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NEWS
Kenny Rogers hoping to emulate Dolly Parton success with theme park plan
POSTED 23 Dec 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Rogers’ theme park plans are likely to advance following his retirement, which will happen next year following a final world tour
Country music legend Kenny Rogers has floated the idea of developing his own theme park, with the musician hoping to emulate the success of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood.

Rogers, famed for classic songs such as The Gambler, has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres selling more than 120 million records worldwide.

The artist recently announced his retirement from touring, telling The Guardian he is planning to develop a park on an island 40 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Dubbed Kennyland or Kenny World, the attraction would be “something really special”, according to Rogers, who added that the park would emulate South by Southwest (SXSW) – an annual set of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that take place every year in Austin, Texas.

“Dollywood’s strength is [Dolly Parton] has her family working with her. My boys would rather go to Dollywood than Disneyland because the people are so nice,” he said. “We are doing a South by Southwest (SXSW) theme, where singers and songwriters will want to come here. We will have an avatar of me on the stage performing.”

Rogers’ theme park plans are likely to advance following his retirement, which will happen next year following a final world tour.
RELATED STORIES
  Dolly Parton’s newest Dollywood DreamMore Resort includes ‘glamourous, glitzy’ spa


The 307-bedroom Dollywood DreamMore Resort has opened next to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Tennessee, US, and it includes an 1,861sq ft (173sq m) family-friendly spa.
  Firechaser Express roller coaster Dollywood's newest attraction


The Firechaser Express roller coaster launched 21 March at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
  Dollywood reveals US$300m expansion plan


Dollywood has announced the first of its new projects as part of a US$300m (£192m, €225m), 10-year expansion plan in and around the theme park, which is based in Tennessee.
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OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
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Heritage Great Britain
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Job location: Isle of Wight , United Kingdom
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NEWS
Kenny Rogers hoping to emulate Dolly Parton success with theme park plan
POSTED 23 Dec 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Rogers’ theme park plans are likely to advance following his retirement, which will happen next year following a final world tour
Country music legend Kenny Rogers has floated the idea of developing his own theme park, with the musician hoping to emulate the success of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood.

Rogers, famed for classic songs such as The Gambler, has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres selling more than 120 million records worldwide.

The artist recently announced his retirement from touring, telling The Guardian he is planning to develop a park on an island 40 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Dubbed Kennyland or Kenny World, the attraction would be “something really special”, according to Rogers, who added that the park would emulate South by Southwest (SXSW) – an annual set of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that take place every year in Austin, Texas.

“Dollywood’s strength is [Dolly Parton] has her family working with her. My boys would rather go to Dollywood than Disneyland because the people are so nice,” he said. “We are doing a South by Southwest (SXSW) theme, where singers and songwriters will want to come here. We will have an avatar of me on the stage performing.”

Rogers’ theme park plans are likely to advance following his retirement, which will happen next year following a final world tour.
RELATED STORIES
Dolly Parton’s newest Dollywood DreamMore Resort includes ‘glamourous, glitzy’ spa


The 307-bedroom Dollywood DreamMore Resort has opened next to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Tennessee, US, and it includes an 1,861sq ft (173sq m) family-friendly spa.
Firechaser Express roller coaster Dollywood's newest attraction


The Firechaser Express roller coaster launched 21 March at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Dollywood reveals US$300m expansion plan


Dollywood has announced the first of its new projects as part of a US$300m (£192m, €225m), 10-year expansion plan in and around the theme park, which is based in Tennessee.
MORE NEWS
London Museum makes destination dining part of the attraction
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA completes New Museum transformation with landmark expansion and Oberon restaurant
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance, hospitality and public programming.
David Rockwell creates immersive magic destination, The Hand and The Eye
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and private membership under one roof.
Montana Heritage Center opens with immersive exhibits and US$107 million investment
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana Heritage Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
Universal launches new theme park model with Kids Resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences has launched a new regional theme park model with the opening of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio Zoo reports $283 million economic impact as expansion plans progress
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade- long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas attraction.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
28-29 Sep 2026

Wellness Destination AI Tech Summit – Tourism, Hospitality & Real Estate, 28-29 Sept 2026

Grand Ballroom, METT Singapore, Singapore
+ More diary  
 


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