About Dollywood's Splash Country

In May 2001, The Dollywood Company expanded its Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, properties with the addition of the Dollywood's Splash Country water adventure park. Built into the natural terrain of a mountain “hollow” adjacent to Dollywood theme park, Dollywood's Splash Country represented a $20 million investment by The Dollywood Company. The park has continued to expand, adding several new attractions for guests to enjoy.

With a theme highly reminiscent of the Smoky Mountain culture and heritage, Dollywood's Splash Country was named the World Waterpark Association's Best New Waterpark in America in 2001. Its first season, Dollywood's Splash Country welcomed guests to such attractions as Mountain Waves, a 25,000-square-foot wave pool; Raging River Rapids, a family raft ride; the Downbound Float Trip lazy river, Little Creek Falls, an interactive children's area; Wild River Falls, a single- and double-tube ride, and two “extreme” body slides in the Mountain Scream. Guests enjoyed shaded lounge areas and a restaurant as well.

In 2002, Dollywood's Splash Country became one of first parks in the country to utilize state-of-the-art SafeTzone™ child locating technology. This state-of-the-art technology made individuals wearing child locator wristbands instantly findable throughout the park. In 2003, a $1.5 million, two-acre expansion called Raintree Hollow opened featuring Soaker Springs, a large interactive water attraction for children, and Mountain Twist, a multi-slide complex. Dollywood's Splash Country added Big Bear Ridge in 2004. The new area, reminiscent of the Smoky Mountain's turn-of-the-century logging industry, brought the Big Bear Plunge,™ a 548-foot long white water rafting family adventure ride.

In 2005, Dollywood's Splash Country added Bear Mountain Fire Tower™, a $2 million multi-level interactive water attraction featuring hand cannons, ladders, seven slides and a 1,000-gallon surprise soaking. The new Brushfire Grill added another dining option for park guests while expanding the park to its current 30 acres. The Cascades™ greeted guests in 2007. The new $2.8 million 8,000-sq.-ft. leisure pool features a wonderful combination of relaxation and tranquility with a rock grotto with intertwined slides, a geyser with 20-foot sprays, and a 24,000-sq.-ft. tiered deck space. The addition also welcomed eight new Waterside Retreats. A rush of white water fun brought the new $1 million SwiftWater Run in 2008. The exciting tubing bowl ride offers double- or single-passenger tubes that take passengers through a 54-inch diameter tunnel that propels them into a large bowl feature. After multiple revolutions, passengers then encounter a corkscrew before navigating a downward chute that plunges into the landing pool.

For three years in a row, the Travel Channel has named Dollywood’s Splash Country one of the country’s most beautiful water parks.