Pigeon Forge, Tennessee–(July 29, 2026)–As summer travel season continues throughout July and August, vacationers are looking for attractions and destinations that provide a variety of entertainment and experiences that won’t break their summer travel budget. According to a recently released study from digital platform Achieve, Dollywood Parks & Resorts is ranked #2 among tourist attractions nationwide for its exceptional value for guests, tying with Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Achieve study established its rankings utilizing Tripadvisor feedback regarding pricing and overall value to help travelers identify great vacation itineraries this summer that offer great value combined with opportunities for memorable moments. Dollywood was noted as standing out for successfully delivering outstanding rides, theming and attractions while offering exceptional value and cost satisfaction for guests. “The beloved theme park earns high praise from travelers for blending exhilarating roller coasters, world-class live entertainment and authentic mountain hospitality into an affordable, family-focused package,” the study noted.
Dollywood’s value also can be found in its seasonal festivals throughout the year that enhance its unique theme park experience. The current Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration presented by Food City offers additional shows including the Gazillion Bubble Show-Evolution and The Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience, as well as a nightly fireworks and drone show as added value to the wide entertainment offerings offered year-round. The park offers great values with its season pass pricing, offering benefits and savings to guests who visit multiple times during the season, while promotional tickets offer savings and extra fun when adding Dollywood’s Splash Country water park to a Smokies’ vacation. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort offer guests amenities designed to enhance their stay while delivering exceptional value, including free parking and TimeSaver passes at Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country, an exclusive complimentary trolley service to both parks and more.
The value that Dollywood Parks & Resorts offers to its guests is delivered by its team of valued hosts (what the theme park calls its employees). The Smoky Mountain attraction has been recognized multiple times this year as a great place to work, including being named to Newsweek’s 2026 Greatest Workplaces lists for America and the state of Tennessee and to TIME magazine’s Best of America’s Privately Held Companies. Newsweek named the company a Best Workplace for Women, followed by an award from Newsweek listing Dollywood as a Best Workplace for Entry Level Employees. Last fall, Dollywood was named #50 on Forbes’ Best Customer Service 2026 list, while The National Amusement Park Historical Association named Dollywood as top theme park in the country. Dollywood also was named the top theme park in the United States by Tripadvisor in 2025, 2024 and 2022; Dollywood finished second in 2026 and 2023.
The Alcatraz Island Tour in California took the number one spot in the Achieve ranking. The rest of the top 10 list, in order, are Universal Studios Hollywood, the Empire State Building, Graceland, Biltmore Estate, One World Observatory, Walt Disney World Resort and The Art Institute of Chicago.
For more information on Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
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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) 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-Room