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- Take a look inside Dolly Parton’s childhood home, a 2-room log cabin where she lived with her 11 siblings (businessinsider.com)
Step Inside Dolly Parton’s Past: Dollywood Honors Her Mountain Home Roots
PIGEON FORGE, TN – While Dollywood is celebrated for its thrilling rides, vibrant musical showcases, and beloved cinnamon bread, the theme park also offers a profound and personal tribute to its namesake, country music legend Dolly Parton. Tucked away in the Rivertown Junction section, visitors can step back in time to “Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home,” an authentic replica of the humble two-room log cabin where Parton grew up.
This detailed recreation provides a window into Parton’s early life in Sevierville during the 1940s and 1950s. The original home, where she lived with her parents and 11 siblings, famously lacked both electricity and running water. To ensure the replica’s utmost authenticity, Parton’s brother, Bobby, meticulously constructed the cabin, while her mother, Avie Lee, personally designed and furnished the interior, recalling every nuance of their family dwelling.
Parton, born in Locust Ridge in 1946, has often spoken fondly of her childhood, even immortalizing her upbringing in her 1973 song, “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” The lyrics paint a picture of peace and simplicity, a sentiment echoed within the exhibit. Adding to its historical significance, a piece of wood from the original front porch, which Parton has fondly referred to as her first stage, is preserved in a time capsule at the Dollywood DreamMore Resort.
Inside the replica, guests will find walls lined with newspaper, a practical insulation method of the era. The dining area features a small table and a wood-burning stove, while the kitchen and pantry display items believed to be from the actual Parton family home, including dishes, cast-iron pans, and a butter churner.
Religious art adorns the walls, reflecting Parton’s deep Christian faith, which she has consistently described as a guiding force in her life and career. Dollywood itself honors this spiritual foundation with gospel music performances and a chapel that holds Sunday worship services.
The cabin’s single bedroom showcases photos of Parton’s parents, Avie Lee Owens and Robert Lee Parton, reminding visitors of the close-knit family life that shaped the future superstar. Though Dolly Parton has ascended from these modest beginnings to become a global cultural icon, this heartfelt exhibit at Dollywood ensures her roots in the Tennessee mountains remain a central, inspiring part of her story for generations to come.