The refrain from Dolly Parton’s hit “Heartsong” sings of the Great Smoky Mountains where Parton was raised. The picturesque East Tennessee region that inspires the country music star also inspired Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, which celebrates its grand opening on Nov. 3.
The 302-room lodge is designed for groups to gather, create memories, and find their own heartsong. “Whether it’s a group of co-workers or a family reunion, we want this to be a place where every group leaves closer to one another than when they came,” Parton says.
The new property expands the offerings of Dollywood Parks & Resorts in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which include the adjacent DreamMore Resort and Spa, Dollywood’s Splash Country waterpark, and Dollywood theme park, which recently won five Golden Ticket Awards, including Best Park.
HeartSong opens on a high note with a dramatic 4,000-square-foot atrium lobby featuring a four-story stone fireplace and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort spotlights its natural setting, with several suites offering balconies with mountain views. Other amenities include indoor and outdoor pools.
The two-story HeartSong Meeting & Event Center has 26,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space, with a 7,500-square-foot main ballroom and a 3,200-square-foot junior ballroom. Pre-function space, a spacious event lawn, and a 10-seat boardroom also are available. Resort venues can host gatherings of 10 to 700 guests and have state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and high-speed wireless internet service.
Six onsite culinary experiences include the full-service Ember & Elm signature restaurant with 195 seats and menu items featuring locally sourced ingredients, a 40-seat private dining room, Songbird Market grab and go, and poolside dining. In addition, Honeysuckle & Pine Storied Goods Mercantile offers unique gifts and souvenirs.
Teambuilding experiences at Dollywood resorts include scavenger hunts; a Smoky Mountain picnic; and a wine, cheese, and painting event. For attendees who bring the family, Camp DW offers entertainment, crafts, and activities for children. Through Jan. 6, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas features holiday-inspired activities, food, décor, and musical entertainment.
Nearby Gatlinburg and the strip in Pigeon Forge offer family-friendly entertainment, including Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show. There also are several golf courses and moonshine distillery tours in the area.
Guests at HeartSong Lodge & Resort receive special park privileges such as complimentary trolley services to both Dollywood and Splash Country, priority access, and early entry on Saturdays for exclusive ride time.
Located about one hour from McGhee Tyson Airport near Knoxville, HeartSong Lodge & Resort is accepting group inquiries for dates beginning in January. The resort sings with inspiration, as its namesake song notes: “A heartsong melody plays like a symphony/The sweetest music I have ever known.”
For more from the Dreamer-in-Chief, see ConventionSouth‘s exclusive interview with Dolly Parton in our November 2023 issue.
