Following its 35th anniversary season celebration in 2020, Dollywood this week shared details about changes and upgrades guests will experience at the park in 2021 when it opens to the general public on March 13, 2021 (after a season passholder preview day on March 12).
While this season may not bring a new major attraction, there will be plenty of new things to see in do at Dollywood in 2021. Below are just 8 of those:
1. Lightning Rod Reopens with New Track
Lightning Rod has undergone a significant upgrade during the off-season with a partial track replacement designed to improve rider experience and increase the coaster’s reliability. The park revealed that the “new” Lightning Rod, which closed last summer, is slated to open with the park on March 13 (March 12 for season passholders).
Large sections of the Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) coaster’s wooden “Topper Track” have been replaced by the company’s trademark steel “IBox” track.
So while it’s no longer 100% wooden, having a smoother and more reliable coaster is an exciting change.
Below, check out the video of the coaster testing:
It was a wonderful sight seeing #LightningRod perform on the new IBOX track today! This will improve performance and hopefully have less technical difficulties @Dollywood pic.twitter.com/WVYoLAn0ja
— Wildcat Coasters (@WildcatCoasters) February 25, 2021
Learn more about Lightning Rod’s new track here.
2. Mystery Mine Receiving Upgrades
Portions of Mystery Mine’s outdoor section are also receiving new track this year to improve the ride experience. The section of track being replaced is located following the first large drop (from the trestle) into the banked turn and two helices.
UPDATE: At season passholder preview day on March 11, we got a sneak peek at the rather significant modifications to the first drop and outdoor section of Mystery Mine:
It's gonna take some time to get used to seeing the drop like that pic.twitter.com/qjzv2rq7Hn
— Coaster101.com (@Coaster101) March 12, 2021
Rather than dropping (near vertically) from the trestle bridge, Mystery Mine cars now make a 90-degree left turn into a smaller, less steep drop.
Below is the original near-vertical drop from the trestle and the first turn.
Below is a diagram showing the new versus original layout:
It appears that the park may leave the turn as decoration:
This was one of the rougher parts of the ride, so kudos to Dollywood for investing in making the ride more enjoyable. (Now if we can only get those lapbar-only restraints!)
The coaster will tentatively reopen by mid-April.
3. Expanded Seating at Two Dining Areas
Based on guest feedback requesting additional locations to sit and enjoy the park’s award-winning culinary offerings, large structures – including the famous blacksmith shop– near two of the park’s most popular dining locations have been removed, allowing for the addition of two large sitting areas. Guests will find expanded seating areas at Dogs N Taters in the Rivertown Junction area, as well as the Hickory House in Craftsman’s Valley.
But don’t worry, fans of the blacksmith shop. It’s moving just across Craftsman’s Valley to its former location adjacent to the Robert F. Thomas Chapel.
4. Building Repairs and Upgrades
In addition to the special projects throughout Dollywood, construction crews also are undertaking a number of routine jobs that take place each off-season, including the replacing of roofs, siding and flooring throughout the park.
Teams will use around five miles worth of lumber as they work to complete these projects. Crews also will repave several walkways in the park, another project that takes place each off-season. Additionally, 15% of Dollywood’s buildings will receive an entire new coat of paint, while everything across the park below waist-height will be repainted, another task that takes place each season.
Work is ongoing at the chapel as well, with a new roof, footings and more occurring to the iconic structure. The chapel was originally built on site and dedicated to the memory of Dr. Robert F. Thomas on May 26, 1973.
5. Flower & Food Festival Returns
April 23 – June 7, 2021
Events are an integral part of the Dollywood season, and 2021 is no different. The park will offer four major events in 2021: Flower & Food Festival, Summer Celebration, Harvest Festival (including Great Pumpkin LumiNights) and Smoky Mountain Christmas.
New during this year’s Flower & Food Festival, the Melodies of Spring concert series features a wide variety of musical acts all appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater.
Several shows featuring Dollywood’s own performers will debut when the park opens, including Harmonies of the Heart—featuring Dolly’s family—and A Brighter Day, an inspiring show that delights guests with uplifting favorites at the Back Porch Theater.
In The Village area of the park, Dollywood’s talented The Tones offer a fresh acapella take on today’s current hits. Performances of all three will continue until the fall.
Known for its quality creations, Dollywood’s culinary team continues to craft tantalizing treats for guests all season long.
Among the park’s new offerings for 2021 is the Flower & Food Festival Dining Day Pass, which will allow Dollywood guests to try multiple entrees at a number of culinary locations during the springtime event.
Among the items available during the festival are lobster rolls, hand-breaded fish and chips, Cuban sandwiches with plantain chips and mango salsa, as well as mini-funnel cakes with Chantilly cream and drizzled lavender honey.
Sign me up.
See our Flower & Food Festival photos from last June.
6. Dollywood’s Summer Celebration
June 25 – July 31, 2021
Guests visiting during the park’s warmer months can enjoy Dollywood’s Summer Celebration, which will feature later nighttime hours. If you haven’t ridden Lightning Rod at night, that experience alone is worth a special trip.
The park historically has had fireworks displays throughout the summer, but that hasn’t yet been confirmed for 2021.
7. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights 2021
September 24 – October 3, 2021
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival returns with the wildly popular Great Pumpkin LumiNights nighttime event. The park will stay open late each evening, giving guests more time to enjoy the glow of thousands of carved pumpkins throughout the park.
During the day, guests can expect a packed concert schedule, with hundreds of performances across several genres occurring during the festival.
See photos from Great Pumpkin LumiNights 2020 here.
8. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas 2021
November 6, 2021 – January 2, 2022
The season ends with Dollywood’s award-winning Smoky Mountain Christmas event, which features more than five million holiday lights, a plethora of live entertainment options, Christmas decorations around every corner and, of course, a mouth-watering offering of holiday-themed food.
See our coverage of past Smoky Mountain Christmas events here.
For a summary of what new experiences and changes you’ll see at Dollywood in 2021, watch the video featuring Dollywood Company president Eugene Naughton:
Due to Covid-19, Dollywood will again require reservations to visit in 2021. To start the reservation process, visit the Dollywood website.
What are you most looking forward to at Dollywood in 2021? Let us know in the comments section below.
We LOVE Dollywood!!! As Season Passholders who live in North Carolina we have enjoyed the attractions, the entertainment, and the food for many, many years. Last year we did not use our Season Passes at all because of Covid, so (newly vaccinated) we look forward to the 2021 Season.
Sounds like they have been very busy in the off season – can’t wait to see EVERYTHING this year.
Lightning Rod was never a wooden roller coaster. The steel topper track, which you call “wooden” topper track in this article is not accurate. The topper track has always been steel with steel cross bars too making it a hybrid coaster since it opened.
Depends on how you define “wooden” and “hybrid”. Seems like only recently have parks begun using the hybrid term. AS RMC’s website says “The Topper Track allows the park to maintain the aesthetic and general feel of a traditional wood track” maybe the coaster type should go by feel/experience rather than material, since the material usage is so mixed now. Some thoughts we had a few years ago: https://www.coaster101.com/2017/06/13/redefining-roller-coaster-types-modern-era/
I always loved the Festival Of Nations. Why was that not continued. Seeing all the entertainers from other countries was fascinating. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE everything about Dollywood but I just wondered why the FON was discontinued.
Hope you update heartsong screen and sound love it but worn out
Looking forward to bringing my Grandchildren in November. They have never been before and I hope this begins their love for Tennessee, the mountains and Dollywood!