in March from Newsweek listing Dollywood as a Best Workplace for Entry Level Employees. Last fall, Dollywood was #50 on Forbes’ Best Customer Service 2026 list. Dollywood also was named the top theme park in the United States by Tripadvisor in 2025, 2024 and 2022; Dollywood finished second in 2023.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees receive a variety of unique benefits including 100% free tuition through Herschend’s GROW U. program, access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided a free lunch every working shift and take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to many regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at an Upwards-affiliated provider. Numerous opportunities also are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
Anyone interested in joining the award-winning team may view opportunities, as well as job descriptions and basic requirements for each position, at dollywoodjobs.com. Applicants can signify their interest in a position by following the online instructions to complete the application process.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2026 season, 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 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