Park Celebrates 30 Millionth Visitor At Dollywood

Pigeon Forge, TN -- On July 31 Dollywood Park celebrated a milestone, the park's 30 millionth visitor stepped through the gates. The odds were one in 30 million and the White Family from Mobile, Alabama were the lucky guests to pass through the turnstiles. After 16 seasons, numerous additions and changes, Dolly Parton's theme park Dollywood reached this attendance milestone.

"I'm so proud to see this day at Dollywood arrive," said Dolly Parton. "We've come a long way in 16 years, and we just keep getting better and better season after season."

In honor of their day in Dollywood history, David, his wife Sharon, and their children Brian and Cara were awarded a prize package that included a 30 second shopping spree at the Dollywood Emporium, 30 scoops of Dollywood's homemade ice cream and 30 Dolly Dollars. The family will also receive Super Passes to Dollywood and Dolly's Splash Country for the 2002 season, a visit to the Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show, three nights lodging at an area hotel, and a Dolly Doll autographed by Dolly herself.

The Whites were visiting the Pigeon Forge area for the first time in twelve years, when David and Sharon celebrated their honeymoon with a trip to Dollywood.

Parton broke ground on her Dollywood theme park in August 1985 and opened the park the following May. Since then the park has grown to become Tennessee's most visited attraction with the exception of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During the 2000 season Dollywood hosted 2.3 million visitors.