Dollywood Nominated for Seven USA Today 10Best Awards

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Monday, March 27, 2023) — Dollywood has earned a number of nominations across several categories in USA Today’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice awards. A panel of experts and USA Today 10Best editors selected Dollywood Parks & Resorts properties and attractions in seven categories.

The Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, properties have earned much praise during the last several years from USA Today readers in 10Best voting, with all of the Dollywood nominations typically landing near the top of the order. Each of the Dollywood properties represented is a perennial favorite, with nominated attractions typically counted among the best of their type within the industry. This year’s nominations are:

• Best Theme Park- Dollywood
• Best Roller Coaster- Lightning Rod
• Best Non-Roller Coaster Ride- Smoky Mountain River Rampage
• Best Theme Park Entertainment- “Dreamland Drive-In” and “Harmonies of the Heart”
• Best Theme Park Hotel- Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
• Best Amusement Park Restaurant- Aunt Granny’s Restaurant
• Best Outdoor Water Park- Dollywood’s Splash Country

Voting for this year’s awards opened today at noon and runs through Monday, April 24 at 11:59 a.m. A page with links to each voting contest can be found at www.dollywood.com/vote. Anyone is eligible to vote and may do so once per day per device. Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel which includes a combination of editors from USA Today, editors from 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors and more.

For more information about Dollywood’s 2023 season, operating calendars and more, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.

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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Currently under construction, the 302-room Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled for completion in 2023. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 48 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was named in 2022 by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top-three U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, a favorite of USA Today voters and Tripadvisor reviewers, provides guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary. 

Media Contacts:                  

Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or powens@dollywood.com  

Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or wramey@dollywood.com

Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or eliston@dollywood.com

Amber Davis: Digital Publicist, (865) 428-9601, (865) 591-1002 or aldavis@dollywood.com

Jennifer Webb: Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or jwebb@dollywood.com

For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room