Dollywood was yesterday awarded the theme park equivalent of the
Oscars at the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 in Orlando, Florida.
The Applause Award was accepted by Dolly Parton in person who stated in an interview how “honoured and proud” she was to receive such a prestigious award. “I’m excited that this is our 25th anniversary for Dollywood, that we won it this year, and that I had a chance to be here.” She added.
The Applause Award, which has been presented since 1980 honour’s a park whose “management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with their foresight, originality and sound business development,” according to a statement from Liseberg park in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Applause winner is decided by a board of governors chaired by Mats Wedin, Liseberg’s CEO. The board includes theme park professionals from around the world.
Dollywood beat off competition from English based Alton Towers and German Theme Park, Phantasialand.
Dollywood welcomes 2.5 million visitors a year.