Travel Tennessee Sing Where Dolly Parton Had Her First Paid Gig One could imagine Dolly tickled by all the local talent shooting their shots in her hometown. By Korrin Bishop Korrin Bishop Korrin Bishop is a freelance writer and editor with publications in Fodor's Travel, U.S. News & World Report, Sierra Magazine, and Adventure Journal, among others. She loves to write about the beauty of her own backyard in East Tennessee, and specializes in the great outdoors, hidden gems, lesser-told stories, and small town living. In July 2023, she completed hiking every trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She has also logged hundreds of miles by kayak through the backcountry of Everglades National Park, a favorite winter escape. You can learn more about her work at: korrinbishop.com. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 12, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Restoring The Pines The Story of the Space Dolly's Memories The Spirit of The Pines Today Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: The Pines Downtown Alissa Klein sat at her keyboard, silhouetted against a black wall with reclaimed wood nailed up its diagonal side. Thick green decorative vines stretched along it from floor to ceiling—the way invasive summer honeysuckle might creep along a Tennessee fence line. A white neon sign declared the venue’s past behind her in capital letters, “THE PINES EST. 1944 2022.” In 1956, 10-year-old Dolly Parton sang her first paid gig as part of the Cas Walker Farm and Home Tour at this same spot, the Pines Theater in Sevierville, Tennessee. During her childhood, the performance spot seated about 700 people and also offered movies and rollerskating. The theater closed in 1957, but relaunched in late December 2022. Its aim is to provide an elevated entertainment experience for Smoky Mountain visitors that locals can also take pride in for its cultural and historical significance. Dolly Parton poses for a portrait in 1955. Restoring The Pines “I saw it as an opportunity, especially in this downtown area, to be able to show an angle of what East Tennessee is that maybe you don’t otherwise see,” said David Rule, one of the visionaries behind bringing back The Pines. Rule was born and raised in East Tennessee’s Maryville and has been working in the restaurant industry since he was 15—starting at a mom-and-pop eatery in his hometown, working his way from line cook to corporate chef at regional favorite Aubrey’s, and spending several years at the Smokies luxury resort Blackberry Farm. After helping launch Walnut Kitchen in Maryville, Rule had an opportunity to partner on several concepts in Sevierville’s recently redeveloped historic downtown, an area his family frequented as a kid. “My business partner and I have a mission, outside of great hospitality, to honor the past,” said Rule. “This building and its history, in particular, are huge. When downtown was in its early heyday, this was definitely a social center.” By February 2023, the building had returned to buoying new musicians. It hosted a qualifying round for the annual Tennessee Songwriters Week—a statewide celebration of the region’s musical background. The event encouraged Klein to return to the stage after a period of disconnection from her artistry. “On my way to The Pines, I was like, ‘Okay, listen, you are an artist,’” said Klein. “I thought, regardless of what happens, I’m going to use this to kickstart myself into making music a more active part of my life again.” An intimate audience murmured amongst themselves in a sprawling semi-circle around Klein. Hanging bare light bulbs with dark metal saucers floating above them lit the space. The upscale flair of the renovated building nevertheless invited a worn pair of blue jeans, favorite plaid shirt, and baseball cap as the uniform for entry. Children played Battleship and other board games at the window bar as youth circled outside on glowing hoverboards. Once Klein’s piano chords and melodic voice filled the hallowed room, community members quieted in reverie. Her song bounced elegantly off the room’s exposed brick walls, concrete floor, and industrial chic black ceiling. The night would also include the gentle plucking of a bluegrass banjo by 22-year-old Pigeon Forge resident Willow Osborne and the nasally twang of Elijah Wise, a boy from Cosby with an impressive mullet of ringlets and a statement mustache. Klein advanced to the next round—held at Gatlinburg’s Ole Red—along with two others, including Wise, whose simple guitar-led storytelling carried him to the event’s finale at Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. One could imagine Dolly tickled by all the local talent shooting their shots in her hometown. “It lit something in me and connected me to new people in the area,” Klein reflected, noting how The Pines has continued to support her as a local musician. Next year, she said, she’d choose a story song for the competition, “In this area, people value sitting and listening to your story.” The Story of the Space That truth drives why Rule weaves storytelling into each aspect of The Pines—from design to dining. “Over the years, the building had been divided into a lot of different small offices and rooms,” said Rule. “I’ll never forget when I first came in here, it was like a maze. We pretty much broke down all the walls and just tried to open it back up to its cool old bones.” In renovating the space, Rule’s team restored the theater’s original entrance, carving in a small vestibule below a replica of the iconic black and white marquee. They also kept the mezzanine level that was built in the 1940s and are preparing it to be a rentable event space. “We took it back to the bare brick where you can see the age and the patina on it,” Rule said. He noted the ways they’d modernized the building, insulating small holes in the brickwork and installing new windows, but also pointed to the top row of decorative glass at the entrance. “On those old windows, the old glass had been painted over,” Rule said. For the past several months, workers meticulously scraped them clean, revealing the wavy remnants of yesteryear. “The glass is very thin, but I love it because you can see the ripples.” These thoughtful details tell the story of the space. Duckpin bowling now occupies where the theater’s stage used to be, with each lane named after a street in downtown Sevierville. Two murals cover full walls: inside, a grayscale portrait of Dolly as a young adult, and outside, a colorful gathering of Dolly as a child, with fellow Pines Theater performers, Roy Acuff, Archie Campbell, June Carter Cash, and Chet Atkins. Dolly's Memories “Dolly was very nice when we first opened up,” said Rule. “She gave us a whole page of her memories and history of this space.” In Dolly’s notes to Rule’s team, she wrote, “I can’t tell you how proud I am to have The Pines Theater back up and running. It is a cherished piece of my childhood.” “I can’t tell you how proud I am to have The Pines Theater back up and running. It is a cherished piece of my childhood.” - Dolly Parton Dolly shared how Cas Walker used to put a hundred dollar bill at the top of a greasy pole in the theater. During intermissions, people would compete to get it. As a little girl, she said she was “quick and sturdy,” so went outside and got some sand and gravel on her for traction. She then climbed the pole and won the prize. Her family used it to buy their first television set. “Mr. Walker not only had the performers here at The Pines, but held all kinds of fun things to do to bring people in,” Dolly wrote about the experience. The Spirit of The Pines Today The Pines Downtown Rule is bringing that spirit back as he braids new stories with the past. The Pines threw a Dolly birthday bash in January, where they dished out Dolly’s favorite dessert, banana pudding, and played her music throughout the night. Attendees dressed in their Dolly best. “We pride ourselves in catering to both the traveler and the local without feeling too gimmicky or touristy,” said Rule. “The biggest part of it is just telling the story. That’s one of our core principles. It’s talking about the inspiration behind things that adds value to what our guests get.” The venue hosts regular trivia nights and karaoke events for patrons to envision themselves as the next big name to come out of The Pines. As a nod to the theater’s playful roots, visitors can also enjoy retro video games, giant Jenga, darts, snookball, foosball, Dutch shuffleboard, and other diversions. The Pines’ menu boasts themed drink specials like the “9 to 5” cocktail—a mix of Dripping Springs vodka, espresso, Kahlua, Ole Smoky salted caramel whiskey, and salt—and locally inspired eats like the Appalachian Ramen Bowl, featuring crispy pork belly, ajitama egg, green onion, and pickled citrus in a smoked pork broth. “When communities are in a healthy place, they have local art,” Klein reflected. “I think it’s time for artists here to have places to perform, and I think The Pines is going to be a big part of that.” Whether facilitating opportunities for songwriters like Klein to blossom in their art again, providing a unique respite for travelers, or offering a jovial event space for groups, The Pines is a special place with a welcoming local atmosphere worth the stop. thepinesdowntown.com, 230 Court Avenue, Sevierville, TN 37862 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit