The Smoky Mountains’ amusement park cleans up (again) at Golden Ticket Awards
If I’m being honest, I never really understood just how many amusement/theme parks there were in the United States.
Growing up in the Midwest before moving to the mountains, I was well aware of places like King’s Island, Cedar Point and Six Flags. I knew about smaller parks like Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, and Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. And of course, everyone knows about the theme park meccas in Central Florida.
The truth is, I didn’t realize just HOW many amusement parks there are in the U.S. – and the world – until Dollywood’s co-owner and operator Herschend Family Entertainment acquired parks all over the Eastern U.S. in a merger earlier this year. I’d never heard of parks like Kennywood, Story Land, or Dutch Wonderland.
My friends, amusement is out there and its everywhere. And so, I suppose I never fully appreciated just how big Dollywood’s annual Golden Ticket Award Hall has been. These worldwide awards are inclusive – in theory at least – of every amusement and theme park in the world. When Dollywood wins a Golden Ticket – it won three earlier this month – it has taken on all comers.
It’s one thing to stand tall among the theme park greats in the states, which Dollywood has done. However, it’s an entirely different matter when you shine against the whole world. And Dollywood, our little hometown park in the Smokies, has been frequently recognized as the best in multiple categories. If you remember the park’s humble beginnings when Dolly Parton first partnered with the Herschends 40 years ago, it’s a pretty impressive come-up.
What are the Golden Ticket Awards?
Essentially, it’s the amusement park Oscars or maybe the Emmy’s. But the selection method has the distinct ring of the People’s Choice Awards. Each year Amusement TODAY puts on its best in show competition. They enlist a panel of voters from all over the world – comprised mostly of experienced theme park enthusiasts – who vote on a variety of categories. Voters are divided into geographic regions. In recent years, Amusement TODAY has reached out to suppliers, journalists and manufacturers and included them in the balloting. The awards began in 1998 and have been going strong ever since.
Was Dollywood ranked as the best theme park overall this year?
No, Dollywood finished third overall behind Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, and Universal Epic Universe in Orlando. Universal in Orlando – with its four parks – took home the most awards with five. These were Best New Roller Coaster, Best Water Park, Best New Attraction Installation and Best New Theme Concept.
Dollywood took home three first place awards for Best Kids Area (Wildwood Grove), Best Guest Experience and Best Family Coaster (Big Bear Mountain). In addition to finishing third in Best Park – an award it won in 2023 – Dollywood finished fifth in Best Water Park, third in Most Beautiful Park and second in Best New Show (Play on).
Other placements of note include Dollywood’s sister park in Branson, Silver Dollar City. It finished fifth overall in Best Park and the newly acquired Herschend facility Dutch Wonderland which finished as the Top Family Park.
Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay and Speed Zone – both of Pigeon Forge – were recognized in the standout Family Entertainment Center of 2025 category.
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How legit are these awards?
I think there is a certain amount of subjectivity that goes along with any awards based on peoples judgement. It’s like ice skating competitions where the judges have a certain amount of leeway with which to judge. For instance, is Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls in Universal Islands of Adventure really the world’s fifth best water ride? Or is Paultons Park in Hampshire, England actually the second-best family park in the world? Over say, the Magic Kingdom?
Over the years, the results have been … shall we say … quirky? Voters appear to have eclectic taste and a penchant for repetition. For example, Holiday World won the cleanest park award from 2000-2018. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s IOA won Best Dark Ride from 2001 until 2013. It was unseated by Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey which was then beaten by Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2016, 22 years after it opened. King’s Island won best kid’s area from 2001 through 2018.
Award Examples & Limitations
Another example, Dollywood has won the Best Guest Experience Award every year since its creation in 2019. It has also won Best Kids Area for Six consecutive years, ever since Wildwood Grove opened. The Best Christmas Event award was retired in 2024 after Dollywood won the award for 15 consecutive years. Golden Ticket Awards staff opted for retirement. But then named Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas as the legend for Christmas theme park events. Sometimes looking at the award results feels like playing cards with an unshuffled deck.
Other issues include a nearly complete lack of any of the Asian theme parks. And a real focus on the Eastern United States and somewhat in Europe. Disney is almost completely left out. This is not too surprising considering Epic Universe’s opening took a lot of votes that might have gone Disney’s way. But while I can accept Dollywood offers a better guest experience than Disney, you’re telling me it doesn’t make the top 5? Holiday World is a better guest experience than Disney? Kings Island is? It doesn’t make a lot of sense.
So, what can we make of Dollywood’s wins?
I still think it’s important for a couple of reasons. In a year where the mutli-billion-dollar Epic Universe opened, Dollywood – which didn’t debut a lot of new things for its 40th year – is right there in terms of recognition. When it started in 1986 – the former Silver Dollar City – was a regional theme park. It certainly would not have been worthy of such recognition. Now, through a systematic improvement plan, Dollywood is right there with the Big Fish in the industry. Dollywood is not one of the quirky also-rans getting votes because of its underdog status. Dollywood is on par with Universal, Disney and the other monsters of the industry. Winning is still a big deal.
“Capturing the hearts of its visitors is vital to a guest experience in a theme park,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communication Coordinator, Amusement Today. “When guests spend the day enjoying rides that are unique and notable, eating delicious food, experiencing different forms of entertainment from craftsmen to shows and are continuously treated like family, it’s a winning formula. Dolly has said they don’t do what they do to win awards — but they deserve them! Guests love how they feel when they visit. It’s those moments you remember for your whole life.
“The fact that Dollywood is a finalist in so many categories speaks toward the decisions that bring people back time and time again,” Baldwin added. “What was once a small park in 1986 is now globally known. People come from around the world to embrace this atmosphere. It’s a treat, time and time again.”
Dollywood’s president weighs in
Dollywood President Eugene Naughton – who also worked for the Six Flags group earlier in his career – said the recognition is gratifying for the entire Dollywood team.
“I can speak for everyone at Dollywood Parks & Resorts when I say that earning awards like these is humbling,” he said. “All of us greatly anticipate the Golden Ticket Awards ceremony each year because the awards validate that our efforts and the hard work of all of our hosts are resonating with our guests. We don’t create the industry’s best guest experience because we want to win awards for it, though, we do it because we want our guests to enjoy the ultimate theme park destination—a place filled with joy, hospitality, and unforgettable memories.”
“Additionally, with the current environment, we think it is important to provide the best possible value for those who choose to spend their money by visiting the park. We want to thank the Golden Ticket voters for recognizing how unique Dollywood is within our industry. The theme park industry is in an exciting place right now, and we plan to remain among the leaders.”
Do you agree with the Golden Ticket Awards? Let us know in the comments!
