There are a lot of unproven reports going around on social media that Dollywood, the famous theme park owned by country music star Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment, is closing for good. These accusations are not true.
The popular place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is still up and running as usual, welcoming travelers. The theme park is a big employment and draws a lot of tourists to the area.
Georgia’s Closures Are Causing Confusion
The false rumor that is going around is because Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation just said that two of its Georgia facilities would be permanently closed:
Malibu Norcross is in Gwinnett County.
Mountasia is in Marietta.
Malibu Norcross was an arcade and go-kart amusement park, and Mountasia was a mini-golf and go-kart park. Both were tiny family entertainment venues. Andrew Wexler, the CEO of Herschend, said that the decision was made because “family entertainment centers work differently than the kinds of attractions we are best suited to support.”
Dolly Parton and Herschend own Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country, and Dolly Parton’s Stampede. The closures have nothing to do with these attractions.
Herschend’s Plan and the Current State of Dollywood
Herschend Family Entertainment has been linked to Dollywood since 1976. Dolly Parton became a co-owner in 1986, which led to the park’s current name and its rise into a prominent tourist attraction.
Herschend bought the Georgia sites that are closing this year from Palace Entertainment as part of a wider deal. The purchase added more than 70 family entertainment facilities to Herschend’s portfolio, but the company seems to be consolidating its assets by getting rid of properties that don’t fit with its main theme park model.
Dollywood is not affected by the social media rumors, even though they generated some brief uncertainty. The park continues to operate as usual, bringing in people from all over the country.