Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, grew from a small 1961 attraction into Tennessee’s largest ticketed tourist attraction and the centerpiece of a wider entertainment complex. After several name and theme changes and its redevelopment by Jack and Pete Herschend in the late 1970s, the park took its modern form in 1986 when Dolly Parton became a co-owner. Attendance quickly surged, and the park expanded to 150 acres while becoming the region’s largest employer. Blending major rides with Appalachian music, crafts, food, festivals, and Parton’s own story, Dollywood became both an economic engine and a cultural showcase for eastern Tennessee.