Did You Know There’s A Chapel Inside Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Theme Park?
Learn All About The Little White Chapel In Dollywood
There’s a little white chapel inside Dolly Parton’s beloved Dollywood theme park with an interesting story behind it.
The Robert F. Thomas Chapel is nestled in the Craftsman’s Valley section of the Pigeon Forge theme park. This one-room country church includes wooden pews and charming hardwood floors to match.
Lush trees surround the tiny structure. Dollywood staff members spruce up the nearby landscaping with seasonal plants and decorations.
Beyond being a place for Dollywood visitors to walk through, the Robert F. Thomas Chapel also holds weekly church services. The Dollywood website lists the service times:
Sundays at 11:30 a.m. during the regular park season
Additionaly, services are held on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. during the Smoky Mountain Christmas season
The Robert F. Thomas Chapel Was Named After An Important Person In Dolly Parton’s Life
The Dollywood chapel was named to honor a special person in Dolly Parton’s life. Robert F. Thomas was the doctor who delivered Dolly on January 19, 1946.
Dolly often speaks about how she and her 11 siblings grew up poor in the heart of the Smoky Mountains, not far from where Dollywood is now. They were so poor that her father, Robert, paid Dr. Thomas with a sack of cornmeal for delivering Dolly.
Needless to say, Robert F. Thoms played a crucial role in Dolly’s life. It only seems fitting that she named her Dollywood chapel after him.
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Dollywood visitors voiced how much they love the church in a post shared on the theme park’s official Facebook page. They left comments such as:
“Love church in Dollywood. We attend ever time we’re there.”
“It’s awesome!!! I love seeing all the quilts of the Disciples on the walls!!”
“My favorite church service!!!”
“We’ve been to services there many times through the years!”
“Such a special place. Loved going there many times.”
“Love that place! My husband and I renewed our vows there last year!”
“Attending a Sunday service is my favorite thing to do. Then go eat the buffet.”
Have you ever attended a church service at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel in Dollywood? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience.
Dolly constantly adds new attractions for guests to enjoy in Dollywood. Earlier this year (2024), she opened her “Dolly Parton Experience” exhibit, which features artifacts from throughout her life and career.
The exhibit also highlights Dolly’s connection to her Christian faith. She shared more about her faith on her album Smoky Mountain DNA, which debuted on November 15, 2024.
