Dollywood is the single biggest attraction in the Pigeon Forge, TN, area. It was founded as a Western-themed attraction in 1961, called Rebel Railroad. Dolly Parton came on board in 1986 as the co-owner, and it then went through several iterations. Today, it stands as an award-winning amusement park that is known worldwide. When visiting this beloved destination, it’s important to find just the right merch to take back to those who didn’t get to come or for you to remember your visit to the theme park. The following is some helpful information to guide you as you select the best Dollywood Merch:
Where to Buy Merchandise
Dollywood has several stores spread throughout the park. This includes ride-themed stores that are located near or through the exits of their associated rides, like Hi-Octane Ride Souvenirs (LIghtning Rod) and Eagle’s Flight Outfitters (Wild Eagle). There are other stores that offer specialized items, like the Airbrushed T-Shirts, Wired Up Names, the Hat Shop, Butterfly Strings Music Store, and Caricatures & Portraits. The largest conglomerate of general Dollywood merchandise is for sure found at the Emporium, which guests exit through when leaving the park.
Best Dollywood Merch to Remember Your Trip
Magnets
There are several options for magnets spread throughout the park and also found in the Emporium on Showstreet. If you enjoyed a particular ride and want to remember that, you can find a themed magnet to take home with the ride highlighted. If you instead want to find a general Dollywood or even Pigeon Forge magnet, you can also find a magnet for that as well. Magnets are an inexpensive item you can take back to your family members or friends when you return from your trip, and a magnet doesn’t require you to remember clothing sizes or to have to guess on style preferences. They are also great collectible items to store on your fridge, reminding you of all the adventures you have enjoyed over the years.
T-Shirts and Pullovers
You can find many options for pullovers and t-shirts. You will find a variety of options that simply say Dollywood or feature the beautiful portrait of Dolly herself. However, you can also find them themed with a favorite ride throughout the park and in the Emporion. Honestly, there are so many options for t-shirts that this makes it a really great merchandise option to choose to remember your trip or to give to others. Shirts, especially pullovers, can get pricey but are worth it if you love a good t-shirt. The quality of these shirts is also superior to the typical park merch attire. They are soft and wear well.
Coffee Cups and Souvenir Cups
If you opt for the themed souvenir cup when buying drinks during your time in the park (cheaper refill price), you will already be going home with a cup to remember your trip. However, these cups are plastic and not necessarily that attractive or applicable for daily use, although they are wonderful for keeping your drinks cool while walking through the park. You can also bring them back with you on subsequent trips for discounted refills. However, if you want a cup to take home as a souvenir, a coffee cup or higher-quality cup from the Emporium might be in order. These display the theme park name, Dollywood or include clever sayings or other fun themes.
Butterflies
Dolly Parton is particularly fond of butterflies, a fascination she has had since childhood. The ultra-talented entrepreneur and artist personally connects with their gentle nature, colorful appearance and overall exemplification of freedom. As a result, the theme park has butterflies everywhere. You can see butterflies made out of flowers, on signage and more. You can also find tons of butterfly merchandise. This includes magnets, crystal ornaments, t-shirts, bags, and more that feature Dolly’s beloved butterflies. The meaning Dolly draws from butterflies makes butterfly-themed merchandise a great fit to remember a trip to Dollywood.
Personalized Items
Because Dollywood features so many actual craftsmen on site, there are many personalization options for merchandise that you can’t find at other theme parks. This includes wire necklaces that are made right in front of guests, but also include airbrush options at Kaman’s Airbrush Shoppe in Craftsman’s Valley. Here, you can find personalized options like license plates, t-shirts, and more, all made to order. If you like finding your name on items and are blessed with a name that appears on premade items, you can find personalized mugs, keychains and other items at the Emporium as well.
Ornaments
Many people enjoy choosing an ornament to take home to remember their trip. You can find many varieties of ornaments all over Dollywood. There is even a themed store in Craftsman Alley called Smoky Mountain Christmas Shop. This year-round shop includes many handmade and hand-painted ornaments as well as other types of Christmas decorations. Valley Wood Carvers is nearby as well, and it features hand-crafted accent pieces, wooden figures, and even large statement pieces like fireplace mantles. Talk about a souvenir!
Plushies
Another common gift item are stuffed animals or plushies. Being in the Smoky Mountains, many of the stuffed animals found throughout Dollywood are bear-themed. However, there are other options that correlate with rides, like Eagles in the Wild Eagle Outfitters store by the Wild Eagle Ride. Stuffed animals make an especially good gift for kids, but let’s face it, we all love a soft, cuddly animal to snuggle.
Postcards/Books
Merch is only as good as the memory it represents. Thankfully, postcards and books from a location can be a great way to remember a trip and an experience. There are many books that can be purchased throughout Dollywood in the park’s various stores. These include books about Dolly Parton and the area in general. Of course, postcards are another, less expensive option to remember your adventure. You can mail these, or simply keep them to add to your scrapbook.
Dollywood Has Great Merch
Overall, Dollywood boasts great merchandise. This includes affordable options to take back to those not making the trip, as well as high-end options or higher-quality items that can last a lifetime. Consider the above-outlined options for the best merch when visiting Dollywood.
