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USA Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Dollywood's Splash Country's 25th season has water rides, dance parties and new food
Dollywood's Splash Country's 25th season has water rides, dance parties and new food Show Caption Hide Caption Dollywood Splash Country holds annual Water Safety Day 2022 Hundreds of children return to Dollywood Splash Country for its annual Water Safety Day, part of a global "World's Largest Swim Lesson," on June 23, 2022. Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel Dollywood's Splash Country water park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, opens for its 25th season on May 10. The park features 16 rides, a wave pool, lazy river, and live music performances. New food items include chicken street corn nachos, chicken Alfredo pizza, and garlic parmesan chicken tenders. Tickets start at $54.95 for one-day admission, with presale options and meal deals available. Summer is almost here, and Dollywood's Splash Country is ready to help you cool off. The award-winning Pigeon Forge water park opens May 10 for its 25th anniversary season. 'When I think about 25 years at Dollywood's Splash Country, that's a lot of folks that have visited. Hundreds of thousands of families that have come out here and spent a day in their summer creating memories. It's not just a water park sometimes; it's a tradition,' Director of Operations Jordan Leach said during a media preview. For the 2025 season, live music bashes return, and a few new food items will be on the menu. Here's what else you can expect this year at Splash Country. When does Splash Country open? The water park's 25th season kicks off May 10-11 for weekend operation. Daily operation begins May 17 and continues through Aug. 9. And then weekend operation returns through Sept. 21, the final day of the water park's season. How many rides are at Dollywood's Splash Country? Splash Country has 16 rides plus other attractions across its 35 acres, and embraces the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Thrill seekers can enjoy RiverRush, Tennessee's first water coaster, Fire Tower Falls and Mountain Twist. For a more calming water getaway, you can drift down the award-winning Downbound Float Trip lazy river or splash in the water at the Mountain Waves wave pool. The popular Splash Bash Music Series turns the water park into a pool dance party. A rotation of artists perform at the wave pool stage. A full list of artists and dates will be posted at If you just want to kick back and lie out in the sun (or shade), Splash Country has a variety of canopies and waterside retreats for rent. The Family Reunion Retreat accommodates large groups of more than 12 people. New food at Splash Country for its 25th season Splash Country's culinary team has 'created a wave of tasty treats' for the 25th season, according to Dollywood. New food items include: Chicken street corn nachos at the Watering Hole and Big River Pavilion Chicken Alfredo pizza at Campsite Grill Garlic parmesan chicken tenders at Oakley Bros Food Wagon Additional summertime meals and treats can be found at Dogs N Taters, Ned's Bear Paws and Mountain Waves Creamery. How much are tickets for Splash Country? Splash Country tickets start at $54.95 for one-day admission. An opening presale for $44.95 is available through May 11. A meal and drink can be included in the ticket price for an additional $5, and a meal, drink and snack can be included for an additional $10. Multiday passes and Dollywood/Splash Country combo deals are available, too. Tickets can be purchased at Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dollywood still growing, giving back as it enters 40th season
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) — Friday marked 40 seasons since Dollywood's original opening day. As the park celebrated the anniversary, they highlighted how they have grown and contributed to the rest of Sevier County. 'We wouldn't be what we are without the community, and we know that a lot of the community actually works at our properties, and the community supports us in so many ways that it is important for us to be able to give back to the people who do so much for us,' said PR Director Dollywood Parks and Resorts Wes Ramey. New zipline in Pigeon Forge becomes asset to East Tennessee tourism In a panel alongside the creators of Dollywood, Dolly Parton said their accomplishments, specifically with the Dollywood Foundation, have reached beyond the park's borders. 'The fact that we can actually give back so much and do so many great things through the foundation, and I think of the Imagination Library or myself, it is one of the greatest things, not just here in Dollywood, but I've ever been involved in my whole career,' said Parton. While Friday marked the anniversary of their original opening day, other parks are also passing milestones. Splash Country is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and they too reflected on how they have given back. Stone Memorial tops Tennessee girls flag football rankings in sport's inaugural season 'We're probably about a third of the size that we are now. We have added slides, we've added seating areas, we've added food restaurant locations,' said Splash Country Director of Operations, Jordan Leach. Last year, they held the second largest Water Safety Day in the nation, which aims at teaching communities water safety. 'It really supports our mission to make sure that families and kids are learning together, that they feel comfortable in the water and that they know how to stay safe,' said Leach. 'Whether they're visiting us here at Dollywood, Splash Country, or out of the pool at their house throughout the lake, that's really what it's all about, just making sure that people know how to be safe and have a good time.' Dolly Parton gives guests a sneak peek of Dollywood's 40th anniversary season While they hope to continue to grow alongside the rest of Dollywood, there may be some new attractions in store next year. In the 40th year celebration, the president of the Dollywood Company a teased there may be a new attraction coming to the park in 2026. While they didn't tell too many details they did say they are building a five-story 44,000 square-foot indoor attraction in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
