What do the Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty and Dolly Parton all have in frequent? Nicely, they’re all nationwide treasures. However solely one in all them has a brand new resort open on the foot of the Smoky Mountains, and TPG was there in November when Dolly formally opened Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge & Spa.
In case you’re confused about why the singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist has a resort, you then won’t learn about her unbelievable Smoky Mountain theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It is one in all my favourite theme parks on the earth, together with its authentic resort, Dollywood’s Dreammore Resort & Spa.
With an increasing number of people flocking to Pigeon Forge to spend a number of days using over-the-top coasters, munching on mouthwatering cinnamon bread and perhaps even spending a number of nights on Dolly’s retired tour bus, Dollywood wanted extra space and extra rooms to accommodate the entire enjoyable.
So whether or not you have been to Dollywood dozens of instances like me, otherwise you’re planning your very first journey to Dolly’s “Tennessee Mountain Residence,” this is what it is advisable learn about staying at Dolly’s modern new lodge, Heartsong.
What’s Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge & Resort
Heartsong is the second of two official resorts related to Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood. Whereas the unique, Dreammore, leans right into a kind of Chip and Joanna Gaines-like upscale southern design, 302-room Heartsong totally embraces the mountain lodge aesthetic. It characteristic stone fireplaces, woodland creature motifs, enormous vaulted ceilings within the foyer and every resort flooring representing the colours and scenes of a distinct season within the Smokies.
Associated: 11 greatest accommodations close to Dollywood
A real family-friendly resort, there’s an indoor and out of doors pool, children actions all through the day, rooms designed for households with bunk beds, a restaurant and bar, plus particular perks for visitors at Dollywood, however extra on all of that later.
The way to guide Dollywood’s Heartsong Lodge & Resort
Sadly, Heartsong is just not related to any main loyalty program, and getting any elitelike perks right here is unlikely — particularly as so many alternative room configurations are tailor-made to sure sorts of visitors, like suites with bunkbeds.
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That mentioned, Heartsong generally is a nice worth, relying on the time of yr you go to. Entry-level king rooms with a sleeper couch begin round $199 per evening, whereas the identical room with the balcony begins at $249 per evening. A household suite with bunk beds begins round $274 per evening, and a junior suite with a balcony, a king-size mattress, sleeper couch and bunk beds begins round $374 per evening.
Simply be aware that in peak season, like in the summertime and through busy vacation weekends, these charges can fluctuate.
In case you’re a frequent Dollywood customer, one approach to save on rooms is by buying a Dollywood Seasons move to obtain 10% off on Dollywood resort bookings.
The rooms are trendy and cozy
Having stayed at and obsessed over Dolly’s authentic resort, Dreammore, I used to be excited to see how Heartsong would differentiate itself from its stunning sister property. Let me let you know, the parents behind Heartsong discovered a approach to increase on the spirit of Dolly that permeates Dreammore whereas creating a wholly new idea with rooms that really feel like a recent and trendy mountain lodge.
In my room, a king with a balcony and Murphy mattress, I used to be actually impressed from the second I walked in. Measuring a minimal of 350 sq. toes, the room instantly felt massive, recent and, in all probability most vital, homey and enjoyable. The sage and forest inexperienced colour palette, mixed with smooth leather-based and wooden accents, instantly made me really feel like I used to be within the mountains. Fashionable touches, each refined and really current, additionally made it clear the room was properly in contact with the twenty first century.
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Strolling in, a big mirror with leather-based straps was hanging on the wall, adopted by an uncovered closet with coat hangers, a number of cabinets, an unstocked minifridge (there is a fuel station throughout from the resort space entrance to refill on snacks and drinks, plus a market off the foyer), a secure, an ice bucket, and an iron and ironing board.
In the principle bed room space, I used to be impressed by the stylish and easy wooden and leather-based headboard with extra leather-based straps (a theme all through the room). Above the mattress was a cute mural with a sundown view of the Smoky Mountains (harking back to the quilt of Dolly’s “Blue Smoke” album) behind a mama and child bear and flowers internet hosting Dolly’s signature image, butterflies. The mattress itself was completely snug, and I slept positive throughout my three-night keep.
On one nightstand, there have been built-in energy shops, and on the opposite nightstand, an alarm clock with wi-fi charging capabilities.
Throughout from the mattress was an extended wood console with a padded bench that I am positive would’ve been an amazing place to take my footwear off (although I used it as a spot to dump my backpack), plus storage and a 42-inch TV with streaming capabilities.
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There was additionally a desk with a chair excellent for getting some work executed, together with a small however environment friendly single-cup espresso maker. One factor I particularly liked was a bit of sound machine the place you possibly can combine totally different nature sounds to essentially make it really feel such as you had been on previous Rocky Prime.
Reverse the desk, a small sofa sat in opposition to a wood cupboard that contained a pre-made Murphy mattress. The sofa magically collapsed down when the Murphy mattress was open, making it simple to transform the house.
There was additionally a balcony overlooking the doorway to the resort with two chairs and a wood desk.
The toilet was a two-room affair with a single-sink vainness and many further floor house. There was an enormous mirror with these wood straps, however with the added impact of an in-mirror gentle to glow as vivid as Dolly (plus etched lightning bugs, in any other case referred to as fireflies). After all there have been additionally further towels, a hair dryer and a few small rest room facilities.
There was additionally a black cosmetics washrag, which I discovered humorous contemplating Dolly has mentioned publicly she by no means takes off her face at evening.
The bathroom and bathe had been separated by a sliding barn door, so two folks may, in principle, use the house on the similar time, however do not count on it to work as a lot of a sound barrier. The bathe had a glass sliding door, white bathe tiles and Heartsong-branded rest room facilities that smelled fairly good.
Get your fill with elevated Southern meals
Belief me after I say you will not go hungry at Heartsong, as there are a handful of locations to eat or moist your whistle.
Begin your day with Starbucks espresso and grab-and-go from the Songbird Market within the morning. There, you’ll be able to load up on snacks for the day, order a sandwich or a pizza, seize ready-made meals to take with you or get Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread for a sugary jolt. It is open all through the day, so don’t fret if it is advisable get your afternoon caffeine repair on, too.
The principle restaurant, open for breakfast and dinner, is Ember & Elm: Tastes Rooted In The Smokies. Located in a fantastic, trendy eating room, visitors can have a continental breakfast ($19) or order dishes like hen and waffles (go for the Nashville scorching hen, $19), cinnamon bread french toast casserole ($14) or more healthy choices like avocado toast ($18).
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For dinner, make a reservation and cargo your desk up with Southern consolation classics and good-for-the-soul favorites. Biscuits (my favourite meals) got here to the desk with out ordering (a dream). I really loved all the things I ate, together with deviled eggs 3 ways (crispy pimento cheese, hen caesar and scorching honey shrimp, $14), a mouthwatering heirloom tomato and burrata salad with grilled peaches ($15) and an airline pan-seared hen breast with brussels sprouts and root vegetable puree ($32).
On the restaurant’s informal bar, the place you can even order meals, I loved an incredible wedge salad with grilled hen and many nice toppings, like crispy bacon, tomatoes and bleu cheese ($16). I additionally ordered a caramel apple Outdated-Common with a sticky, caramel-glazed rim ($16). The bar referred to as Excessive Notice is open later, and I discovered it filled with drained dad and mom on a Saturday evening go to after Dollywood closed.
Lastly, you’ll be able to order meals and drinks to the pool with poolside service. Or, for those who really feel like staying put in your room, an in-room menu with highlights from all of the aforementioned eating shops is offered from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
There are two swimming pools for visitors to get pleasure from
Although I visited Heartsong in early November, I have been to the sister property Dreammore a number of instances throughout hotter months. I can let you know the swimming pools there have been continually busy and full of oldsters lounging in chairs, children laughing and splashing round and an general joyous ambiance that comes with a theme park trip.
Because it warms up, I do know the identical shall be mentioned of the massive out of doors pool at Heartsong. It has a kind of funky U-shape design with a zero-entry space on one aspect and a peninsula-like house within the center; I may simply think about my niece utilizing it as an Olympic-like leaping platform. There’s additionally a waterfall that is positive to be successful with anybody trying to calm down throughout a sticky Tennessee summer time day. For much more enjoyable, there is a splash pad for teenagers.
There’s additionally a scorching tub exterior that stays open because the temperatures drop, and each children and adults had been flocking to it.
Even when the out of doors pool is closed, a big indoor pool is open every single day till 10 p.m., giving the little ones a great way to burn what vitality is left after an extended day operating round.
Household-friendly actions abound
Although you may probably spend most of your time whizzing round on rides like Large Bear Mountain at Dollywood, when you’ve got kiddos, be sure you save a bit of time to get pleasure from one of many many on-property experiences like Camp DW.
With that program, children (and children at coronary heart) pays between $10 and $20 to take part in numerous crafts, like making magnets or Christmas tree ornaments. I joined a gaggle to make my very own stuffed fox, even making a want on the guts earlier than placing it in; I used to be joyful to have a particular souvenir to deliver house.
Different actions embody every day studying time within the library full of books from Dolly’s Creativeness Library, a charity she began that has donated greater than 2 million books to children all over the world.
And at evening, be a part of the Camp DW crew for “Roasties,” the place all visitors can seize a connoisseur marshmallow (we’re speaking those full of much more candy goodies), get a spot across the campfire and make s’mores whereas lightning bugs dance round. Some nights, there’s even a stay sing-along.
And if merely sitting by the hearth is your ideally suited approach to move the time, there is a centerpiece firepit exterior with dozens of chairs surrounding it, plus smaller pits your group or household can declare. Inside, chairs and couches are centered round an enormous double-sided stone fire; practically each time I walked by I noticed somebody cuddled up with a guide in hand.
Resort visitors get nice perks at Dollywood
Making Heartsong a Homebase for a go to to Dollywood is a good concept as a result of resort visitors get the VIP remedy.
For starters, ticketed visitors get precedence entry to Dolly and Dollywood’s Splash Nation water park and early entry on Saturday to get pleasure from a choose experience (although there are some restrictions). You will additionally get complimentary TimeSaver Passes that let you skip the road on sure rides 5 instances in a day and make reservations for sure exhibits. You will additionally get free trolley service to and from the parks and the choice to have in-park purchases delivered to the entrance desk of the resort.
In case you want extra assist planning your excellent day, we have now a useful information with all the things it is advisable know earlier than visiting Dollywood.
Trying out
I’ve mentioned it earlier than, and I will say it once more: Dollywood is among the greatest theme parks within the nation. In case you even have an inkling of need to go to, this is your signal to go.
Now, it is solely getting higher with the addition of a contemporary new resort that is an amazing place to spend a day. At Dollywood, you’ll be able to sleep in a fantastic resort, eat at a really fantastic restaurant, get pleasure from rides for the entire household after which spend the subsequent day exploring one in all our most stunning nationwide parks.
Some may say that Dolly Parton had no concept what she was doing when she transformed a drained previous theme park into Dollywood again in 1986. However I do know in my coronary heart she knew precisely what she was doing — and precisely what it might change into: a world-class expertise with not only one however two unbelievable resorts for the entire household to get pleasure from.
Greatest bank cards for reserving accommodations close to Dollywood
Listed here are three nice bank cards to make use of for reserving stays throughout quite a lot of resort chains and impartial properties whereas nonetheless having fun with money-saving options and high-end advantages.
The Platinum Card® from American Categorical
Incomes charges: This card earns 5 factors per greenback on airfare bought immediately with the airways or by the Amex Journey portal (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr). Plus, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go accommodations booked with Amex Journey. All different purchases earn 1 level per greenback. Keep in mind, Amex factors switch to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio and to Selection Privileges at a 1:1 ratio, and there are generally switch bonuses.
Advantages: This card is totally full of perks, however among the many travel-related ones you may wish to maximize, together with some hotel-specific advantages, are:
- As much as a $200 annual resort credit score, within the type of an announcement credit score, on pay as you go Amex Superb Resorts + Resorts or The Lodge Assortment bookings with Amex Journey while you pay together with your Amex Platinum (Lodge Assortment stays require a two-night minimal)*
- Entry to Amex Superb Resorts + Resorts and The Lodge Assortment
- Complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*
- As much as $200 in assertion credit yearly for incidental charges charged by one airline you choose*
- As much as $200 yearly in Uber Money, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. (cut up into month-to-month $15 credit plus a $20 bonus in December)*
- As much as $189 in assertion credit to cowl your Clear Plus annual membership*
- A $100 assertion credit score for World Entry each 4 years or an up-to-$85 payment credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years (relying on which utility payment is charged to your card first)
- Entry to the American Categorical World Lounge Assortment, together with Centurion lounges, Precedence Cross lounges, Airspace lounges, Escape lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Golf equipment (when touring on same-day Delta flights, restricted to 6 annual visits from Feb. 1, 2025)*
*Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Annual payment: $695 (see charges and charges).
Learn our evaluation of the Amex Platinum card.
Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card
Incomes charges: Earn a limiteless 10 miles per greenback on accommodations and rental vehicles booked by Capital One Journey, 5 miles per greenback on flights booked by Capital One Journey and a limiteless 2 miles per greenback on all different purchases.
Advantages: Cardholders get $300 in credit yearly for bookings made by Capital One Journey, plus 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary, beginning in your first anniversary (value $100 towards journey). By the Capital One Premier Assortment, cardmembers can get pleasure from free breakfast, on-property credit and room upgrades (if out there) on stays at taking part properties booked by Capital One Journey. Additionally they obtain as much as $100 in assertion credit for both TSA PreCheck or World Entry.
Annual payment: $395 (see charges and charges)
Learn our evaluation of the Capital One Enterprise X.
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Incomes charges: This card accrues 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by the Chase journey portal, on Lyft purchases (by March 2025) and on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by March 2025, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors). It additionally racks up 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment); 2 factors per greenback on all journey not booked by the Chase journey portal; and 1 level per greenback on all the things else.
Advantages: Cardholders obtain a $50 assertion credit score on resort stays bought by the Chase Final Rewards journey portal upon opening the cardboard and every following cardmember anniversary. Additionally they obtain a ten% bonus primarily based on their complete spending in the course of the account anniversary yr at a fee of 1 level for every $10 spent. This card additionally has a number of the greatest journey protections within the trade, together with journey cancellation insurance coverage, journey delay insurance coverage and first rental automobile protection, amongst different insurance policies.
Annual payment: $95
Learn our evaluation of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked.
Associated studying:
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
