New Exhibit Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Sevierville’s Dolly Parton Statue

April 14, 2017

One of the Smoky Mountain’s most iconic landmarks is celebrating a big anniversary! This year, the famous Dolly Parton statue in front of the Sevier County Courthouse will turn 30 years old. To mark the occasion, the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special exhibit all about the creation of the statue. To help you make the most of your next vacation, Auntie Belham’s Cabin Rentals has put together a guide to everything you need to know about this brand new exhibit.

About the “Dolly in Bronze” Exhibit

Entitled 30: Celebrating Dolly in Bronze, the new exhibit features a number of rare artifacts related to the genesis of the statue.

Wax Maquette

When artist Jim Gray pitched his design for the statue to Sevier County, he came in with a tiny wax sculpture of his vision for the project. This 10-inch tall maquette is on display at the exhibit.

Bronze Bust

Another highlight of Celebrating Dolly in Bronze is an early bust of Dolly. Before working on the full statue, Gray first created a bronze “study” of Parton’s head to make sure he got the details of her face just right. In total, Jim Gray spent more than 2,000 hours making the Dolly Parton statue.

Dolly’s Letters and Stories

In addition to artifacts from Gray, the exhibit also showcases personal items from Dolly Parton herself. When she heard about the exhibit, Dolly sent in letters and stories about the statue, including a touching tale about her late father’s pride for his daughter’s bronze likeness. Visitors will also have the chance to see the autographed stool that Dolly sat on when she posed for the statue.

Exhibit Hours and Location

The Celebrating Dolly in Bronze exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center located at 3099 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Kodak, TN. The exhibit opened on March 15, 2017 and will run until the end of December, 2017.

(See Also: Top Reasons to Stay at Our Cabins Near Dollywood)

See the Dolly Parton Statue

If you’ve never seen the iconic Dolly Parton statue, you’ll definitely want to make it a priority for your next vacation in the Smokies. The statue is located on the Sevier County Courthouse lawn at 125 Court Avenue in Sevierville, TN. Be sure to bring a camera or a smartphone so you can take a selfie with Dolly!

See Dolly Parton in Person

The only thing better than seeing Sevierville’s Dolly Parton statue is seeing the Queen of Country Music in person! On Friday, May 5, 2017, Dolly will visit the Smoky Mountains for her annual homecoming parade. Over 50,000 people will line the Parkway in Pigeon Forge for the chance to see Dolly as she waves to the crowd from atop her festive float.

The parade will start at 6 p.m., with a route that takes the floats from Traffic Light # 6 (near J.T. Hannah’s Kitchen) to Traffic Light # 3 (near The Track). We recommend arriving early to get a good spot along the Parkway!

Where to Stay

When you stay with Auntie Belham’s Cabin Rentals, you will be near all of the Dolly Parton-related exhibits and events in the Smokies. With everything from 1 bedroom cabins for romantic retreats to 9 bedroom cabins for family reunions, we are sure to have the perfect property for your next escape. To start planning your vacation, browse our selection of Sevier County cabins!