Dolly Parton Experience is a walk down memory lane for Parton fans. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Dolly Parton today officially opened Dollywood’s newest attraction — “Dolly Parton Experience” — that is loaded with memories of Parton’s journey to stardom, including several interactive exhibits.
The Dolly Parton Experience is three times the size of the former Chasing Rainbows Museum and is located in multiple buildings that give you a chance to relive some classic Parton memories/shows and see memorabilia that any Parton fan will love.
Rebecca Seaver is Director of Museum and Archive Services for Dolly Parton Productions but also is Parton’s niece. She admitted there is a lot to like about being part of the Parton family.
“The times we get together and play music are great. We’re all musical, even the ones that don’t really sing very well still love to do it,” Seaver said. “Just being creative and having such a big family is a lot of fun. You kind of get to pick and choose the ones you want to hang out with. And the ones you don’t get along with you don’t have to hang out with but we do get along really well.”
Seaver has “lived this my whole life” as part of the Parton family and is used to the fame and hoopla that goes along with her famous aunt.
“When Dolly is at home and you are hanging out with her, it can be kind of surreal knowing she has been singing about my grandmother or that people have been screaming her name in an arena,” Seaver said. “I feel very surreal in that moment, but it’s beautiful.”
Parton actually looked after Seaver a lot when she was younger. Parton lived “right down the street” and Seaver said her mother and Parton were always “super close” for as long as she can remember.
“I was always right up underneath her. I was kind of like her baby. She would take me on the road with her and I’d be on the tour bus. My dad was her director of security back in the 80s and 90s,” Parton’s niece said. “I was always with family even when she was on stage. I was hanging out with people I knew on the road, That was just kind of my life and it was great.”
Seaver believes Parton fans will be overwhelmed by “The Dolly Parton Experience” and all it has to see thanks to Parton’s best friend and longtime assistant Judy Ogle.
“Judy has been the one that has saved everything along with my mom and my aunt Rachel. Dolly and Judy became friends at six years old and they’re still friends,” Seaver said. “They’re like two little girls when they hang out together now.
“But Judy was so very meticulous about saving everything and organizing it and taking care of it. When she (Ogle) retired, it was very special to me to kind of carry that on for her.”
That’s why the new exhibits will periodically change to give Dollywood visitors something new to see/learn about Parton when they come back
“Chasing Rainbows was difficult to change things out because of the way that cases were built. But this one we made it so that we could get in these cases and switch things out seasonally. And so if you come back, you could see stuff for Christmas and come back next year and you will get to see new stuff,” Seaver said. “So it’s definitely not a one and done experience. It’s going to be something that will change each time you’re here.”
Seaver said it’s impossible to predict how long anyone will want to spend at the new attraction.
“I think the people that really want to know about Dolly and who care about the little details, they will definitely have something to look at for 70 minutes or more if they want to,” Seaver said.
Parton saw the finished Dolly Parton Experience for the first time Thursday morning in preparation for Friday’s grand opening where Parton admitted she cried when she saw video of family members talking about her.
“I think that was my favorite part about the whole experience was seeing her reaction. She was very happy and she loved it. She’s a little emotional, so it was nice to know that she was happy with it. To please the boss is all I want to do,” Seaver laughed and said.
“She’s not mean about it, but she’s definitely very specific about everything that she does and she’s very hands-on. If you know anything about Dolly, you know that she does everything 110 percent. For me, I want to do everything 120 percent to make sure that she loves it. But she’s not a mean boss. She is the best boss ever. She’s never rude or mean to anybody. She’s great to everybody.”
So what would be one thing Dolly Parton fans don’t know about her that Seaver wishes they did?
“I think it’s funny when I see little things online that she looks like a regular soccer mom with brown hair in real life. I want to dispel that rumor because she looks like Dolly all the time,” Seaver said. “That’s who she is.
“I think there’s a misconception that she turns it down in her real life and that’s just not the truth of who she is even when we’re in the Sonic Drive thru.”
Parton is not slowing down any time soon, either. She announced Friday she’s working on a new album — “Dolly Parton and Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith and Fables” — that will be a look at her family’s musical history and heritage.
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Through June 2 a timed ticket will be needed to enter the Dolly Parton Experience because of the high demand. Register for a time entry ticket at Dollywood.com. The 30-minute time slots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entry tickets are not required after 5 p.m.
Starting June 3, Dollywood patrons can enter the exhibit without a special entry ticket.
The three exhibits that make up the Dolly Parton Experience are:
— Songteller which is dedicated to Parton’s life/career from her home in the Great Smoky Mountains through her journey to superstardom.
— Behind the Seams shows the evolution of Parton’s signature style.
— Precious Memories at the DreamSong highlights the importance of faith, family and friends and includes the new show “Heidi Parton’s Kin & Friends” written by Parton.
Tickets to the theme park are $92 for adults and $82 for children and seniors.
