Before Dolly Parton died, she had already been thinking about what would happen to one of the places closest to her heart.<\/p>\n
Dollywood.<\/p>\n
Now, park officials are revealing that Dolly had extensive conversations with the people around her about how she wanted her vision carried forward.<\/p>\n
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton said members of the team had spoken with Dolly through the years about the park\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
And her message appears to have been remarkably simple:<\/p>\n
Keep growing \u2014 but never lose the heart of the place.<\/p>\n
Dolly wanted Dollywood to remain somewhere families could find fun, kindness and joy, creating memories together in the Smoky Mountains.<\/p>\n
Her plans stretched much further into the future than many fans may realize.<\/p>\n
Naughton said Dolly gave the leadership team time to prepare and that plans extending through 2036 had already received her guidance.<\/p>\n
Now some of those plans are beginning to take shape.<\/p>\n
Dollywood announced that a peaceful cascading waterfall will be created near the Robert F. Thomas Chapel, along with new stained-glass windows inspired by a Bible verse especially meaningful to Dolly.<\/p>\n
A new \u201cDream Maker\u201d character will also arrive in 2027, encouraging children to dream big, believe in themselves and show kindness to others \u2014 values closely connected to Dolly\u2019s famous Imagination Library.<\/p>\n
The Dolly Parton Experience will receive a new entrance, while special areas around the park will allow visitors to leave memories about how Dolly touched their lives.<\/p>\n
Perhaps most importantly, Dolly apparently never wanted Dollywood to become a sad monument to her.<\/p>\n
She wanted it to remain alive.<\/p>\n
After her death, the park stayed open in accordance with her wishes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe show must go on.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the millions who associate Dollywood with Dolly herself, that may ultimately be the most fitting part of her plan.<\/p>\n
The woman behind the park may be gone, but the dream she spent decades building was never supposed to end with her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n
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