Britney Spears Says She Didn’t Know Dollywood Existed Until Recent Trip With Sons
Britney Spears has spent decades in the public eye. But while all eyes were on her, her eyes apparently weren’t always on other stars. The pop star made a rare public outing this week with her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. She documented the trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on Instagram and admitted she had no idea Dollywood even existed.
Britney Spears takes her sons to Dollywood
Britney Spears’ relationship with her sons hasn’t always been easy, but now that both are adults, they appear to be patching things up with their mom. At the very least, they’ve been spending time together. On Oct. 7, Spears shared photos and videos from a trip she took with her sons to Tennessee. Fans were happy to see the trio together, but Spears’ admission about her gap in knowledge surprised some.
In her Instagram post, Spears said she had no idea Dollywood existed until she traveled to the area with her sons. She turned out to be a fan, calling the park “absolutely adorable” and insisting the family had a great time together. Spears kept the visit fairly low-key, wearing sunglasses and a face mask as she made her way around the park.
The history of Dollywood
Even if Britney Spears had no idea, Dollywood is synonymous with Dolly Parton for good reason. Most of Parton’s fans know the park has been a major attraction in Pigeon Forge for years, but fewer know its actual history. The park existed long before Parton’s name was on the gate.
It opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad, a small Civil War-themed attraction built around a steam train ride. In 1970, it was renamed Goldrush Junction, and in 1977 it was acquired by the Herschend family, owners of Missouri’s Silver Dollar City, who renamed it Silver Dollar City Tennessee.
It operated as Silver Dollar City Tennessee for nearly 10 years before Parton partnered with the Herschends in 1986. That year, the park was rebranded as Dollywood. For Parton, it was a homecoming. She grew up just miles away in Sevier County, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and she envisioned the park as a way to bring jobs and tourism to the region she loved.
Parton put a great deal of effort into growing the park over the years. Today, Dollywood spans roughly 165 acres and blends thrill rides with Appalachian culture. Visitors can find record-breaking wooden roller coasters, live music, traditional craftspeople, and a replica of the tiny Tennessee mountain cabin where Parton grew up. The resort has also expanded to include Dollywood’s Splash Country water park and the DreamMore Resort.
The park is also closely tied to Parton’s charitable work. Her Dollywood Foundation launched what became the Imagination Library, which mails free books to children around the world.
