Meet Our Insiders
Aaron Johnston
Born and raised in Alabama, Aaron has been a theme park enthusiast for as long as he can remember. He’s the father of two and husband of a fellow enthusiast. When not planning theme park outings, you’ll typically find him volunteering at church where he’s a worship guitarist and lighting designer. He is proud to call Dollywood his family’s home park and can’t wait to share the insight he’s gained over the years.
Allie Darr
Allie was born and raised in Northern Ohio and recently moved with her family of eight to Chattanooga. A wife and mom to six kids (five boys and a girl), Allie and her family love to travel and began homeschooling in 2017 so they could have more freedom to be on the go. They didn’t start traveling until after their second child because she was very intimidated by juggling kids away from home; since then, they haven’t looked back. Allie documents her family life on Instagram and shares all their travels and tips. On her family’s first visit to Dollywood, they fell in love with the park and all it has to offer a big family with a wide range of kids’ ages (1 to 13). Allie can’t wait to share her favorite spots to take a family photo, where to grab the best sweets or what must-have item you need as a souvenir!
Angie Davidson
Angie was raised in Easley, South Carolina, but spent many weekends growing up traveling to East Tennessee. After attending the University of Tennessee, she has made Knoxville her permanent home with husband Lance and 9-year-old son Giffin. While she has worked for a decade in various leadership roles serving and advocating for individuals with disabilities, she has worked for the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department for the past 8 years. Angie loves planning her next family travel adventure, learning new gluten-free recipes to support her celiac disease diagnosis, spending time cheering on her beloved Vols, and jumping in the car to head to her home away from home – Dollywood! She has been an active parkgoer and Dolly Parton fan since her college years and the “Smoky Mountain Memories” that she has made are ones that she holds dearest to her heart. Angie has been her own personal “Dollywood Insider” to friends and family through the years and is thrilled to now have the official role so that she can help others make unforgettable memories of their own!
Bobby Montgomery
Bobby lived most of his life in Mississippi until the call of the mountains led his family to Knoxville, Tennessee. His wife Heather and 7-year-old daughter, Emma Kate, love to travel as a family, especially when the agenda emphasizes exciting food experiences. After a few trips to East Tennessee and Dollywood, the Montgomerys decided this was where they wanted to raise their family and build their lives. It was the friendliness of virtually everyone they met that really made the greatest impact. Thanks to the wonders of remote-based work, Bobby is able to frequently hit the road while still practicing law. When not traveling, working or spending time with his family, Bobby can be found at the gym, First Baptist Concord church or gaming on his computer.
Cherith Fluker
Cherith has called Alabama home her entire life. She was born and raised in Talladega but has called Pell City home since graduating from Auburn University in 2001. She is married to her high school sweetheart (also an alumnus of Auburn), and they have two children who are currently students at Auburn. As an empty nester, one of her favorite things to do is travel. She is looking forward to bringing you all the best information about all things Dollywood! When she’s not traveling or planning another trip, she is supporting teachers in school districts across the country as a Senior Implementation Manager.
Corinna Allen
Corinna is a “late in life” wife and mother, whose twenties lasted 20 years! A journalist by trade, she spent the better part of her career doing fun live shots for morning television. The adventure started on AM Northwest in her home state of Oregon. Later, it was on assignment for Better Mornings Atlanta that she visited Dollywood for the first time, and now she’s thrilled to be back as a Dollywood Insider. When Corinna isn’t driving carpool, you can find her updating her blog, The 40-year-old mommy, where she shares her fake-it-‘till-you-make-it strategies for “How to Look Like You Know What You’re Doing…with kids.” Blessed and grateful to be full-time homemaker, she lives with her husband and two girls in a log home on a lake in East Tennessee.
Emily Anne Kirk
Emily Anne has loved Dolly Parton and Dollywood for as long as she can remember. She was born in Greeneville, Tennessee, but moved to Knoxville in 2017 to attend the University of Tennessee. Currently, Emily Anne works as a middle school counselor. When she isn’t at school or at Dollywood, she loves listening to Taylor Swift, reading and traveling. Her favorite Dollywood roller coaster is Thunderhead, and she constantly is luring people to Dollywood to try cinnamon bread. Emily Anne is excited to share her Dollywood hacks with you!
Emily Woods
Emily was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from the University of Tennessee. Emily moved to Nashville in 2004 but still comes home to the Smoky Mountains as often as possible. Emily has been a Dollywood Season Passholder her entire life. Her two daughters Lottie and Tatum now love it as much as their mom. Emily is a single mom, and she loves bringing her young-at-heart parents along on family trips and feels so blessed that they can enjoy the time with her girls. Emily and her family are always planning their next adventure. You can see all of their travel and day-to- day life on Instagram. They have visited theme parks near and far and are proud to call Dollywood their all-time favorite.
Jasmine Ball
Jasmine is an Alabama native who now resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband Chris and 2-year-old daughter, Trinity. She is a freelance writer at BTM Writing Services and runs a blog for stay-at-home moms. Jasmine is obsessed with all things mommy and me and loves dancing, spending time out in nature overlooking nice views, bonding with animals, going on adventures and spending time with her family. At Dollywood, you may catch her exploring the various eateries and shops or accompanying her daughter around from ride to ride. Jasmine has lived many places, but life in East Tennessee is her favorite! She is looking forward to sharing her Dollywood Insider experiences with you and helping you make your own set of memories.
Jeremy Chandler
Jeremy has had a great love for the Smoky Mountains for as long as he can remember. Born in Kentucky, his family moved to North Carolina when he was a child. East Tennessee quickly became the favorite vacation destination for the Chandler family. Today he spends his “9 to 5” ministering at a church and academy as the Creative Communications Director. He enjoys writing, graphic and web design, and creating stories that inspire and encourage others. His frequent trips to Dollywood recharge his creative energy and inspires his writing. Investing time in others is a priority and making the mundane an adventure is as thrilling as riding Thunderhead while it’s raining! Jeremy believes in the power of moments and loves creating memories with his amazing family and friends.
Jessica Shafer
Jessica is a West Tennessee native who fell in love with East Tennessee while attending college and law school. She now lives in Knoxville with her husband, their five children and their two tiny dogs. Jessica loves encouraging families to try new things and make memories, which she does on her Instagram account. After visiting Dollywood for the first time in 2016, her family knew they had found a new favorite place. They now visit most every month, and you can find them hitting the coasters as soon as the park opens. As an Insider, Jessica is excited to share the things she loves about Dollywood with you!
JJ Barrows
Born and raised on the beaches of South Carolina, JJ made the West Coast her home for most of her adult life. But from Hollywood to Dollywood, JJ has made her way back east to call Chattanooga, Tennessee, home. JJ is an artist, author and standup comedian who has performed in comedy clubs, churches and awkward dinner parties all over America. Passionate about storytelling and creating memorable experiences for people, JJ found herself inspired by Dolly’s ability to make her own gift for storytelling come to life in the magical place that is Dollywood. When she’s not performing, painting or trying to find her way back to the ocean, JJ is introverting at home (baking, napping or snacking) in Tennessee with her husband, Josh Newton.
Joshua Hodge
Joshua is a teacher and author from Danville, Kentucky. When he is not teaching children Spanish, penning his next book or adventuring through a national park, he finds time to escape to Dollywood and enjoy its unique charm. He first discovered Dollywood at Christmastime and was impressed by all it had to offer. He continues to visit regularly and is always excited to introduce others to Dollywood and share his Insider tips.
Katie Smith
Katie has been a lifelong fan of Dolly Parton and a Dollywood Season Passholder since she was 4 years old. Born and raised in Vincent, Alabama, the now-resident of Birmingham recalls fond childhood memories of riding Klondike Katie (the Dollywood Express) and begging to go back to Dollywood one more time to watch “Fire on The Mountain” before leaving the park. Katie is a single girl who never met a theme park show she didn’t like; during the Christmas season, you can most likely find her in DP’s Celebrity Theater watching “Christmas In the Smokies” on repeat. The greatest compliment she’s ever received was from a friend who said that visiting a theme park with Katie is the safest feeling in the world. When she’s not busy finding new destinations to explore, she works in customer relations at a telecom company and spends time spoiling her best friend’s children, who affectionately call her “Fairy God Katie.”
Kristin Coldwell
Kristin was born and raised in Maine. One year ago, her family of five sold their Maine home, moved into an RV, and traveled the US for eight months. You can find their traveling journey on their Instagram account. When they arrived in East Tennessee, they were reminded of how special this area is: the beauty of the mountains, the hospitality of the people, and of course, all the family fun. They now are East Tennessee residents! After their first trip to Dollywood, they fell in love with everything about the park. They really enjoy how it brings their family together to spend time smiling, eating great food and all the while screaming and laughing while they ride the amazing attractions at Dollywood. Kristin’s favorite ride is Wild Eagle, and rumor has it she has ridden the infamous Lightning Rod once! She cannot wait to share more of her family’s love of spending time together at Dollywood—through all the seasons!
Lindsay Bell
Lindsay was born in Illinois but moved to East Tennessee in 1986 just months before Dollywood opened for the first time. Lindsay finished her K-12 education in Knoxville and then enrolled at the University of Tennessee. After finishing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees, Lindsay started her dream job of teaching high school chemistry. Lindsay's husband and two young daughters are always up for a Dollywood adventure, and Lindsay is happy to plan the trip! When Lindsay isn't at school or in Wildwood Grove, she enjoys serving her community as a sustainer with the Junior League of Knoxville, cheering on the Vols or on the lake with her family.
Lindsey Galvez
Lindsey grew up in Northeast Tennessee and now is raising her two girls with her husband of 14 years in her same, tiny hometown. Living so close to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, she’s been a Dollywood Season Passholder for as long as she can remember. She began a hobby blog when her first daughter was born, and just like her girls, it’s grown as the years go by. She enjoys writing all about her favorite recipes, life hacks, and of course, Dollywood, on her blog. When she’s not writing, she’s playing chauffeur to and from swim and basketball practices, reading, planting more succulents, or planning her family’s next Dollywood trip. When at Dollywood, you can almost always find Lindsey in the cinnamon bread line, wandering around Wildwood Grove or down under the big blue tracks waving to her thrill-seeking daughters riding in the front seat of Wild Eagle!
Liz Courtner
Liz was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up going to theme parks. For the past 17 years, she has lived in Jackson, Tennessee, where she met her husband, Matthew. They have two kids, Colton and Emma Kate. The whole family loves visiting Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country! Liz loves all types of thrill rides, but her favorite coaster at Dollywood is Tennessee Tornado. She is looking forward to sharing information about her experiences at Dollywood throughout the season.
Meredith Jones
A North Carolina native, Meredith has lived in the Boone area since 1997, when she came to Appalachian State as a student. Life is never dull when she is spending time with her husband, twin 11-year-old boys and 2-year-old son. Her days are full supporting teachers and students as a school district administrator, running a small business and enjoying friends and family. You can follow her adventures on Instagram. Her family has been visiting Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country for the past six years, and it has become a big part of family life. Special occasions are often celebrated at the resort and the two parks, and day trips to the parks are a regular occurrence. While at the parks, you can find her on rides, browsing in her favorite shops, snacking on cinnamon bread and loving every moment. She is so excited to share her love for all things Dollywood with you, so your family can make wonderful memories, too!
Ryan Floyd
Ryan was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. While in Florida, he enjoyed his career as a Firefighter/Paramedic and going on adventures with his family during his time off. After retiring from the fire department, he moved to the mountains of East Tennessee with his wife and their three children. One of the first things he did when moving here was get his family Dollywood Season Passes. When not at the park, he spends his time working from home on digital marketing and being involved with their family’s homeschool group and local church. He enjoys sharing content about the Great Smoky Mountains on his family’s YouTube Channel. He is looking forward to many new adventures visiting Dollywood and sharing his experiences with you!
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