Before Dolly
Before there was Dollywood, there was Silver Dollar City, before that was Goldrush Junction and before that was the Rebel Railroad. All of these are one and the same.
The now famous Dollywood started as a less than spectacular them park called Rebel Railroad in 1961. It featured a steam train ride, General Store, Blacksmith shop and Saloon. In 1966, with the addition of new attractions, the park was re-named Goldrush Junction. The park has had many owners throughout its history, the most unusual being the Cleveland Browns football team in 1970. In 1976, the Herschend (Branson MO.) family bought the park and renamed it once more to Silver Dollar City.
In 1986 the Dolly Parton, who was born and raised within just a few miles of the park, lent her name to a newly formed partnership with the Herschend family and the Dollywood theme park was re-born. The rest is history. Dollywood is now one of the top draws for tourism in the entire state, with attendance somewhere around 2.5 million visitors a year.
Now the Dollywood attractions include Dolly's Splash Country, a world class water park, and Dixie Stampede dinner show. It is interesting to note that the theme of Dixie Stampede is the same as the original Rebel Railroad, where the Rebels battle the Yanks.