#SHOWBIZ: Fans flock to Dollywood to celebrate Dolly Parton's enduring Appalachian legacy

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has seen a surge of visitors to Dollywood, the theme park founded by country music icon Dolly Parton, as fans celebrate the singer's enduring legacy in Appalachian culture. Parton, who passed away at 80, co-owned and developed the park, which now draws four million visitors annually and employs over 4,000 people.

The park serves as an economic lifeline for struggling Appalachian communities, generating about $2 billion in economic impact for the state of Tennessee each year. Dollywood offers a variety of attractions, including roller coasters, seasonal festivals, old-time displays of rural life, and an authentic replica of the log cabin where Parton grew up with her 11 siblings.

Parton's dedication to promoting and preserving Appalachian culture through the park has been a source of pride for many, including Rebekah Donchatz, a 35-year-old mortgage processor from Asheville, North Carolina. Donchatz and her sister have been making a yearly pilgrimage to Dollywood since Parton's death, expressing admiration for the singer's commitment to her roots and her positive impact on the region.