Find These 6 Hidden Secrets at Dollywood
Published May 24, 2022
Dollywood delights with breathtaking rides, colorful festivals, and tuneful shows. With all that dazzle, it’s easy to miss details that can make a day here even more memorable. Find these hidden treasures for yourself!
1. Heroes’ Autographs
FireChaser Express is a family coaster with a firefighting theme. Just look for the bright red 1941 fire truck and the life-sized fire station where you start your ride! It’s so exciting, you’d be forgiven for not spotting the fire hoses suspended from the station ceiling. These are real fire hoses donated by local firefighters and they bear the signatures of 1,300 firefighters from all over Tennessee! Glance up at this tribute to real-life heroes.
2. Ghosts of Silver Dollar City
When you ride the Blazing Fury indoor coaster, you’re trying to outrun a raging fire. Signs inside the ride say “Flooded Mine” and “Danger, Keep Out.” These are flashbacks to the long-gone Flooded Mine ride at Silver Dollar City–the theme park that was here before Dollywood.
3. A Shy Friend
Stop by Valley Wood Carvers, one of the artisan workshops, to spot a tiny wooden mouse peeping out from her hole at the base of the counter.
4. Hidden Tributes
Vintage-style signs dot the park. They look like authentic 19th-century advertising, so they’re just setting the scene, right? Take a closer look. These signs honor Dollywood employees with 30 or more years of service. When you see “Dwight Puckett’s Music Shop” or “Little Linda’s Chocolates,” you’re not just looking at props, you’re seeing a unique honor.
5. The Water Clock
Water flows down from a creek through wooden troughs to a small water wheel, powering the Water Clock. You might do a double-take when you see that the clock shows today’s date but the year 1882! The clock is another nod to Dollywood’s history as Silver Dollar City. Dollywood modeled this clock on one at the Branson, MO, Silver Dollar City theme park.
6. Dolly’s Dream Box
At Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, a modest display case holds Dolly’s Dream Box. The contents include a recording of a special song that no one but Dolly has heard. The world will hear it on Jan. 19, 2046–Dolly’s 100th birthday.
Stay close to Dollywood and spend your time at the park, not on the road. There's no time like the present to enjoy all that the Smoky Mountains have to offer. We have a variety of Pigeon Forge cabins to choose from. So, what are you waiting for? Book your cabin today!
