Held at Dollywood Theme Park, the Tennessee venue scooped the prestigious Best Park award along with four other Golden Ticket Awards, presented by Amusement Today.

Dollywood was acknowledged with the Best Park award, an accolade held over the last eight years by Europa-Park in Rust, Germany. 

Dolly Parton arrived onstage herself during the 25th annual Golden Ticket Awards. “We’re so proud to have the Golden Ticket Awards here at Dollywood this year,” Dolly said. 

“This award ceremony is so very special, and I think Dollywood is special too, so I think it’s great we were able to host the event here. We don’t do what we do to earn awards, but we’re not going to turn them down either,” she added with a laugh. 

“Seriously though, our teams work hard to make sure our guests enjoy their time at Dollywood, and these awards honoring what they do sure make me happy because they are getting the recognition they deserve.”

Parton, along with her business partners Jack and Peter Herschend, was honored with the Industry Legends Golden Ticket Award. 

It was the unique partnership between Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment that created Dollywood from the former Silver Dollar City Tennessee theme park in the mid-1980s. The park opened as Dollywood on May 3, 1986, and doubled its attendance in its first season of operation.

Dollywood received finalist placement in ten total categories and won more Golden Ticket awards than any other park in the world. The awards ceremony takes place at a different theme park each year, with Dollywood last hosting in 2012.

Images: Dollywood