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Friday, March 26, 2010
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For Dolly and park, ‘the best is yet to come’ By ELLEN BROWN Staff writer On the occasion of Dollywood’s 25th anniversary, Dolly Parton took some time to reflect on what the park has become — and what is yet to come. She answered questions submitted to her by e-mail. Mountain Press: What are your thoughts on the future of the park? Parton: Dollywood’s 25th anniversary gives me plenty of cause to reflect on what we’ve done so far. We’ve come a long way, baby! Most folks know that I’m a very positive person, so I like to think the best is yet to come. Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country and my Dixie Stampede are just going to continue to grow and offer more. This past year, Dollywood won some really big industry awards. We’re thankful for all of this recognition, and we’ll just keep growing and making our parks the best they can be. You didn’t think I was going to spill any big secrets, now did you? MP: Has the park exceeded your expectations? Parton: For a little girl with big dreams who grew up just a stone’s throw away over in Locust Ridge, why, sure, it’s exceeded my every expectation. It was pretty ambitious of me to even dream of Dollywood, but to see that dream realized and continuing to flourish, is just amazing. If you’re gonna dream, dream big, right? I’m
The Mountain Press/file
Dolly Parton waves during the parade she headlines each May as Dollywood hits high gear. very proud of all we’ve accomplished, the jobs we’ve created and the positive impact we’ve had on this area. People have been able to earn a living and raise their
families here, and that makes me proud that I could do my part having been raised here. MP: Was there a turning point when you knew Dollywood
would be successful? Parton: I’m a positive thinker, so I always believed that Dollywood would be successful. Our first season, we actually ran out of park-
ing spaces for folks, so that was a good sign of things to come. Just like any other project I’ve tackled, not succeeding was never an option. MP: How did you become a partner in Dollywood? Parton: I used to bring my nieces and nephews to Silver Dollar City. When I decided that I wanted to create Dollywood, some key folks at Silver Dollar City saw the benefits of us being partners. The Herschend family and I have been blessed with a great relationship, and I’m grateful for them. Besides, I could have never managed the day-to-day operations because I’m always gone traveling all over the world. MP: Who are some entertainers who began their career at Dollywood who are especially memorable for you? Parton: Oh, there are so, so many. If I start naming them I’ll surely leave somebody out. I’m so proud that we can look back over the past 25 years and know that we played a role in the early careers of some of today’s big stars. I’m working on a new project to pay tribute to everybody on the list that I hope to tell you about very shortly. MP: How often do you get to visit Dollywood? Parton: I’m always here for our grand opening. Then I come back Mothers Day weekend for the Dolly Parade in Pigeon Forge and that’s my homecoming weekend at Dollywood. I
usually make it back for the opening of KidsFest in June because we like to recognize the Imagination Library and the folks who support my Dollywood Foundation. You never know when I’m gonna drop in. I love surprising folks! MP: Which Dollywood festival is your favorite? Parton: I love them all equally. We have four of the South’s largest festivals throughout the season. MP: Was it your plan to reflect so much of your life in the park? Parton: I’ve never wanted Dollywood to be about me. I very much want it to be about all of the things I love about the Smoky Mountains. I want to showcase our people, our rich heritage, the trades like blacksmithing that have been handed down for generations here, and, of course, our beautiful music. I want our guests to experience my deep love and appreciation for where and how I grew up because it’s what I draw on in everything I do. MP: How has the recession affected the park? Parton: It affected us just like it has everybody else. People expect the most for their dollar and rightfully so. Every day, we have to make sure that we deliver on offering an experience that you can’t find anywhere else. Time is like money, it’s very See dolly, Page 4
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 4
Friday, March 26, 2010
Area tourism gets big lift from Dollywood presence By JEFF FARRELL Staff Writer Dollywood has become a major component of the tourism engine that drives the Sevier County economy. With part of the country’s most visited national park in the county and other attractions that top the list of the state’s most visited locations, Sevier has some pistons to drive its economy. But as Dollywood has grown into one of the most recognized theme parks in the country, it’s become an integral part of the dynamic that draws people here year after year, and its impact is felt in all the communities here. In Sevierville, it’s helped the county seat grow into a commercial hub and attraction in its own right, with Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall, Smokies Park, the new Events Center, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and more. “I don’t believe we would have (so much) without Dollywood and more succinctly Dolly Parton,” said Brenda McCroskey, director of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. “She has done so much for our citizens, and rasing money for the hospital, and the education system — and look at how many jobs she’s provided through Dollywood.” Pigeon Forge gets the most direct benefit: Dollywood and Splash Country call the city home. That alone is huge, said Leon Downey, executive director for the city’s Department of Tourism. “The impact of Dollywood’s really beyond calculation for Pigeon Forge. It helps put Pigeon Forge on the map for people, and it helps keep people coming back year after year,” he said. But the relationship the park maintains with Pigeon Forge and the rest of the community goes far beyond that, Downey noted. When the cities got together and began planning Winterfest, the idea was to have something to attract visitors during the winter. Up until then, Dollywood closed in the fall and the tourism industry essentially shut down. That meant less work for people who depend on tourism to put food on the
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precious. When folks decide to spend their time with us, I take that as a huge compliment because I know they have other options. MP: How involved are you in the operations of the park? Parton: I’m sure I’m more involved than most folks think. I’m involved in every new ride or show that we add. I’m an entertainer at heart, and that’s what people come to Dollywood for. I also want to make sure we always stay true to who and what we are, which is an authentic, wholesome family destination like no other. MP: Is the day coming when Dollywood will be open yearround?
Parton: Well, we made huge leaps and bounds in 1990 when we added our Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Used to be that time of year, folks rolled up the streets till the spring. Last year was the first time Dollywood was open into January, and we’re doing that again this year. As long as folks want to come, I’ll think about it. MP: How about a smoke-free park? Parton: For the most part, Dollywood is smokefree now. We offer a few designated smoking areas. And all of our restaurants, shops and theaters are smoke-free and have been. MP: Would alcohol ever be served at the park? Parton: No, there’s just no reason for that. Families have come to rely on Dollywood and our wholesome atmosphere where you can
take the kids and escape from everything. We’ll just stick to root beer! One day, if we build a resort, we might have it there, but never in our parks. MP: What is your favorite area of the park and why? Parton: I’m a little partial to Jukebox Junction. I re-created some very special places like Red’s Diner, which is where I had my first hamburger, and the Pines Theatre, where I performed for a public audience for the first time. And of course, Cas Walker’s, where I got my start. Some really special memories of growing up in Sevierville flood my mind when I walk through that area. MP. Do you have a
favorite food at the park? Parton: Yes. All of it!
Mountain Press/file
Winterfest got a boost when Dollywood agreed to say open in the winter, giving visitors yet another reason to come here.
table, and was a major hindrance to the county’s economy. Adding the Winterfest light shows was part of the plan, he said, but to make it succeed they needed Dollywood to stay open, too. “We knew we needed Dollywood to participate,” he said. “They saw the vision right away. People who haven’t been here long don’t realize how important they’ve been.” Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said Parton and the park try to work with the cities. Just as the cities came to them when they wanted to add Winterfest, Dollywood went to the cities when officials there decided to add the Festival of Nations, hoping the city would join them in adding new events to bring people to the area in the spring. “We have tremendous relationships with the cities and departments of tourism,” he said. And he acknowledged that they all work with the county’s original attraction — the national park. “None of us would be here without the national park,” he said.
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Dollywood Anniversary – Page 5
From Rebel RR to Silver Dollar City to Dollywood Since 1986, visitors from around the world have become well acquainted with Dollywood. However, the park actually traces its roots back to 1961 when Rebel Railroad first opened on the site. Rebel Railroad was a small-scale attraction operated by the Robbins Brothers from North Carolina. It featured a coalfired steam train named Klondike Katie, a general store, a blacksmith shop and a saloon. In 1970, Rebel Railroad was purchased by Art Modell, then owner of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. It was renamed Goldrush Junction and was touted as “Tennessee’s Million Dollar Fun Attraction.” New attractions were added, includ-
ing, in 1973, the Robert F. Thomas Church, named for a well known doctor in the Sevier County area. In 1977, Jack and Pete Herschend of the Branson-based Herschend Enterprises purchased Goldrush, and it would now be known as Silver Dollar City. The Herschend Family wasn’t new to the attractions industry. Brothers Jack and Pete, along with their Danish immigrant parents Hugo Herschend and his Chicago-born wife Mary, often traveled to Marvel Cave, Missouri’s deepest, which had been opened to tourists in 1894 by the Lynch Family. In 1950, the Herschend Family entered into an agreement to lease Marvel Cave in Missouri
from the Lynch Family. They quickly cemented their commitment to expand the area with an early 1950s purchase of 640 acres around the cave. Hugo and Mary continued with plans to transform Marvel Cave into a major tourist attraction. Although Hugo died in 1955, Mary, Jack and Pete moved forward and began work on a cave train project. On May 1, 1960, what had previously been known as Marvel Cave now marked its opening day as Silver Dollar City in Branson. With Silver Dollar City Branson up and running, the Herschend Corp. expanded into other themed entertainment ventures including White Water water parks; the Showboat
Branson Belle, an exquisite paddle boat featuring dinner and entertainment; and the Grand Village shopping complex in Branson. The Herschend Family was the owner of a winning concept. They captured the very heart and soul of the late-1800s Appalachian mountain people and their communities while also preserving the history and traditions of the area. With the success of Silver Dollar City Branson well in hand, the Herschend Brothers looked eastward to their next endeavor. Upon acquiring Goldrush in 1977, the Herschend brothers contributed more than a million dollars in improvements inopening Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge.
In 1980, the park added several rides. Silver Dollar City enjoyed steady growth in attendance and new additions were made throughout the early 1980s. Dolly Parton, a Sevier County native, joined the Herschends in the theme park business in 1986. Since 1986, Parton and Herschend Family Enterprises have remained partners in Dollywood. Dollywood also ranks in the Top 50 most attended theme parks worldwide. The park has more than doubled in size now encompassing 150 acres. Dollywood drew 1.3 million visitors in 1986 and now consistently entertains more than two million visitors annually. In the years since the
Dollywood name was added, more than $117 million in expansions and additions have been made. In 2005 and 2006, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards named Thunderhead the world’s No. 1 wooden coaster. In 2007, Mystery Mine was awarded best new theme park attraction by Theme Park Insider magazine. The same year, Dollywood was selected as Amusement Today’s Publisher’s Pick for Best Park. In 2006, Dollywood won the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ 2006 Heartbeat Award for Dreamland Drive-In. Dollywood claimed its fourth consecutive Heartbeat Award in 2009 for “Sha-Kon-O-Hey!”
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 6
Longtime season pass holder Tweed has record of her visits By GAIL CRUTCHFIELD Community Editor
NEWPORT — For more than 25 years, Charlotte Tweed has been making the 30- to 40-minute drive from Newport to Pigeon Forge to visit Dollywood. There were seasons where she would come several times a week, accompanied either by her husband, sister or other family members. A busy grandmother of two, she doesn’t get to visit quite so often now, but she retains their season passes so they can come over whenever the mood strikes. Tweed, 71, has kept every single season pass she purchased since the park opened in 1986 (although the 1990 pass has disappeared), plus one from 1985 when it was Silver Dollar City. “I don’t know why I kept those, but I did,” Tweed said. Her yearly season passes go through the year 2000. The park started issuing photo identification cards in 2001 as their season passes, which can be reused each year the card is renewed. When she first decided to buy season passes, Tweed said she did so because it was a good place to go for a day of entertainment, and would go every so often to enjoy the shows. Her son also worked at the park for a time, giving them another reason to visit. “Then when they started doing the country music shows — they had country music shows every night — we’d get tickets to those every night.” Tweed has stacks of tickets from the dozens of concerts she saw at the park. Using the tickets, she compiled a list of 76 entertainers she saw perform at the park. They ranged from legends like Loretta Lynn and Eddy Arnold to a young up-and-coming East Tennessee singer named Kenny Chesney. “I know when he first started he was over there and he was really good,” Tweed said when she first saw Chesney in an outdoor Rising Star
Gail Crutchfield/The Mountain Press
Gail Crutchfield/The Mountain Press
One of Charlotte Tweed’s favorite Dollywood memories is getting to meet Dolly Parton while attending a VIP event at the park in 2001. She’s seated at the far right of the photo. Showcase concert in 1994. “That was free when we saw him,” Tweed said. “We sat on a bale of hay. I told my sister, the next time we see him we’ll pay.” She was right. Tweed said she misses those concerts and wishes the park would bring them back. She does enjoy the other shows the park provides and the festivals. “I’ve always enjoyed the Christmas shows,” she said. “They’re very nice. And the Kingdom Heirs are phenomenal. I always see them, and sometimes I see them twice. “One thing I miss is Barbecue and Bluegrass, but I like the gospel festival.” The rides, she said, don’t interest her as far as riding them. “I like to look at the roller coasters and see them,” she said. “About the extent of my riding is the River Rampage, and I like the train.” Her grandchildren, who are 14 and 12 years old now, like to go on the
rides when they come and visit with their parents. They all have season passes, too. Tweed said her daughter and grandchildren will visit her for two to three weeks every summer and visit the park often, using their season passes. “It’s very economical,” she said. It’s also fun, she said, to meet new people when she visits the park. “I enjoy meeting different people,” she said. “We’ll go to a show and sit down and strike up conversations, where they’re from and what their thoughts are about Dollywood.” One of Tweed’s favorite memories is when she got to meet Dolly Parton. “I went to a VIP event one year at the opening, and we ate,” Tweed said. “And then she came in and went to each table and talked to us and had her picture made with us. I remember that real well, that’s one of the favorite memories I have.”
Charlotte Tweed has kept every season pass she’s purchased from Dollywood since 1986 and one from Silver Dollar City in 1985.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
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Friday, March 26, 2010
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Tim Berry’s had a sweet career at Dollywood By BOB MAYES Managing Editor PIGEON FORGE — Tim Berry was a 16-year-old sophomore at Seymour High School when he decided to attend a job fair in Sevierville, looking for something for the summer that would pay for his car insurance and fill his tank with gasoline. He landed a job working at Apple Jack’s — a small shop that sold everything apples — in a theme park that would open its doors for the first time in a few weeks. Dollywood. A quarter-century later, Berry is still working at Dollywood, albeit in a different and much more responsible position. Today, the University of Tennessee graduate and father of three is director of promotions. “My kids think I have the coolest job in the world,” Berry said. “(Recently), we had about 150 kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs come out and ride the new Adventure Mountain, and my kids got to come out with them. “They like that they get to test the rides before the rest of the public.” That’s one of the perks of being an employee at Dollywood, and Berry has been there since day one, a Saturday that he remembers as being filled with excitement for park-goers and employees alike. In his first job, Berry remembers, he was a clerk at Apple Jack’s except on the days when
was offered a full-time supervisor position in ride attractions, where he worked for nine years. Over the years, Berry has worked in human resources, amusements and attractions, has been the new products manager, the marketing service manager and, since January 2009, the marketing director. A member of Seymour Heights Christian Church, Berry said one of the best things about working at the park is that its mission statement of being in “a manner consistent with Christian values and ethics” mirrors his own
Curt Habraken/The Mountain Press
Tim Berry has been working at Dollywood since he was a teenager, serving in several positions. He’s now marketing director. a character named “Johnny Appleseed” was off. “On those days,” he said with a smile, “I dressed up as Johnny Appleseed Jr. and demonstrated how to make cider.” He returned to Dollywood and summer jobs through his college days, the seed for making a career of it being planted in his first year at UT. “I was taking a business course and one of my supervisors from here was in it,” Berry said. “I asked him
why he was taking the course and he said it was because the people at Dollywood thought it would help him in his career. “That was a pivotal point. At that point, I started asking for more responsibility in my jobs.” He became an assistant team leader at Apple Jack’s, then transferred to ride operations as a conductor on the train for two years, becoming a team leader. Upon graduation from UT in 1991, he
beliefs. “The thing that keeps me here is the culture that is Dollywood,” he said. “It’s very family oriented both from the aspect of allowing me to have a strong family life, as well as having a Dollywood family that really cares for each other.” Berry and his wife of 16 years, Stephanie, are the parents of Harrison, 12, Sonora, 10, and Gretta, 7. They come to the park several times a year as a family. But what does this family do when it’s on vacation? “We go to theme parks,” Berry said, naming Hershey Park
and Busch GardensWilliamsburg as their favorites. As an employee of the park from the start and a theme-park connoisseur, Berry knows what separates Dollywood from the rest. “Other parks have shows and rides and, while we strive to have the best in both, the differentiation, hands down, is our hosts, and the genuine friendliness they show our guests,” he said. “When people visit Dollywood there’s a friendly, family environment that people can really feel.” n bmayes@themountainpress.com
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Dollywood Timeline — 1986-2010
1986
Dollywood opens for first full year of operation after taking over Silver Dollar City.
1992 - Showstreet Palace Theater anchors the new Showstreet area.
1999 - The Tennessee Tornado opens, giving ride enthusiasts thrills.
1987 - The Mountain Slidewinder is introduced in Daydream Ridge.
1993 - Country Fair area opened, complete with a ferris wheel and other midway-style rides
1988 - The Celebrity Theater opens, featuring the Showcase of Stars concert series.
1994 - Dolly Parton narrates the film Heartsong, opening in the theater by the same name.
2000 - Dreamland Forest opens after renovations to Daydream Ridge are completed
1989 - The Thunder Express roller coaster was added in the fourth season.
1990 - Dollywood held its first Smoky Mountain Christmas Celebration
1995 - The ’50s come 1996 - Hollywood comes to alive again in the Dollywood by way of Dolnew Jukebox Junclywood Boulevard. tion area of the park.
2001 - The Festival of Nations is introduced. Splash Country opens.
1991 - The park became home to the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary and the Wings of America Theater.
1998 - Daredevil 1997 - Nickelodeon teams Falls drops in with up with Dollywood for U a thrilling 63-foot Pick Nick. free fall.
2003 - KidsFest is introduced as the largest kids’ festival in the South. 2002 - Adventures in Imagination opens, featuring the simulator ride, Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure.
2004 - Thunderhead, a wooden roller coaster, opens to rave reviews.
2010
2006 - Timber Canyon opens featuring Timber Tower, the only ride of its kind in the U.S. 2005 - Country Fair is updated and expanded with 10 new rides.
2007 - Mystery Mine, the largest capital investment at Dollywood and Splash Country, opens in an expansion of TImber Canyon.
2008 - The battle is on in River Battle, a water ride for the whole family in the new Wilderness Pass area.
Dollywood marks its 25th anniversary and introduces Adventure Mountain, the country’s largest challenge course. Located in Wilderness Pass, it was designed exclusively for the park. 2009 - Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke opens as the most elaborate musical production in the park’s history.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 11
Lambert likes getting taken for a ride By JEFF FARRELL Staff Writer
Submitted
Matthew Lambert says he has ridden Thunderhead, the wooden roller coaster, more than 1,900 times.
Matthew Lambert knows his rides. The Knoxville resident joined American Coaster Enthusiast when he was 11 — almost 22 years ago. He’s now the Southeast regional assistant rep for the group, which brings together people nationwide who love roller coasters. So it’s no surprise he has a season pass to Dollywood, or that he isn’t shy in sharing his opinions on the rides. He said he’s ridden Thunderhead, Dollywood’s wooden roller coaster, more than 1,900 times. Yes, he’s counting.
“It’s my baby,” he said. “One day I rode it a hundred times in a row.” He’s also a big fan of Mystery Mine and Tennessee Tornado, and he likes going to some of the older rides, too. He said he goes to Blazing Fury and Sidewinder at least once every time he visits the park. Lambert’s a big enough fan — and well known at the park — that Dollywood officials sometimes get his thoughts on the rides. “(We) ask several people in the industry, some of them enthusiasts,” said Pete Owens, spokesman for the park. “(Lambert) knows our park real well and our customers because he’s
one of them. “We’re family-oriented, but people like Matt who travel a lot to experience what parks have to offer are a great opportunity to see what they think are good elements to add to the park.” Lambert rode his first coaster when he was 4. He knew he’d found one of his passions by age 11. “Right around that time, I knew that I loved coasters and I loved going fast and I loved doing different things, and there wasn’t anything that can make me sick,” he said. “I always thought I wanted to be a NASA astronaut.” Even when he moved
on from that idea, he thought about going into a job that would allow him to travel the country and review rides. He sought out ACE himself, after reading about the group in a newspaper. That was before the advent of the Internet, so he went to the library to research how to contact them and joined on his own. As you’d expect with a person that interested in rides, he’s been to lots of other parks, although Dollywood is “home.” “It seems like almost every one of my travels any more, there’s always See lambert, Page 12
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 12
Friday, March 26, 2010
Herschend-Parton partnership thrives By DEREK HODGES Staff writer When it comes right down to it, it seems the folks at Herschend Family Entertainment know that although their company may own a controlling stake in Dollywood, there’s really only one reason it’s gone from local day-trip site to the largest theme park in the South outside Florida in the last 25 years: Dolly Parton. “I think it tells you a lot that the year after Dolly came on board and bought into the park, the attendance doubled,� Herschend Senior Corporate Vice President Rick Baker says. “I think that speaks to her appeal and the huge brand awareness she brings to the park. Without question, in my mind it’s the best partnership we’ve ever had.� The queen of country, it turns out, is quite the theme park maven, having tripled Herschend’s Silver Dollar City since making the decision to invest some of her good — and sizable — fortune back into the area where she grew up. “Dolly made a decision back in the 1980s that she wanted to be a strong contributor to the community and to help the economy in the Smoky Mountains that she loves,� Baker says. “We knew at the time she would be a great partner, but I don’t know that anybody could have anticipated just how great a partner she would be.� Baker has first-hand knowledge of the influence Parton actually has at the park, having spent years here in Dollywood’s Marketing Department. While great additions each year, iconic rides, awardwinning shows and some
of the friendliest folks in the theme park business go a long way to building a destination, Baker says the local park would likely be far less than it is without Parton. “I think the park now really embodies everything Dolly wanted to create,� Baker says. “All of these things have come from her vision. Certainly Dolly’s vision has caused Dollywood to grow up as a different sort of park than anything else out there.� And Parton’s vision is visible throughout a park that represents the Smoky Mountains she loves and the Sevier County she grew up in. That’s evident from a diner in the park named Red’s after the first place Parton had a hamburger, to the Pine Theater, for which inspiration was drawn from a showplace in downtown Sevierville. Likewise, the fact that the park has been named one of the cleanest and friendliest in the amusement industry is further proof of Parton’s influence, Baker says. “The people on the property and in the area are some of the best people you’ll meet anywhere,� he says. “The people of East Tennessee really make it a great guest experience. Dolly really wanted to bring that spirit into the park. I think part of that attitude that you get at the park is because the folks who work there really respect her, and they know Dolly wants everyone who comes there welcomed as if they’re family.� Parton’s also put her mark on the rides and shows that fill the park. She’s made a massive capital investment in Dollywood to fund the
nearly annual additions to the ride catalog and has had a hand in a number of the shows on park, including last year’s “Sha-Kon-OHey!�, for which she wrote an original soundtrack. “Whether you’re 6 or 60, there’s a lot at the park you’re going to enjoy. She’s seen to that,� Baker says. Into the future, Herschend officials hope to be able to continue the partnership that has grown their most successful property, even including all their locations in the Branson area. “The Pigeon Forge market is one of the best markets we operate in,� Baker says. “Everything we see about that market says it’s going to continue to grow and improve. We will continue to try to expand the offerings we have for all age groups there. We continue to invest in the property because we continue to see opportunity for growth.� While Baker com-
mits Herschend Family Entertainment to continued investments at the local park, he’s not tipping his hand as to what, specifically, that will mean. “I think you will continue to see that move toward a destination, and we are going to be taking a more holistic approach to meeting the needs and wants of our customers,� Baker says. “We’re already treating it more as a destination now, but we will always be the theme park to the local area.� Of course, that’s all by design of the park’s namesake. “We love Dolly. We love the partnership we have with her. We’re hopeful we can just continue to meet her needs and we’ll be able to continue that partnership,� Baker says. “I’ve never known anyone with more talent and energy than her. We just wish her all the luck and continued success.�
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an amusement park somewhere in the vicinity and I try to get there and see to it that I’ve got those rides down,� he said. “I’ve been known to drive eight hours when a new ride opens just to get on that ride and come back.� His favorites are wooden roller coasters — another reason he likes Thunderhead. “On a steel coaster you can ride it over and over and get the same experience every time, but on a wooden coaster it’s going to give at different places different times,� he said. “Wood ages, and you never know, this year might be great and next year might be different.� His ties to Dollywood go back to 1995, when he worked there. He’s hosted ACE events at the park, including a tour last year of one of the oldest
rides: Blazing Fury. The ride could be called an indoor coaster, or a long mine ride — Lambert considers it an indoor mine ride. The ACE group got to ride it with all the lights on, under regular conditions, and in complete darkness. “It’s a good coaster. Every time you ride it, you notice a little something here and there.� The Slidewinder is another of his favorites; he said the only other ride with that design is owned by the Herschend Family, who own Dollywood along with Dolly Parton. He likes water rides in general, he added, because they make for a great opportunity to watch people. “I love River Battle. I love going over and watching people play. It’s not necessarily the most exciting, but you get wet and have a good time and have fun, and that to me is what it’s about.�
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 13
Friday, March 26, 2010
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Dollywood Anniversary – Page 16
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
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Dollywood Anniversary – Page 18
Husband’s happiness
Friday, March 26, 2010
reader memories of D ollywood
Thank you, Dollywood, for the cherished memories of my husband’s happiness as a Dollywood employee. Jim’s life was shattered by esophageal cancer diagnosed on his 40th birthday. He led an active lifestyle as an athlete, sporting goods salesman and a dedicated coach in the youth sports program. He spent a year recovering from the surgery learning to speak, eat and regain strength. He was released from the doctor to return to his normal activities. He tried hard but the realization set in that his life would never be the same and he became depressed. Convincing him of the benefits of fresh mountain air, we set off for a two-week vacation which turned into 12 special years. A Dollywood application piqued his interest; he filled it out and was hired. He was so excited about being accepted in spite of his Godfather voice and slumping shoulder. He had a real job and regained his self-esteem and sense of purpose. His new life was fulfilling and he truly loved his Dollywood family. The love was reciprocated with concern and support when the cancer recurred after 29 years in remission. When given the option of returning to the cancer center in Tampa his reply was, “How can I leave all of this?� Dollywood looked past the handicap and embraced the man giving him a meaningful life and 12 years of happiness. Jim passed away March 26, 2007. — Joan Falsone, Cosby
A ‘special’ relationship
I first visited Dollywood in October 1987. They were going to film some of Dolly’s TV special that day. We were lucky enough to be invited to the outside event because of the limited seating. When the television show was aired later, we invited friends over to watch in Atlanta. We were on TV, but no contract was ever offered. Little did I know, years later (1996), I would move to this beautiful area and would work in the Attractions Division of Dollywood for five years. And I certainly have enjoyed my lifetime retiree pass with all the new additions to the Park. Thumbs up! — Eddie Bilbrey, Kodak
Loving Miss Lillian’s
Married in Dollywood chapel
Submitted
On April 9, 1994, Renard Wiseman and Cynthia Mather got married at the chapel in Dollywood. They sent this report: “This was a very special day for us. We had our reception at Ham and Beans following the wedding. It is now March 11, 2010 and we are about to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. At the time of our wedding Renard Wiseman was working on the Rampage and Cynthia Mather was working at Miss Lillian’s Restaurant in the barbecue pit. We live in Sevierville.�
23 years of visits
We have coming to Dollywood for 23 years. We like to go to all the shows. When we first came to the area the Parkway was one lane each way. We have seen many improvements to Dollywood through the years. When we first came to Dollywood we stayed in Gatlinburg and now we stay at Wyndham Resorts. The last 5 years we have gone to Dollywood in April and September, twice a week to the park, and enjoy the Festival of Nations, the Kingdom Heirs, James Rogers and others. Every one in the park is very friendly and helpful. We had the good luck to get tickets to Dolly’s show a few years ago and it was great. She had introduced all band members. We go on our wedding anniversary — this year on April 22, it will be our 60th. — Ronald L. Guthrie, Williamsport, Pa.
I worked at Dollywood from 1989 through 1991, beginning in labor pool and working where I was most needed. When I decided where I wanted to stay, I called Ruth Burgess and said I liked Miss Lillian’s the best, so I continued there. When Dolly and film crew had their Christmas special for TV around the Thomas Chapel with artificial snow in 1990, we stripped down the complete line of food and served them all a special menu with the guidance of our lead, Linda Simpson, who I believe still works at the park. When having an opportunity to see Dolly in person I showed her a snapshot of my now deceased husband and she remembered him as “Harry-O� as he drove a school bus while she was wearing her coat of many colors and carried a guitar on with her. I made many friends at Dollywood these years and really enjoyed line-serving Randy and whoever came to eat. Dolly is to be commended for her control over the park activities and growth. Jack Hershend was part of the picture, too, and well-liked. Dolly’s uncles were also very cordial. Others entertained at the Back Porch Theatre, including David Brooks — one of the best in the business. I’ll never forget that part of my life. I plan on having the Kingdom Heirs as part of my leaving this world for heaven. — Ruth Vaughan, Sevierville
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Dollywood Anniversary – Page 19
The Board of Directors and Staff of Friends of the Smokies thank Dolly Parton and all of the folks at Dollywood for helping to raise more than $400,000 to support the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Copies of her limited-edition CD “Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke” are still available. Purchase yours today at any Great Smoky Mountains Association store or online at www.smokiesstore.org. While Dolly Parton was the Official 75th Anniversary Ambassador for Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year, her commitment to preserving her Smoky Mountain home, its beauty, and its heritage has been a lifelong commitment. The eight songs that she wrote for “Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke” tell the timeless stories of these mountains their people. All proceeds benefit Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to help support trail maintenance projects, educational programs, historic preservation, and wildlife protection in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Happy 25th Anniversary to Dolly & Dollywood! For more information about Friends of the Smokies, please visit www.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org.
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 20
Friday, March 26, 2010
reader memories of D ollywood Two special memories
My special memory is the day my grandson, Alex, went to Dollywood with me and his aunt Vernia. We rode all the rides and some twice. It poured rain all day. We were so wet we were squeaking when we left the park. I looked at him and said, “Alex, this is what it feels like when you’re a duck.” We started laughing all the way to the car. The second trip we got to take our sister who is in a group home. This was her first trip to Dollywood, at the age of 50. We got to ride all the rides, and the people there were so nice to us. We got to stay on the rides until we were ready to get off them. This made her day and we were glad to be with her at DoIlywood. — Judy C. Ward, Kodak
Submitted
Katherine Blackman’s parents, Joe and Hattie, are standing on the right in this year 2000 photo made at Dollywood.
One last trip with Dad
Submitted
Elizabeth Wilson and her daughter, Amy, with Dolly Parton in 1992 when Dollywood Foundation gave graduating seniors in Sevier County $500 each.
$500 from Dolly
Submitted
Elizabeth Wilson of Sevierville has collected and saved countless materials from the last 20 or so years of Dollywood. They include brochures, photos, pamphlets, and even Dolly Dollars.
A favorite special memory of Dollywood was April 27, 1992. All graduating seniors, class of 1992, in Sevier County were invited to Dollywood and treated to a steak dinner. In 1988 when the seniors were eighth-graders, they were assigned to a “buddy program” and, if they graduated, they and their buddy were awarded a check in the amount of $500 funded by the Dollywood Foundation — chaired by Dolly Parton. After the meal, the students were invited along with their parents to the Celebrity Theatre at Dollywood. Dolly Parton, along with Lamar Alexander, then Education Secretary for the United States, now U.S. Senator, spoke words of encouragement at the event. WBIR, Channel 10, was there and interviewed some of the students, and it was broadcast on the evening news. My daughter, Amy Wilson Ford, Class of 1992, Sevier County High School, was one of the lucky ones to be interviewed by Channel 10, as she was planning to attend Carson-Newman College. — Elizabeth Wilson, Sevierville
The most memorable trip to Dollywood was in October of 2000. We had visited just about every year since it opened. My dad really wanted to go, but this time he said he wasn’t feeling too good and for us to go ahead and have a good time, but my daughter-in-law told him he had to go and kept begging him. He never complained and had retired at age 72 years old. He finally gave in. Mom was so happy he was going, He was such a jolly fellow, It was my son, daughter-in-law, grandchild, mom and dad, me and my husband. We sang a lot going up there and Daddy told us stories of the past. We had a wonderful trip — everything went well. Then one month later, he passed away. This was truly a million dollar trip. He loved Dollywood. We miss him so much. My mom passed in February and I am so thankful for the memories and good times. We miss Mom so much also. My parents were married almost 60 years with the exception of four months. — Katherine C. Blackman, Coats, N.C.
A family affair
We are from Central Illinois and have visited Dollywood on several occasions. For the first time last year we purchased season passes and that is something considering my husband usually doesn’t enjoy amusement parks, but he even had a gold pass. We are planning on having passes again this year. The first time my family and I visited Dollywood was August 1991. The whole family went on vacation — mom, dad, brothers, sister, in-laws, the whole gang. My daughter was 7 months old at the time and received her first of many Dolly dresses from there. We have been back several times since, and not only is it my husband and my favorite vacation, it is also my daughter’s favorite. We have taken them many places, including Disneyland. There are several reasons we visit and keep returning the friendly people, the scenery and the fact that it is clean and family-friendly. We have visited all times of the year and enjoy each of them equally. Even though we are warm-whether people, I must say the Christmas lights are breathtaking and high on the list. We have probably seen every show there and I believe I have ridden every ride there. “Heartsong” is one of our favorite shows and we always ride Thunder Road and the train at least once each time we come. As our family grows, we plan on bringing them to the Great Smoky Mountains and by all means to Dollywood. Last year my daughter’s boyfriend came with us, and this year we are planning on bringing my son and his wife. Maybe one day we will be able to bring grandchildren. — Connie Houchins, Mason City, Ill.
Friday, March 26, 2010
reader memories of D ollywood Backstage memories There are so many Dollywood memories for me. Dollywood has so many impacts on everyone’s memories with friends and family. Every day is a different experience at Dollywood. No day is absolutely the same. That’s what makes it so special. All of my memories come from backstage at Dollywood, “behind the curtain� experience, almost every day. I was an actor, singer and dancer there during the summer and winter for four years. I was Submitted in “Sha-Kon-O-Hey!�, Paul Trentham, left, and McKenzie Roberts “Babes in Toyland� and with Dolly Parton backstage following a show “O Holy Night.� at Dollywood. I can remember the day that I had heard of the auditions like it was yesterday. I was 9, and at the dance studio I saw my friend (McKenzie Roberts). She said she was going to Dollywood’s children auditions. All I thought about was, “If you go and try, even if you don’t get a part, you will still have put yourself out there for an opportunity of a lifetime.� So I asked my mother (Dee Dee Trentham) if I could go. At first, she said, “I don’t think so, Paul. There could be a lot of professional kids out there, and I don’t want you to go so you don’t get disappointed.� All I did was beg and beg until I finally got her to say yes. And I got three songs prepared that night to sing at the auditions. When we got there the next day, I filled out a form, and waited and waited until we finally got to the room where we were seen. We were asked to sing two songs and wait to do script reading. When we got to that, I was nervous (as anyone would be) and read it to the best of my ability, and then was dismissed to wait on the choreography portion. I thought it was an easy routine, but when I asked another person, they said it was extremely difficult. I was pretty impressed that I did it that well and it gave me hope. A few days later, I got a call back with an offer to be in “Babes in Toyland.� And of course, I said yes, and in no time rehearsal was started. That experience gave me so much excitement and thrill. The best part of Dollywood for me is getting to meet so many new people who have become my family, and actually getting to say I have had the opportunity to sing with Dolly Parton. There are so many things happening around you at Dollywood that you don’t even know about. So many people are working hard just for your enjoyment and experience. To me, the work is so fulfilling and great for a job. It almost doesn’t even seem like work. Dollywood is truly a great place for everyone. Whether it’s an amusement park, workplace, or home to you, it’s a place where everyone can enjoy themselves all day and everyday that you come there. — Paul Trentham, Sevierville
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 21
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Being from Sevier County and having the same last name as our famous resident, I have answered this question a thousand times - Am I related to Dolly? However it does not bother me to do so because I am very proud of my name and where I came from, as so like Ms. Parton. I would like to take this time to thank her for all she has done for her hometown, especially creating jobs and for putting Sevier County on the map. I worked for Dollywood the first two seasons it was open and got the chance to meet Dolly, she has a great personality and was very nice to all of us who were working for her, she took the time to come by the little shop I was working in and was very friendly. I think that is really just who she is and that is why she has done so well.
Congratulations on your Silver Anniversary $OLLY AND !SSOCIATES Thank You,
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 22
Friday, March 26, 2010
reader memories of D ollywood 25 years at Dollywood
Submitted
SkyZip, which opened in 2009, is an hour-long adventure through the park.
Getting through park is a zip Last May, Dollywood guests could fly like an eagle over the 150-acre theme park and experience the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains with the opening of SkyZip. SkyZip was the first multiple station zip-line experience to open in a U.S. theme park. “SkyZip is the first of a series of premium experiences Dollywood plans to launch in the coming year. These high level family experiences are ‘ready-togo’ meaning our guests just show up for the thrills, no previous experience or expensive gear needed,� said Ken Bell, president of Dollywood. “These deeper, personalized experiences will challenge our guests and often, fulfill lifelong dreams.� The hour-long, SkyZip adventure includes up to five zipline treks ranging in length from 100 to nearly 1,000 feet and a 100-foot long swinging bridge perched above the trees. Each zipline is an elevated and inclined wire from which a pulley and a seating apparatus are suspended allowing the
guest to move between two points via gravity. Each SkyZip tour offers a distinctive adventure with a theme. Fliers will launch from a perch above the park’s region called Wilderness Pass and soar to Dollywood’s famed triple spiral-looping rollercoaster, Tennessee Tornado, and beyond. One trail takes adventurers close to Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. After a brief hike, the adventurers will zip above Craftsman’s Valley, which houses Dollywood’s talented artisans, to the same point where their adventure began. The tour also provides an environmental and historical tour of property surrounding Dollywood hosted by specially trained adventure guides. The new SkyZip is powered by Skyline EcoAdventures. In addition to park admission, an additional fee is required. Skyline Eco-Adventures is a Hawaii-based developer and operator. It is the first and most experienced U.S. zip-line operator, as well as the first zip-line
company in the world to become a member of “1% for the planet,� a group of businesses committed to giving at least 1 percent of its sales back to environmental preservation. Skyline Eco-Adventures will continue that effort at Dollywood.
I was born and grew up in the Philippines. I came to the United States in 1979 at the age of 30. I moved from Maryland to Sevierville and married my husband, Jack Jenkins in 1985, in the same year Dollywood started. We have been celebrating our anniversary with Dollywood ever since. Submitted Jack took me to Dollywood and introduced Jack and Teresita Jenkins were married Sept. 26, 1985. They are pictured as they celebrated me to James Rogers and their 20th wedding anniversary in 2005, the Elwood Smooch, the top same year Dollywood celebrated its 20 years. entertainers at that time, and at the end of the day they all came together at one theater and put on one big show for me. Those were the glory days of Dollywood. We used to go at the end of the day just for that show. We met and enjoyed many good entertainers at Dollywood, including Suzy Bogguss. She played guitar and sang in a little gazebo out in the park. She went from Dollywood to Nashville and became a recording star. We were there for the first Festival of Nations and for every one since. This has been a big boost for Dollywood. We have enjoyed the Chinese, Russians, Mexicans, Ireland and all the others. For us, this festival has become the main attraction at Dollywood. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary with Dollywood this year, and look forward to many more in the years ahead. Thank you, Dollywood, for all the good times. — Jack and Teresita Jenkins, Sevierville
Congratulations Dollywood on 25 Years of Success!
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Attractions inside Dollywood include museum, eagles, mill Dollywood is home to a number of unusual, even unique, attractions: n Adventures in Imagination: The area includes a museum called Chasing Rainbows, featuring interactive and behind-the-scenes collections, stories, and memorabilia from Dolly’s life and career. An entire case contains Parton’s many awards. In addition, a display features the original handwritten lyrics to some of her biggest hits. n Eagle Mountain Sanctuary: In July 1990, Parton announced the construction of a major eagle complex at Dollywood. It includes Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, a living showcase of American bald eagles; the Wings of America Theatre, featuring a birds of prey show; the neighboring Birds of Prey viewing facility added in 2008 which showcases raptors from the show; and an eagle breeding and rehabilitation facility which includes an eagle medical clinic and nursery that is not open to the public. n Grist Mill: More than 20 years ago, construction began on a working grist mill that would be built exactly as it would have been in the 1880s and the first fully operating grist mill built in Tennessee in more than 100 years. Roof shingles were split by hand, and all the door hardware was created onsite. The structure’s round logs were hewed by hand. The window panes were made by the park’s glassblowers. n Dollywood Express: Steam trains played an important role in shaping our country’s landscape. Two Baldwin coal-fired steam trains are used. They were originally built for the Army, and both engines were used in Alaska during World War II to transport troops and lumber. n Southern Gospel Museum: The Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame tells the story of music steeped in the traditions of Sunday worship and all-night gospel singings. On April 17, 1999, Dollywood opened the attraction. The 4,000-square-foot facility serves not only as the industry’s headquarters, but also as a tribute to the artists. More than 350 artifacts are displayed. n Friendship Gardens: When Dollywood was first planned, the mountain landscape was considered a key park attraction. When Dollywood’s Showstreet was added in 1992, the tradition of natural beauty continued with Friendship Gardens. Here, tens of thousands of flowers and plants are on display.
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 23
&3%#± 02±1 *# Jim Gray Robert Tino G. Webb Terri Waters Lee Robertson
Tom Cowan Brent Todd James Chandle r Michael Sloan Gerald Fraize
Priced to go 5 0% and off gallery pric more es Unique Colle Some from earlction y 80’s Many rare and sold out pieces
reader memories of D ollywood
A senior employee
I was born and raised in Knoxville. I had two things I wanted to do before my 80th birthday. The first one was to work at Dollywood, so I came to a job fair, took a test in tickets and passed. I rented an apartment in 1997 and moved here to work. The memories are many. When I worked days, I would come in before the park opened and walk from one end to the other, enjoying the beauty. The crew was cleaning the streets and working in the flowers. Everything was so quiet and beautiful, you felt like you were walking the streets of heaven. Now, it was time to clock in and meet the people. The “mayor” of Dollywood always was there for the opening. Clara Reneau surprised me with a birthday cake for birthday number 79, from the workers. They all sang including the guests waiting to get in. I left Knoxville in 2001 and moved to Pigeon Forge to enjoy these mountains. Every time I come to Dollywood I see “Heartsong.” P.S. I forgot to tell my second thing. I did hike to Mount LeConte in March 1998. I turned 80 years old that June. I have been blessed in so many ways. I am 92 years old now. It was a privilege to have worked in your beautiful park which is well kept. — Fay Francis, Pigeon Forge
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 24
Entertainment manager recalls visiting talent By ELLEN BROWN Staff Writer Charley Reynolds, Dollywood’s entertainment manager, has been with the park through all of its 25 years — in fact, he was there before it was even known as Dollywood. “I started as a street performer in 1977 when it was Silver Dollar City,” the Knoxville native said. “It was just a summer job the first year, but they asked me to stay to work construction on the ride The Blazing Fury. I started supervising shows in 1986.” Over the years, Reynolds had the opportunity to work with many performing artists. “There were the people you heard about all your life, like Kenny Wells and Tammy Wynette. They were legends, and before you had just seen them on TV. It was really neat to have them here. Chet Atkins liked to play golf before the shows — he told me I played the guitar better than I golfed! He was wonderful to be around. The Charlie Daniels Band was always a lot of fun, too.” Reynolds still keeps in touch with Suzy Boggus, who started her career at Dollywood. Others who played at the park when they were “newcomers” included Travis Tritt, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley. “They were headliners
at the park’s Celebrity Theater when they were the warm-up acts at a lot of other places,” he said. “We didn’t have a lot of huge stars there because it was an 800-seat theater, not a coliseum. The ones who were legends appeared with Dolly or for something special.” He does remember when some stars managed to cause more of a commotion with fans. “The first time Bill Monroe played, traffic was crazy. The Pigeon Forge police gave them an escort just so they could get here. Sort of the same thing happened with Billy Ray Cyrus — after their first show, they went back to their hotel and almost didn’t make it back for the second show because of the traffic.” There were some acts that were a bit more demanding than others. “One act had to have a particular brand of bottled water. We would always feed performers in between shows, and a lot of times they were sick of fast food on the road, so we had it catered. But some just wanted us to order them pizza. “We really didn’t have many controversial acts. If they were controversial, they didn’t get booked here back then — or now.” Today, Reynolds manages and produces shows at the park. “When we started, we had basically small
Curt Habraken/The Mountain Press
Charley Reynolds has worked with many artists during his 25 years at Dollywood. stages. Then we got into production shows, which are a lot more challenging but a lot more fun. People see what they come to see — they don’t realize what all goes into it. It takes a week to put up the set for ‘Sha-Kon-A-Hey!’” “Babes in Toyland” is a favorite of Reynolds’, perhaps because he has worked on it for so many years. Working with Parton herself was “scary at first,” he said, “but wonderful.” “With Dolly, what you see is what you get. She’s going to tell you exactly what’s on her mind.” Reynolds says he has enjoyed all of his 33 years working at the park, from Silver Dollar City days to now. “I’ve seen all of the changes, and I feel like it’s for the better. As the company has gotten bigger, so has its heart.” n ebrown@themountainpress.com
Congratulations Dollywood On Your 25th Anniversary Larry Waters County Mayor
Jonas Smelcer Road Superintendent
Joe Keener County Court Clerk
Jettie Clabo Trustee
Jeff Rader Dwight Stokes General Session Judges
Ron Seals Sheriff
Connie E. Holt General Sessions Clerk
Johnny King Tax Assessor
Sherry H. Robertson-Huskey Register of Deeds
Carolyn McMahan Clerk & Master
Jack A. Parton Director of Schools
Rita Ellison Circuit Court Clerk
Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 25
Jobs at Dollywood lead to marriage By DEREK HODGES Staff Writer There’s no Tunnel of Love ride and no kissing booth at Dollywood, but over the past 25 years, the park has provided an irresistible romance for couples — those who have come through the turnstiles and those who punch the time clock. Among the most recent couples to have been wed through a connection bred at the park are Justin and Ashley Bradley. As the park marks its 25th anniversary, they will celebrate their first. “Ashley’s the whole package. I just had to convince myself I was good enough for her before we started
dating,” Justin says. “I told her, ‘If I date you once, I’ll never stop dating you.’” The couple now calls it fate that brought them together at the park. Justin came to East Tennessee first, taking a job at Dollywood in 2000. A student at Lander University in his hometown of Greenwood, S.C., he auditioned for theater groups from North Carolina to New Hampshire and even Cincinnati, a town that would become very important to him later. He debated taking the only job offer from a park in Pigeon Forge. “The story is kind of funny because I had to let Dollywood know on a
Friday if it was a yes or a no and, I’ll be honest, on Thursday evening I didn’t know,” Justin says. “I was praying and thinking about it. Then on Friday, somebody came in to where my mom works and was talking to her about Dollywood and I just took that as a sign.” Justin made the rounds of the shows at the park. In 2006, he took a role in the “Country Crossroads” production and perhaps this is where fate started playing its hand. Just one year earlier, Ashley took a job at the park. A business major at Miami (Ohio) University, the Cincinnati — Aha! — resident was working at a Media Play retail store
Congratulations Dollywood on your 25th Anniversary!
when a fellow employee suggested they go to East Tennessee to audition for a part in a stage show. He didn’t make the cut. Ashley, the soft-spoken former RedHawk, did, and was given a role in — you guessed it — “Country Crossroads.” That’s when love first started to bloom for the couple. As Justin was working to convince himself he could give Ashley everything he knew she deserved, Ashley was wondering why it was taking him so long to make his move. “I was attracted to his personality and his talent,” Ashley says. “He’s just a really nice guy.” The couple started dating
Submitted
Justin and Ashley Bradley on their wedding day last year the Thomas Chapel at Dollywood. Both work at the park. and Justin never stopped trying to woo Ashley. It took a little more than a year before Justin decided
it was time to take that next step. See marriage, Page 26
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 26
Friday, March 26, 2010
It’s ‘Smoke’ and mirrors for Scott Self By GAIL CRUTCHFIELD Community Editor PIGEON FORGE — Scott Self has been entertaining Dollywood audiences for 20 of its 25 years of existence. The East Tennessee native will begin his 21st season this year, returning to a lead role in “ShaKon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke.” Self, 40, calls himself an “odd entertainer.” “People talk about how they used to put on shows when they were little and make their family watch,” he said. “I never did really do that. I really didn’t start singing until high school, when I was a freshman. “It was cool to be in chorus at our school,” said Self, who grew up in the community of Gray between Johnson City and Kingsport. Starting his sophomore year in high school, Self earned a spot on the school’s audition group. “Which is a 20-member group that I got into, and that led to college.” While he attended East Tennessee State University on a music scholarship, music didn’t turn out to be what he earned a degree in. “I majored in environmental health, finally,” he said. “I started out in one thing and jumped around, changed majors, and ended up majoring in environmental health.” While attending college he began working during the summers at Dollywood. His introduction to the entertainment industry came much earlier, however, when his father joined community theater groups when Self was around 9 years old. “He did that for about 15 years while he worked at Eastman,” Self said of his
Curt Habraken/The Mountain Press
Scott Self will begin his 21st year, returning to “Sha-Kon-OHey! Land of Blue Smoke.” father, Joseph Self, who is now the theater manager at Oak Ridge High School. He retired from Eastman in the mid-90s and began working as an actor fulltime, performing in outdoor dramas throughout the Southeast, Self said. He also worked at the Miracle Theatre for about two years. Self’s mother, Betty Martin, is director of business development for Sullivan Partnership Networks, the joint economic development organization for Bluff City, Bristol, Kingsport and Sullivan County, Tennessee. After working the summers at Dollywood and graduating from ETSU in 1995, Self said he felt it was time to go out and get a “real job.” “I was a chemist in an environmental laboratory right outside of Nashville,” he said. “I thought that I’ll sing at nights and keep my music going. That didn’t work out because I was working 60 hours a week.” He said he worked in the lab for a year and a half before deciding he would rather find a job that he enjoyed doing.
“It was OK,” he said of the laboratory job. “But it wasn’t as gratifying and satisfying as singing, which I felt like I was sort of made to do. It gave me a whole new perspective on this job (at Dollywood), so I decided this was the last place I worked that made sense. I came back here, and that was Christmas of 1997, and I’ve been here ever since.” In 20 years he’s performed in numerous shows, including Smoky Mountain Song, Fire on the Mountain, Vocal Junction and the Great American Country series. Some of his favorites have been the ’50s themed Let the Good Times Roll and Christmas in the Smokies. “It’s just a special show that touches a lot of people over and over,” he said. “A lot of people come through and say, ‘Well, we can have Christmas now.’ It’s like watching ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ or something every
year.” By the time Christmas in the Smokies wraps up and the park closes down for the season, Self said he’s ready to put the microphone down for a little while. He trades it for a hammer. “I’m a carpenter in the winter,” he said. “Creative carpentry is what I call it.” His carpentry work ranges from building storage space for the entertainment department or a show case for the Chasing Rainbows museum, to building the float Dolly Parton rides on in the annual Dolly Parade in Pigeon Forge. “I’m getting ready to build Dolly’s float for the Pigeon Forge parade,” he said. “This is my seventh or eighth year. It’s a month-long, intensive project.” The carpentry, he said, is a nice change of pace after performing for the better part of 10 months.
marriage 3From Page 25
When the couple made a trip to Ashley’s hometown — Cincinnati again — for Thanksgiving, Justin planned an evening meal with her family at a restaurant overlooking the Ohio River. Then, he dropped to one knee. “I knew it was important to have her parents and grandparents there because I knew how important they had been in her life,” Justin says. “All my friends were calling me on our way up there asking, ‘What if she says no?’ I told them, ‘She better not, because I’m driving and she’ll be looking for a ride back home. She better have a darn good thumb.’” Ashley played the part well. “We had, of course, talked about it, but I wasn’t expecting it,” she says. The couple was married four or five months later in the little white chapel at Dollywood. “It was a great place to have a wedding,” Justin says. “It’s
perfect for what we wanted. We wanted to catch the essence of the place where we fell in love.” A Monday wedding in early April planned around Justin’s work calendar — he had just been promoted to an office job in the entertainment department — it almost wasn’t so perfect. A freak early-spring snowstorm threw some of the plans into doubt. “I got a call just like 10 minutes before she’s supposed to be coming up to the chapel that said, ‘We’ve decided to keep the park open,’” Justin says with a laugh. “I said, ‘Well that’s good because I’m getting married today no matter what.’” Fortunately, the plans went off without a hitch and the couple jumped a plane leaving snowy Knoxville for sunny Cancun. To this day, the couple’s not sure why it turned out Dollywood was the perfect place for them to fall in love — they’re just happy it was. n dhodges@themountainpress.com
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 27
Dollywood Anniversary – Page 28
Friday, March 26, 2010