PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—Dollywood recently won six Golden Ticket Awards after receiving finalist placement in eight total categories. The park’s six Golden Ticket Awards in 2024 marked the most of any theme park in the world.
Golden Ticket Awards are considered the theme park industry’s most prestigious awards. The awards were presented by Amusement Today and held Sept. 7 at Kennywood amusement park near Pittsburgh.
For the fifth-consecutive year, Dollywood received the Best Guest Experience award. Dollywood has won this category since its creation in 2019; Golden Ticket Awards were not presented in 2020. The Best Guest Experience award is judged on several attributes, including friendliness, cleanliness, operations, and value. Dollywood is the only park to ever win the award—a nod to its friendly and welcoming hosts, as well as its clean appearance and overall atmosphere.
Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove also earned its fifth-consecutive award for Best Kids’ Area. The park first won this award in 2019 after opening the expansive new area the same year. Wildwood Grove includes several family-friendly rides and attractions, including the park’s newest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain.
Big Bear Mountain, which opened in 2023, earned its second-consecutive award as Best Family Coaster. With three launches, on-board audio, plenty of airtime and a number of thrilling moments, Big Bear Mountain has quickly become a favorite of park guests.
Thanks to the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains as its backdrop, Dollywood also won the Most Beautiful Park award. Dollywood last won the award in 2021.
A new category win for Dollywood this year was Best New Show. Dollywood’s entertainment team created a new show for this season’s “I Will Always Love You Celebration.” Called “From the Heart—The Life & Music of Dolly Parton,” the Broadway-style production written by Parton and John Dietrick showcases the emotional pull Dolly faced as she left everything she had known in Sevier County to move to Nashville in pursuit of her dreams. “From the Heart” phenomenally tells Parton’s exceptional story through her own narration and legendary music catalog.
One of the park’s most loved events, Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, earned a Golden Ticket Legend Award. After 15 consecutive wins in the Best Christmas Event category, the Golden Ticket Awards staff opted to retire the award and name the event as a legend within the industry. Dollywood’s Christmas festival is so prevalent that it has been showcased in several movies, including Hallmark’s Christmas at Dollywood and Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas.
“I’m so proud of what our folks at Dollywood do to make sure our guests have the best time when they are visiting us,” Parton says. “With all of the awards we’ve won the last few years, I think we’re going to have to get a larger trophy case,” she adds with a laugh. “Awards are nice to receive, but we don’t do what we do to win awards. We want to be the place where families want to return time and time again to make new memories they will always treasure.”
Tim Baldwin, communications coordinator for Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards, explained why the new show was a shoo-in for the award. “The portrayal of Parton’s life and music made ‘From The Heart’ the clear winner as Best New Show,” he says. “It makes the iconic figure [guests] know and love feel more identifiable as they took the journey. With Parton herself narrating, it gives it the ring of authenticity.”
In addition to winning in these six categories, Dollywood also placed in several additional categories. Dollywood finished in 2nd place for Best Park, to Europa-Park in Rust, Germany— effectively making Dollywood the top park in the United States. Dollywood’s thrilling Thunderhead finished in 4th place in the Best Wooden Roller Coaster category, while Dollywood’s Splash Country finished in 5th place for Best Water Park.
Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, says the unparalleled number of awards, including legend status for Smoky Mountain Christmas and the highest-ranking park in the country, exemplify why Dollywood has become the rising star of the theme park industry. He also referenced a recent poll by InsureandGo that indicated previous guests want to return to Dollywood more than any other landmark around the world. “Winning these awards never gets old, because it means the hard work and effort we place on the guest experience is working,” Naughton says. “Our hosts make genuine connections with our guests, and the value of that cannot be ignored. The friendly and welcoming environment we offer plays a critical role in why our guests say they want to return here more than any other place in the world.
“Additionally, with the current economic environment, we also seek to provide the best possible value for those who choose to spend their money by visiting the park,” Naughton adds. “I want to thank the Golden Ticket voters for recognizing how special Dollywood truly is. It is an exciting time in this industry, and I want us to remain at the forefront.”
Baldwin summarized why Dollywood continues to rack up more wins than any other park in the world. “With more wins than any other park on the planet, Dollywood demonstrates how the commitment to quality experiences truly matters,” he says. “It’s not just a park that caters only to thrill seekers. All ages enjoy an incredible visit, whether you like rides, entertainment, food or just being in someplace special. There’s a magic that is evident at the park.”
Golden Ticket Awards are determined based on an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the theme park industry’s leading trade publication. The Golden Ticket Awards are the results of a detailed survey sent to a database of hundreds of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans, industry journalists, and ride manufacturers around the world in balanced geographical regions. Voters are asked to rate the “best” in a number of categories, such as best parks, roller coasters, water rides, food, and more. The pool of eligible voters changes every year to ensure the same votes are not cast each season.
The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. The awards have been featured in USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and a one-hour Travel Channel documentary.
Some of the greatest memories I have of with my wife and two kids are at Dollywood. It doesn’t matter what time of the year you go or what age you are there’s something for everyone. It will always be a special place for me.