Dollywood’s Quiet Attractions

Along with amazing thrill rides and award-winning live entertainment, Dollywood has some little quiet surprises tucked away here and there. These are mostly in the vein of East Tennessee and Dolly Parton-specific history, preserving what life was once like in the smoky mountains. As an introvert who loves amusement parks but also relishes quiet spaces, I find these little pockets of calm fascinating in such a raucous setting.

Calico Falls Schoolhouse

A one-room schoolhouse made up to look as it would in the 1890s, this is an original 1986 Dollywood attraction, as noted by the “Hooray for Dollywood” medallion on the wall. I love that they take enough care with this that they update the chalk sign every day with the date.

 Chasing Rainbows

This is Dolly’s museum of her life and career. And I have to tell you, I was super impressed by this. You start in what looks like an old attic, and Dolly herself welcomes you in hologram form. Then you are guided chronologically through her childhood and early career, culminating in a big open room full of all her successes. It’s easy to forget how many movies she was in and awards she has won until you walk around this room.

Dolly’s Tour Bus

This is an interesting peek into celebrity life–Dolly’s old tour bus stands in front of her museum and regular folks like you and me can take tours in small groups. They’ll take your picture (and try to sell it to you afterward) and tell you all you need to know about Ms. Parton and tour life. If you have any questions about Dolly, this is the place to ask!

Dollywood Express

I hesitate to put this under “quiet” attractions, but it’s a nice sit-down with a cool breeze and lovely views of the park and mountains. Since it doesn’t circle the park, the train rides an end-to-end route with loops at both ends. The lower loop skirts around Country Fair, and the upper loop takes you above Timber Canyon to a meadow with a fantastic view of the Smokies. It is here that the engineer will really blow that train whistle so it can echo off the surrounding hills. It’s one of my favorite moments in the park. Otherwise, be prepared for some cheesy props and jokes and a few country songs to accompany your ride.

Be warned, it is a coal-burning steam train, and sometimes soot can blow back and get in your eyes. The further back you can sit, the better.

Wings of America Show Birds

This is a fun show! Two professional raptor experts show off various birds of prey in a covered outdoor pavilion. My favorite was a tiny sparrow hawk that is SO CUTE. The show is very patriotic in nature, FYI, and they will always lead up to a bald eagle at the end. Sometimes the eagle is a juvenile, so he may not look like what you expect, but it’s usually a satisfying show and some blessed time off your feet.

When the birds are not performing, they can often be seen in a long building to the left of the theater. It’s worth a look to check out their full stories and how they came to live at Dollywood.

Eagle Mountain Sanctuary

Next to the Wings of America Show building is a hillside encased in netting. Here you’ll find several bald eagles who aren’t able to be released into the wild. It’s worth stopping long enough to see how many you can spot. Since they don’t tend to hang out near the front of the enclosure, they can be hard to see back there. I’ve counted around 14, but the longer you stick around, the more you will see. And the sound they make is pretty cool!

There are some picnic tables nearby if you want to enjoy a meal and watch the eagles at the same time. My favorite BBQ counter service is there, plus a frozen lemonade stand. The eagle gift shop is pretty cute too.

Robert F. Thomas Chapel

This pretty one-room church stands right next to the eagle sanctuary. Once I decided to go to the service they hold at 11:30 a.m. on Sundays, and was surprised to learn there is a real congregation here! The whole room is full, people know each other, and the 30-ish minute service contained a real sermon and a couple of hymns from a shape-note hymnal. If I remember right, I think the pastor was from a local campus ministry. If you get there early, your kids may be asked to ring the church bell.

Smoky Mountain Home

This walk-through area is the front side of the Back Porch Theater. So if you ever wondered who’s back porch it was, it’s Dolly’s. The two-room cabin is a replica of the one Dolly grew up in, and you can see authentic artifacts from early Tennessee mountain life.

Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame

This small museum is appropriately located next to the venue for the Kingdom Heirs, Dollywood’s popular gospel music group. It makes a nice stop after a Kingdom Heirs performance to deepen your knowledge of southern gospel and has a sweet little gift shop with lots of music available.

Honorable Mention: The Porch Sitter’s Union

This isn’t listed anywhere as an official attraction, but it’s one of my favorite “quiet” things that Dollywood does. There is a collection of rocking chairs set up between the Valley Stage and a snack area, and they have named this the “Porch Sitter’s Union” with a sign and everything. It’s a great place for a break and a snack. Join now!