Dolly Parton Experience opens Friday

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WJHL) — After three years of dreaming, the Dolly Parton Experience will be open to the public Friday.

The $13 million immersive experience is three times the size of the former Chasing Rainbows Museum.

From life in Locust Ridge to the bus to Nashville to Hollywood and the international stage, you can walk through Parton’s life as if you’re on the journey with her.

“She plays a big influence in how we go about telling her story, but to see her emotionally connect with what we’ve done to honor her and her legacy and her story of her life from beginning to end is probably one of the top career moments for me in my entire 40-year history,” said Eugene Naughton, the president of the Dollywood Company.

The tour bus is still on site but there is an all-new show and exclusive fan shop.

But perhaps one of the most anticipated parts is Behind the Seams, telling Parton’s life through her rhinestone costumes.

“Choosing is like picking your favorite kid. I love all of the pretty, sparkly garments. I pick my favorite colors first usually, but I wanted to make sure that we had all eras of Dolly,” said Rebecca Seaver, the director of museum and archive services. “I hope people feel close to her. I hope they know that she loves her fans and that she wants them to be close to her in this way and that she saved it all for them. And so I hope that they walk away knowing that they’re loved by their queen.”

Seaver is also Parton’s niece. She said this part of the experience makes guests feel as if they’re standing in Parton’s closet.

“She has a very beautiful pink kind of closet world so this is very much her boudoir,” said Seaver. “We wanted to make sure her designers throughout the years were also highlighted and so it was just kind of a dance between wanting to have things represented and making sure that the fans were happy.”

News 2’s sister station, WJHL, also had the chance to talk with Steve Summers, the creative director for Dolly Parton Enterprises.

“She’s the same today as she was 50 years ago when she started on the scene, and her wardrobe just follows the trends to an extent but I think more likely, she sets trends then follows them,” he said.

Summers has worked with Parton for 30 years now. While her looks have changed, the formula for dressing her has remained the same.

“It’s going to be fitted and it’s going to be sparkly. So those two things are done right off the bat,” he said. “They’re pretty much the same, just a different silhouette at different times but they have a lot of sheer fabrics, a lot of sparkly fabrics. They’re always fitted, very tight at the waist.”

With the anticipation for high volume, Dollywood is doing a timed entry for the Dolly Parton Experience for the first few weeks.

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“We’re doing that really because we want people to hold their place in line and then get back out in the park, see some shows, ride some rides, and then get an opportunity to come back during their timed entry,” he said.

You can book your time here .

Parton will be at the park on Friday, May 24 to cut the ribbon at 10 a.m. WJHL will be there live and provide coverage throughout the day.

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