The theme park Dollywood has plans to expand. The Associated Press reported that Parton sees the future of Dollywood as a resort hotel lobby that has three story windows overlooking Mount LeConte.
"Guests will be able to book a grand suite in the hotel that the entertainer uses when she stays in the Pigeon Forge theme park that bears her name.
All of that is future tense, but not very far away. The park plans to open DreamMore Resort in 2015. It's part of a planned $300 million expansion to take place over the next decade," reported the AP.
There are also plans for a new roller coaster to open in 2014.
"The thing we're most excited about is finally building our resort," Dolly Parton said to the AP."We're starting out with a resort that has 300 rooms. Some of the rooms will accommodate up to six people in a family."
The AP reported that the lobby of the hotel will have free glasses of lemonade for guests in the summer and hot chocolate during the winter. The plan for Dollywood also includes more rides and shows and new resorts.
"In 10 years' time, we will have spent more than we've spent since the inception back in 1986 ..." said Craig Ross the President of Dollywood. "It's the bigger scope of these attractions that we'll be adding that's different."
"The first of the new attractions will be Fire Chaser Express, scheduled to open next year. It's a ride described as exciting, but not as intense as the Wild Eagle or Dollywood's water coaster, RiverRush. Children of elementary school age will be able to ride it.
Research by Dollywood showed executives the resort will make a difference for many people looking to vacation in the mountains.
A survey showed 80 percent of people asked about visiting the theme park, who hadn't yet come, indicated having a resort on the property would be important to them,"reported the AP.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
