On May 3, 1986, Sevier County changed forever.
That's the day that Dolly Parton officially opened her theme park in Pigeon Forge. The small attraction had changed hands and names over the years, but the day Silver Dollar City became Dollywood was a huge milestone.
In the thirty years since, Dollywood has grown be leaps and bounds, adding new and bigger attractions every year. Today, it is one of the most rewarded theme parks in the industry, and a must see for locals and tourists alike.
On Friday, Dolly will be at Dollywood to mark the 30th anniversary with a special presentation and a parade at the park, then she will be the grand marshall of the Pigeon Forge's 30th annual Dolly Homecoming Parade at 6pm.
You can watch live coverage on WBIR beginning with a full hour of Live at Five @4, then continuing on 10News at 5 & 6.
At 7 pm WBIR will air Dollywood: A 30 Year Tradition. In addition to a sit-down interview with Dolly, the 30 minute special will feature lots of fun archive video from over the years so you can see how the park (and fashions!) have changed. We'll also take a look at Dolly Parton's legacy to East Tennessee-- she's much more than a talented entertainer. Dolly has made a huge economic impact on the area, but has also enriched the lives of children and made sure the county has excellent medical resources.
In the meantime, dig into the WBIR archives on this special page devoted to 30 years of Dollywood. You can also share your memories of Dollywood by uploading your pictures in the YourTake section, or by posting them on twitter or Instagram with #Dolly30.
