Dollywood by the Numbers

“Dad, how many people can ride on the Dollywood Express?”

“Dad, how many Christmas lights do they put up at Dollywood?”

“Dad, how tall is Drop Line?”

These were simple questions my inquisitive children asked during one of our recent family trips to Dollywood. These questions sparked my interest to discover the stats behind the stats—what are some of the intriguing numbers that make Dollywood…well, Dollywood?

All around park you can find a lot of things to count and numbers to overwhelm your senses. If there is one thing for certain about Dollywood, it is that there are surprises around every corner and numerous experiences that affect guests in unique ways. As I ventured out in search of interesting facts, I wanted to put some numbers together concerning how Dollywood operates and what the numbers look like in the grand scheme. Here are a few that I found interesting, and I hope you do as well.

5,000,000+ – Christmas lights for Dollywood’s award-winning Smoky Mountain Christmas

3,200,000+ – Attendance in 2019 for both Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country

2,200,000 – Gallons of water it takes to operate Dollywood’s Splash Country

1,234,800 – Approximate number of guests who took a train ride on the Dollywood Express in 2019

Insider Tip

Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled train departure. Once inside the depot, make you way to car no. 1, all the way to the left of the entrance and as close to the engine as possible. There are normally more available seats in the front and less ash during the ride.

963,000 – Ketchup packets used at Dollywood in 2019

529,200 – Approximate number of cinnamon bread loaves sold by the Grist Mill in 2019

500,000 – Plants and flowers coming to Dollywood’s NEW Flower & Food Festival in 2020

Insider Tip

Mark Your Calendars (May 8 – June 14)! This brand-new festival coming to Dollywood is sure to be epic with larger-than-life vignettes and food combinations never before seen in the park.

272,000 – Pounds of french fries sold at Dollywood in 2019

30,000 – Square feet in the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, making it North America’s largest Bald Eagle Preserve

15,000 – Pumpkins, both live and ornate, used to decorate during Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights

13,330 – Fireworks shot during Dollywood’s Summer Celebration in 2019

8,250 – Songs sung in 2019 by Dollywood’s award-winning resident Gospel Quartet, The Kingdom Heirs

6,773 – Guest parking spaces at Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country

Insider Tip

Upgrade to a Gold Season Pass and parking is FREE! Gold Passholders also receive discounts on Preferred and Valet Parking.

5,435 – Combined number of seats in the seven theaters at Dollywood

4,000 – Hosts employed at Dollywood, making it the largest employer in all of Sevier County, Tennessee

3,127 – Feet of track on Wild Eagle – the first B&M winged coaster to debut in North America

2,200 – Square feet in room 627 at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, the exclusive “Dolly Parton Suite”

1986 – The year Dollywood became Dollywood. You can learn more about the history of the park here: https://insiders.dollywood.com/how-dollywood-came-to-be-dollywood/

700 – Capacity for a single ride on the coal-fueled Dollywood Express (and the answer to my son’s original question)

650 – Butterflies beautifully and colorfully adorned upon the Wildwood Tree in Wildwood Grove

300 – Rooms available to book for a memorable stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa

Insider Tip

Staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa offers a plethora of incentives and special amenities, including a FREE TimeSaver passes, FREE transportation to and from the parks, and early access and entry into Dollywood every Saturday. (*Theme park ticket purchase required)

246 – Operating days you and your family, friends and loved ones have to enjoy Dollywood in 2020

230 – Height in feet of Dollywood’s tallest attraction, Drop Line

160 – Acres of Dollywood! Dollywood’s Splash Country sits on another 35 acres adjacent to the park

73 – Miles per hour Lightning Rod will reach at top speed, making it America’s fastest wooden coaster

50 – Countries represented since the debut of the Festival of Nations in 2001

40 – Whole apples it takes to create Dollywood’s iconic 25lb Apple Pie. Available at the Spotlight Bakery

Insider Tip

You can purchase the entire pie and have it shipped to your home (Lodge cast iron skillet included) or buy a single slice (weighing in at 3 lbs.) and share with family and friends.

35 – Years of operation for Dollywood – the park is celebrating the 35^th Anniversary in 2020

11 – Themed and unique areas in Dollywood, all with their own story and specific characteristics

6 – Festivals on the Dollywood calendar: Festival of Nations, Barbeque & Bluegrass, Flower & Food Festival, Summer Celebration, Harvest Festival featuring Great Pumpkin LumiNights, and Smoky Mountain Christmas

4 – Number of courses served at Dolly Parton’s Stampede, including their world-famous, creamy vegetable soup

3 – Unique tours offered at Dollywood – VIP Tour offered year-round, Behind the Glow Tour for Great Pumpkin LumiNights, and Magic of Glacier Ridge Tour for Smoky Mountain Christmas

2 – World-class and award-winning parks: Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country

1 – Dreamer-In-Chief, the one and only Dolly Parton