Ultimate Guide to Dollywood’s Splash Country 2023

There aren’t too many better places to cool off on a hot, sunny afternoon in Smoky Mountain country than Dollywood’s Splash Country. This 35-acre waterpark adjoins the famous Dollywood theme park in the Great Smokies foothills of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: attractions created by and named after (of course) country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, likely the best-known native of these gorgeous green highlands.

A number of the slides and rides of Dollywood’s Splash Country utilize the natural lay of the land, delivering the extra thrill of flashing and splashing down Smoky Mountain hillsides with a leafy backdrop.

Here’s an overview of this nationally renowned waterpark for the 2021 season, which kicks off at Dollywood’s Splash Country on Saturday, May 13^th:

A Little Trivia to Get Things Going

What is the spirit behind Dollywood’s Splash Country? Dolly Parton’s memories of playing and swimming with her brothers and sisters in the Smoky Mountain creeks and rivers of her childhood home. Indeed, more than a few of Dollywood’s Splash Country rides specifically evoke those wild waterways—a nod to the waterpark’s natural setting and context.

Parton held a national “Name the Waterpark” contest before opening Dollywood’s Splash Country, with John Torres of Long Island, New York submitting the winning idea.

Select Rides & Attractions

Dollywood’s Splash Country has something for just about everybody, whether you’re a thrill-seeker and adrenaline junkie or a visitor a bit more inclined toward the slow-paced, foot-soaking brand of waterpark activities. In terms of families, meanwhile, there are plenty of suitable attractions for both older kids and tykes, and rides for the whole gang to take together as well as solo or tandem experiences.

Here are just a few of the rides and play areas on offer here, to give you a sense of the variety!

TailSpin Racer

Opened in 2017, TailSpin Racer ranks as the tallest waterpark attraction at Dollywood’s Splash Country. The AquaTubes of this five-story, six-lane racing slide has some exhilarating twists, turns, and plunges, and there’s a climactic splash-down conclusion. Whether you’re racing against friends, family, or strangers, TailSpin Racer’s sure to unleash your inner (friendly) competitor—whatever your age!

Raging River Rapids

One of a number of absolutely perfect family rides at Dollywood’s Splash Country, Raging River Rapids sees three to five riders taking a delightful course down a streaming flume in rafts. It’s just a little taste of Great Smoky Mountain-style whitewater rafting!

Fire Tower Falls

Fire Tower Falls is the tallest and the fastest of all of Dollywood’s Splash Country rides. These sheer, side-by-side slides deliver something close to a free fall down a whopping 70 feet. In the blink of an eye, you’ll be sloshing your way to a giddy stop in the 140-foot runout lanes below—and very likely already jonesing for your next drop down.

Swiftwater Run

This single or double tube ride leads up to a crazy spin around a whirlpool-like funnel, finished off with an exit through a tunneled chute.

Wild River Falls

You can choose to shoot down the twisty Wild River Falls in the sunshine or the darkness: The slide includes two mostly open flumes with a few short tunnel sections as well as two completely enclosed chutes.

River Rush

This four-story, 1,175-foot-long collection of drops, hairpins, and tunnels was the very first “water coaster” to debut in Tennessee—and, in actual fact, it remains the only one!

Mountain Waves

A relaxing cool-off is the name of the game at Mountain Waves, Dollywood’s Splash Country’s 25,000-square-foot, family-friendly wave pool. The shallower end has little waves suitable for littler waders, while bigger “swells” await older kids and adults.

Little Creek Falls

This toddler-friendly children’s pool and play area includes slides, fountains, interactive play structures, and plenty of shady spots for supervising grownups to indulge in a little R&R.

Again, the above list is far from exhaustive: From the Butterfly to Slick Rock Racer, there are plenty of other enticements on hand at Dollywood’s Splash Country.

Eats & Drinks at Dollywood’s Splash Country

All that racing, sliding, plunging, soaking, and swimming is going to fire up a mean appetite, but no worries: Dollywood’s Splash Country comes well-equipped with snack stands and eateries, including Campsite Grill, High Country, Watering Hole, and Miss Mamie’s. Expect plenty of crowds- (and kid-) pleasing fare here.

Rentable Hangouts at Dollywood’s Splash Country

If you want to enjoy a little VIP treatment on a sunny day at Dollywood’s Splash Country, you’ve got more than a few options. The waterpark rents Canopies, Luxury Loungers, and 200-square-foot Retreats complete with 100-square-foot personal sun decks. Retreats and Canopies are well distributed across the resort, giving you the opportunity to lock down a private hangout close to your favorite rides and pools.

Dollywood’s Splash Country 2023 Tickets

For the 2023 season, Dollywood’s Splash Country one-day tickets for visitors age 10 to 61 cost $54.95 (plus tax), two-day passes set you back $64.95, and three-day passes at $74.95. (There are special rates for kids younger than 10 and for seniors.)

You can also spring for the $164 (plus tax) Silver Season Pass (payment for which can be split into three installments), or combine your unlimited Dollywood’s Splash Country fun with the Dollywood theme park proper via the $284 (plus tax) Two-Park Gold Season Pass.

Dollywood’s Splash Country is offering a Water Park Dining Pass that covers meals at the resort for Splash Country Passholders and Super Passholders.

Get Wet in the Smokies at Dollywood’s Splash Country

We hope we’ve given you some useful details for planning your visit to Pigeon Forge’s hallmark waterpark—and whetted your appetite for some summertime fun of the aquatic variety!