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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
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
+ More news   

COMPANY PROFILES
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

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World Sauna Forum 2026

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23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
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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
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while remaining actively involved with the company.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford– Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS