Pigeon Forge and Dolly Besides being a fantastic singer and songwriter, Dolly Parton is a smart businesswoman. Since Dollywood ranked #1 in the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Amusement Parks in the United States and #8 on their Top 25 Worldwide Amusement Parks for 2022, it’s not surprising she opened a new resort in Pigeon Forge. HeartSong Lodge & Resort just opened Nov 3, 2023and I got to visit and take a tour of this fantastic resort.
HeartSong
A massive stone fireplace commands your attention when you enter the lobby. The fireplace’s sculptured doors created by Kevin Stone shows Dolly as a young girl perched on a curving branch sitting under a tree with one of her favorite creatures, a butterfly. Our guide, Jenn Webb, led us through the resort. She explained that the resort captures the beauty of the Smokies that Dolly calls home and loves. It’s based on Dolly’s 1994 “HeartSong” telling of her memories of growing up in her Smoky Mountain home. When you head to the
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reception desk, there’s a room-sized screen showing changing Smoky Mountain scenes. A proud elk with huge antlers gazes out at you then the screen shows a mama bear with her cubs rambling across it. Dolly describes HeartSong as a “high-fashion rustic lodge.” The multi-story lobby has high ceilings with lantern
inspired windows. Since you are just a short distance from the Great Smoky Mountains, you can see the mountain scenery. The plush, smoky blue velvet sofas and carpets designed to look like tree rings and fireflies contribute the luxury part to complement the rustic mountain scenery.
