A day (or more!) at Dollywood is guaranteed to provide plenty of laughs. From giggle-inducing rides to wisecracking characters, Dollywood can be a very humorous place.
Below are more than 10 places where laughter is plentiful.
Miss Lillian’s Smokehouse
One of the most famous and beloved Dollywood icons (besides Dolly, of course) is Miss Lillian of Miss Lillian’s Smokehouse. You can find her dancing outside the restaurant with her chicken or before the Country Crossroads show at The Valley Theater as she shares stories from Dolly’s Imagination Library.
Strike Up a Conversation with Frances
While we’re on the topic of Dollywood characters, I can’t forget Frances. You never know when Dollywood’s talented comedian and performer will show up, but you can’t miss him. Between his booming voice and colorful attire, he makes his presence known wherever he goes. I typically see him in the Jukebox Junction area cracking jokes and singing to guests. During my last visit to the park, he was warming up the Dreamland Drive-In audience inside the Pines Theater with his stand-up comedy routine filled with clever jokes and slightly corny (but hilarious) puns.
Hidden Hollow at Wildwood Grove
Who says kids have to have all the fun? The new-for-2019 Wildwood Grove—Dollywood’s largest expansion to date—is home to lots of laughs, even for adults. The Hidden Hollow indoor (climate controlled!) playground was built for kids and kids-at-heart. It’s a perfect place for kids to burn off energy and parents to join in on the fun. From slides to obstacles to interactive games, this playground is packed full of laughs.
Frogs & Fireflies at Wildwood Grove
I recently hopped on the new Frogs & Fireflies, also at Wildwood Grove. I’m a roller coaster fanatic at heart, but I’m always willing to try out the smaller rides as well. Mere seconds into my ride on Frogs & Fireflies, I was laughing uncontrollably. The deceivingly fun ride bounces and spins much faster than I was expecting. The unpredictable hops and leaps evoked laugh after laugh from our group. It’s a can’t-miss for all ages.
Dollywood Express
The train conductor who narrates the Dollywood Express train is known to drop a few funny one-liners during the 20-minute excursion. From safety spiels to fun facts about outhouses (ask your parents!), these talented personalities make the trip that much more fun.
Blazing Fury
Blazing Fury is one of my favorite rides at Dollywood (and the park’s first roller coaster) partly because I always laugh at some point during the ride. The family-friendly indoor roller coaster features funny characters around every corner. And the drops at the end are guaranteed to generate a few laughs—and screams.
Learn more about Blazing Fury here.
Lightning Rod’s Quadruple-Down Drop
For those with a more daring sense of humor, look no further than Lightning Rod, the world’s first launched wooden coaster that reaches a record-breaking speed of 73 mph. One of Lightning Rod’s most fun moments is the quadruple-drop finale.
For those of you who find the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling funny (I do!), you’ll have plenty of laughs to go around as you plummet down the hillside four times in a row with no reprieve. I’ve ridden hundreds of roller coasters, but none make me laugh out loud like Lightning Rod’s blistering-fast final stretch.
The Buzzard at Mystery Mine
Don’t miss the buzzard on his perch near the entrance to Mystery Mine in Timber Canyon. The bird has a nearly endless supply of one-liners and is even known to interact with those who pass by.
Look Closely for More Laughs
The attention to detail is just one of the many things that keeps me coming back to Dollywood year after year. You never know where you’ll stumble across a funny (punny) sign or a humorous fake headstone. So take a moment to slow down and “smell the roses” while you’re at the park and you might just find another laugh.
Learn about more interesting Dollywood signs here.
Dolly Parton’s Stampede and Pirates Voyage Dinner Shows
Who says the laughs must end when you leave Dollywood? Both of Dolly Parton’s dinner shows – located on the Pigeon Forge Parkway — are packed with good food and laughs. Ending the day with a show and a delicious meal is a perfect way to conclude your next Dollywood adventure.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are plenty of other places in the park that are full of unexpected laughs and surprises. So the next time you’re looking for a laugh, look no further than a day at Dollywood!
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