Dolly Parton’s East Tennessee theme park, Dollywood is recognized for its live entertainment, world-class rides, incredible guest service, and tributes to the traditions and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains. As part of that commitment to heritage, the park showcases Southern and Appalachian cuisine. Instead of simply offering traditional amusement park fare, Dollywood makes an extra effort to serve high-quality options that range from family-style comfort foods to unique items created especially for its various seasonal festivals. As part of its ongoing commitment to bringing guests the best dining experiences, Dollywood has debuted a new restaurant this spring for its 40th anniversary season. Guests can feast on their favorites and try the new offerings as well.
Guests who visit the park during Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival from now through June 8 can indulge in Southern-inspired springtime foods that can be enjoyed individually or by using the Flower & Food Festival Tasting Pass. Those with the tasting pass can sample up to five festival items, including new creations like loaded street fries, pesto caprese paninis, Smoky Mountain grilled corn, blueberry pie milkshakes, wild berry cream cheese funnel cakes and a Salad of Many Colors (named for Dolly’s beloved song, “Coat of Many Colors”). The pass can be purchased in the park or online for $42.99 plus tax.
Dollywood will introduce its newest dining venue, Wilderness Pass Restaurant, during the festival. Opening in early May, the restaurant is set to serve a variety of smoked meats along with Southern classics like hush puppies and mac and cheese. Wilderness Pass will also debut a brand-new menu item for the park: rotisserie chicken. The restaurant, which features both indoor and patio seating, can accommodate 400 people and will allow guests to order their food in line before choosing their table.
Dollywood has also become famous for some iconic foods that are offered all season long. For generations, park-goers have flocked to the Grist Mill to devour Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread, which can be enjoyed “naked” or with a side of icing and/or apple butter. The theme park’s original restaurant, Aunt Granny’s (named for what Dolly’s nieces and nephews call her), is consistently named among the best theme park restaurants in the country and serves Southern favorites like fried chicken and pot roast. Spotlight Bakery, located right near the park’s entrance and exit – making it a great first or last stop of the day – provides an array of desserts, including a 25-pound apple pie that’s baked in a specially made, huge cast-iron skillet.
Dollywood’s culinary team acknowledges the food allergies and avoidances that park guests have. With that in mind, they developed a Start Fresh program that ensures vegetarian and gluten-free items are available throughout the park. And when guests inform the culinary team about food sensitivities or allergies, the team ensures that foods are prepared without any cross-contamination.
For more information about Dollywood’s culinary offerings and to plan a trip during its 40th anniversary season, please visit Dollywood.com.
About Dollywood Parks & Resorts
A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts – which celebrates its 40th anniversary season in 2025 – consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and two award-winning resort properties: Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. 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 64 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment.
The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top 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 mid-September.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide 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.
All photos courtesy of The Dollywood Company.
