meal at Dolly Parton's Stampede and aerialist at show
Dolly Parton's Stampede has amazing food and live performances.Carly Caramanna
  • I ate at Dolly Parton's dinner show at a theme park.

  • My party of two spent a total of $160 on three courses at the prix fixe restaurant.

  • We enjoyed our meals and the live entertainment.

I went to Dolly Parton's Stampede, a famous dinner show, at a theme park.

carly posing for a selfie in front of the dollywood entrance sign
Dollywood is one of my favorite theme parks.Carly Caramanna

During a visit to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in Tennessee, we went to Dolly Parton's Stampede, a famous dinner show that is five minutes away from the park.

Parton's fond childhood memories of spending time around the kitchen table with her family inspired her to start her own business. A multi-course meal and a live show are included in the experience.

Dolly Parton's restaurant is open. If the child is between the ages of 3 and 9 the cost is $34.99. You can make reservations online, over the phone or in person.

We were surprised to see the horses before the show.

Dolly Parton's Stampede horse walk in the stables
Guests could walk through the stables before the show.Carly Caramanna

The Horse Walk is a pre-show introduction to the animals that is located in the same building as the dinner show.

We were able to visit the horses in a row of open-air stables just before check-in. It was a great way to start the meal.

We waited in the saloon for our table to be ready.

Dolly Parton's Stampede saloon with characters in the center
The saloon made the wait go by quickly.Carly Caramanna

The multi-level saloon where guests waited to be seated for dinner was where we arrived early.

We felt like we were in an old-time frontier town when we visited the Western-themed space.

The space was fun to explore and it made the wait go by quickly.

I ordered a cup that looked like a boot.

I ordered a drink in a boot-shaped cup.Carly Caramanna

There is a bar at the saloon that serves alcohol.

I ordered one of the dinner show's signature boots to keep as a souvenir.

We went to the arena for dinner and the show.

We had a great view of the performers.Carly Caramanna

Dinner is held in a 35,000 square foot arena and guests can see the live show in the center from their seats.

A prix fixe meal includes an entree, dessert, and an amuse bouche.

The menu had a variety of options for all types of eaters.Carly Caramanna

A three-course feast is included in the dining experience. Iced tea and unlimited soft drinks are included.

The server made it easy to enjoy the show while we ate.

The creamy soup was the first thing we ate.

The soup was creamy and delicious.Carly Caramanna

The meal started with a bowl of the dinner show's creamy soup and a flaky biscuit. The soup was light and delicious.

The server did not give guests with spoons. The soup was in a bowl.

Guests can get a mix of the dish from the gift shop.

The live performances were a highlight.

We enjoyed live performances during our meal.Carly Caramanna

The arena was filled with people watching a live show. There were live performers and a number of horses.

The horseback riders were a highlight of the show, as were the comedy bits and fireworks.

The wall was made of light emitting diodes.

The LED wall changed throughout the performances.Carly Caramanna

I was impressed by the huge backdrop wall, which showed different scenes from the Great Plains.

It made the whole experience feel like it was happening.

The portions of the entree were large.

The entrées at Dolly Parton's Stampede were filling.Carly Caramanna

A whole rotisserie chicken, smoked pork loin, corn on the cob, and an herb-basted potato were part of the entree course.

The portions were large. We were able to try every item and pick which one we wanted.

At Dolly Parton's Stampede, you can find vegan, vegetarian, andGluten-free options. Some items from the regular menu are included in the vegetarian feast.

The chicken was one of my favorites.

The chicken was the standout part of the meal.Carly Caramanna

The entire rotisserie chicken was my favorite dish. The meat was tender and moist, but it was the signature rub on the outside that made it stand out.

I kept going back for more of the chicken even though I liked the other dishes.

An apple turnover was a light dessert.

The dessert was light, flaky, and delicious.Carly Caramanna

We had a turnover of apples for the dessert course. There was a unique twist on a traditional Southern apple pie.

I liked having a lighter dessert after eating a large meal.

Parton wrote and recorded a song for the production.

The two people in my party spent $170 on the experience, but left completely empty handed.

I loved the small Dolly Parton-themed details throughout the show.Carly Caramanna

I was surprised by how good the entree course was. Even though the menu was prix fixe, it had a good variety of dishes.

The show was family-friendly and very entertaining.

Parton's music was included in the performances, which I liked.

You can read the original article.