In the wake of Dolly Parton's devastating death at age 80, she leaves behind more than a legacy of legendary music and an enduring impact on pop culture.She also leaves behind Dollywood, her beloved Tennessee theme park, a cherished part of her lasting memory.The shocking news of Parton's passing was announced on August 25 by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.Her death raises questions about the theme park's future, which is jointly owned by Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment.Despite its roaring popularity, the park, located in Pigeon Forge, has faced some issues over the past few months, including a sudden ride closure, a delay in its latest attraction's opening and backlash over its controversial system for fountain drinks.In addition, the park has been hit with a string of lawsuits from patrons over the years.Even so, it's become a beloved destination for families across the globe, hosting nearly three million guests in a typical season from mid-March to the Christmas holidays. So what will happen to the park now? In a statement from Dollywood provided to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, the theme park vowed to honor Parton's 'heartfelt wish' that Dollywood 'always remains a place of joy, hope and togetherness.' In addition to her vast music legacy, Parton also leaves behind Dollywood, her beloved Tennessee theme park. She's pictured at the park in 1993 Her death raises questions about the theme park's future, which is jointly owned by Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment 'With heavy hearts, the Dollywood family mourns the passing of our beloved Dreamer-in-Chief, Dolly Parton,' the statement began. 'Everyone at Dollywood shares the sorrow of countless people around the world touched by Dolly’s warmth, wisdom and generous spirit.''Dolly’s heartfelt wish was that Dollywood always remain a place of joy, hope and togetherness - a space where families and friends could honor her memory, not with silence, but with laughter, music and shared dreams,' the theme park said.'The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood,' added Eugene Naughton, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President. 'Dolly’s heart was as vast as the mountains she cherished, and her compassion knew no bounds.'She inspired generations to dream boldly and love deeply. While we grieve her loss, we are honored and committed to carry her light forward. 'Her legacy will continue to shine in every melody sung, every smile shared and every dream kindled within these gates.'Naughton revealed that Dollywood will open as scheduled on Wednesday 'as Dolly would have wanted.' In a statement from Dollywood provided to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, the theme park vowed to honor Parton's 'heartfelt wish' that Dollywood 'always remains a place of joy, hope and togetherness' The dream of Dollywood all started when Parton sat down for an interview with Barbara Walters in 1982, sharing that she wanted to build a 'Smoky Mountain fairy land' where she grew up. She's seen at the park in 1996 'Dolly’s enduring legacy extends beyond her music and generosity to her remarkable work ethic - an inspiration to people everywhere,' she continued.'In her spirit, Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle - "the show must go on."'Together, we honor her by carrying forward her message of love, perseverance, and hope.'The dream of Dollywood all started when Parton sat down for an interview with Barbara Walters in 1982, sharing that she wanted to build a 'Smoky Mountain fairy land' where she grew up.She explained that she wanted to capture the spirit of her home in Appalachia and stimulate the economy.It was an idea that later caught the attention of theme park owners, brothers Pete and Jack Herschend.In 1986, the Jolene hitmaker joined the Herschend of the Branson-based Herschend Enterprises to transform what was once a park called Silver Dollar City into Dollywood. The park opened its doors on May 3, 1986, drawing in thousands of visitors from the area. It's seen recently In 1986, the Jolene hitmaker joined the Herschend of the Branson-based Herschend Enterprises to transform what was once a park called Silver Dollar City into DollywoodThe park opened its doors on May 3, 1986, drawing in thousands of visitors from the area.It hit a record after just a year of operations, recording 1.3 million patrons, which was already twice the number that the previous Silver Dollar City had seen the year before, according to a history from Hearthside Cabin Rentals.Now, that number has continued to grow - and so has the park's popularity. But it hasn't come without a string of controversies. In 2015, a woman named Tedi A Brown filed a lawsuit against the park, after she claimed that she had suffered a brain injury on the Waltzing Swinger ride in 2013, according to The Guardian.She claimed that she fell head-first from the ride, also attributing wintry conditions. In response, Dollywood said Brown had to 'intentionally unlatch' her lap bar to get out of the seat early, and was injured because she jumped from the chair before the ride had fully stopped. The two parties came to a settlement agreement.In 2016, another lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Lea Garcia, Heather Carter and their daughter, claiming that that a tree branch fell on them, causing injuries, while they were at the park, according to CBS 42. Garcia sued for $900,000, according to the outlet, while Carter sued for $750,000 and $200,000 on the behalf of her daughter. It's unclear how or if the lawsuit was resolved.In 2018, the park faced yet another suit from a woman in New Jersey. In December 2025, Dollywood visitors were left disappointed after the beloved, fan-favorite ride The Dollywood Express (seen) closed with no warning for unscheduled maintenance The park features many rides and attractions for all agesJoin the discussionShould Dollywood change or preserve its spirit after Dolly Parton's passing?What's your view?The woman alleged that she suffered a broken wrist after tripping and falling while trying to get off the Rockin’ Roadway ride on March 19, 2017, according to News Channel 11. She claimed that she fell 'due to no safety devices being in place to assist patrons exiting the ride.' The woman and Dollywood reached an out-of-court settlement. In 2022, a woman sued after being injured on the Mountain Scream waterslide at Splash Country, suffering a fractured leg and pelvis, per KNOE. It's unclear how or if the lawsuit was resolved. In December 2025, Dollywood visitors were left disappointed after the beloved, fan-favorite ride The Dollywood Express closed with no warning for unscheduled maintenance. Upset parkgoers unleashed their fury over the disruption on Facebook at the time, and blasted the train's closure as 'absurdly ridiculous.' And in January, the park came under fierce fire after it implemented a new system that times and tracks its fountain drinks. The dispenser required guests who buy a soda to scan a QR code on their cup before they can access the beverages. In 2025, Dollywood was named as the top amusement park in the United States by TripadvisorNot only do customers have a limited time to fill up their cup, but the machine also keeps track of exactly how much liquid they get and will stop working once they reach their limit.In addition, the park's new ride, NightFlight Expedition, was supposed to open in the spring but was delayed due to 'complex construction and adjustments' before it finally opened earlier this month, leaving some visitors disappointed.Dollywood is known for its fun, whimsical feel, and offers an array of rollercoasters and family-friendly rides. Adjacent to the park is Dollywood's water park, called Splash Country. In addition to the rides, the park also attracts visitors for its decadent food, like its world-famous cinnamon bread and 25-pound apple pie, both of which had gone viral on social media in recent years. The park has made quite the difference in Tennessee. It's the biggest employer in Pigeon Forge and Sevier County, according to Southern Living, employing over 3,000 people during its peak operating season.'When I was growing up here in the Great Smoky Mountains, we used to come every now and then down to this area,' Parton told USA Today in a January 2023 interview. 'When it was the county fair, we’d come to town, and I used to think if I make it big, if I get rich like I was dreaming I might, that I’d love to do something special, to come back home and build a park of my own.'And that she did. In 2025, Dollywood was named as the top amusement park in the United States by Tripadvisor. This year, the attraction was also named 49th overall on TIME magazine’s list of the top 500 privately held companies in the United States. Parton, who is often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was arguably best known for her hits Jolene and 9 to 5. Her passing came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing. The legendary country singer's death was confirmed in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Seaver, who also served as her head of security.'This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,' Seaver revealed.He hailed his aunt for having 'lived in the light' and said she was now 'in the arms of Jesus' and the company of her late husband Carl Dean, as well as her parents and 'countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens.'Seaver characterized her as a 'a farmer, just like her daddy,' adding, 'He farmed the soil, she farmed songs and happiness. 'Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest.'