Dolly Parton Announces Plans For New, Major Nashville Theme Park
Dolly Parton turned 66 on Thursday, but the country legend was the one who ended up giving a gift on her special day! Parton announced on her birthday that she will be building a new, over-the-top theme park in Nashville for families and tourists to enjoy.
The new facility, designed to be a combination water-and-snow park, is being described as the "first of its kind" in the country. Parton is working on the project in conjunction with Gaylord Entertainment Co., which owns the Opryland Resort & Convention Center, as well as the Grand Ole Opry country music show in Nashville.
According to site plans, the 114-acre site is projected to open as early as summer 2014. It will operate as a water park during the warmer months, and manufacture snow in colder months. The plans also offer room for further expansion in the future.
Parton officially announced the park on Thursday afternoon in Nashville, accompanied by the city's mayor, Karl Dean, as well as Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.
"I'm so excited about this opportunity," she said. "I am confident that partnering my Dollywood Company with a great company like Gaylord will create something truly special. We're all working on new types of entertainment to do in the daytime and nighttime for the whole family, so we bring new folks to the area year round."
Parton, along with business partner Herschel Entertainment, already owns Dollywood theme park and Dollywood's Splash Country water park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
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