Dolly Parton to Bring Dollywood to Nashville

Dolly Parton has been quite busy lately with the opening of her new movie and signing a deal with Gaylord Entertainment to bring a new theme park to Nashville.

Last weekend Dolly's latest movie Joyful Noise opened in theaters. Today she announced that she will be joining Gaylord Entertainment in Nashville to open a 114 acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Opryland Resort and Convention Center owned by Gaylord.

If you have ever visited the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, you know it is a destination itself. In fact, you could stay in the hotel for a week and eat every meal there and never go to the same restaurant twice. It has a fully enclosed river that runs through the inside of the hotel, your rooms overlook the lush gardens and it is all indoors.

Here's where I'm confused. When I was growing up in North Alabama, we would drive to Nashville to go to Opryland. Not the resort that is there now, I'm talking about the original Opryland Theme Park - think Valley Fair. I remember riding the Cannonball 8 and getting wet on the Grizzly River Rampage and dancing with Count Chocula and Frankenberry. (Yes there are pictures, no I'm not posting them)

Opryland went out of business because there was no business. That's when they built the Opry Mills Mall and Opryland Resort on the grounds where those awesome rides once gave me thrills. Now Dolly is going to bring it all back to Nashville?

I have to admit, I've never been to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. Wait, I have been there, but it was called Silver Dollar City back then and it was long before Dolly bought it and turned it into her magical playground. I know people that have gone and said that it was an incredible experience but will it be a big enough experience to stay alive in Nashville?

According to the report, the new park will feature a 50 acre water and snow park - a first of its kind. Basically in the middle of summer you can ride a water tube down a giant slide, then change into your winter gear and make snow angels and build snowmen that afternoon in the same facility! It is expected to break ground within the next year and should open in 2014.

Looks like we have one more thing to put on the to-do list!