A new walking tour, "In Dolly's Footsteps," officially opened Friday in downtown Sevierville, inviting visitors to explore nine locations significant to Dolly Parton's childhood and early career. The free, self-guided tour aims to provide insight into Parton's formative years, highlighting places where she ate, shopped, and spent time with friends, alongside the site of her first paid public performance.
Each stop on the tour features a marker equipped with a QR code. Scanning these codes allows visitors to access historical photographs and listen to narratives describing what the locations looked like during Parton's youth. Many of the original businesses referenced on the tour have since undergone changes or closed permanently.
The tour begins at the Dolly Parton statue and concludes at the Pines Theater, although the chronological story of Parton's life unfolds in reverse during the experience. The Pines Theater holds particular significance as the venue where Parton first sang for a paying audience at age 10. Sevier County Historian Carroll McMahan recounted that Parton initially appeared on the Cas Walker Amateur Hour at the theater, captivating the audience and earning an invitation to return the following week for her professional debut on the same stage. McMahan described how the young Parton, with a guitar larger than herself, took the stage and mesmerized the crowd, leading him to believe that anyone present that night recognized her destiny for great things.
Among the other featured locations is Red’s Cafe, a place where Parton's father would take her for a hamburger before her performances at the Pines Theater. According to McMahan, this was Parton’s first experience eating out, an event later memorialized by Dollywood through a recreation of Red’s within the theme park. Another notable stop is the Easy Way Dime Store, where Parton famously purchased her first makeup. McMahan shared that Parton often spoke of how much money it took to achieve her signature "cheap" look, a concept he traced back to her childhood visits to the Easy Way Dime Store. Additionally, a member of the Temple family recalled that the flour sack given to Dr. Robert F. Thomas upon Parton's birth came from Temple Milling Company. The tour also includes Kilpatrick’s Drugstore, where pharmacist Bill Kilpatrick shared anecdotes about how Parton’s presence would distract him from filling prescriptions.
The concept for "In Dolly's Footsteps" originated in 2019 when Sevier County Historian Carroll McMahan was inspired by a similar tribute to Abraham Lincoln during a trip to Illinois. McMahan, who worked at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce before retiring in 2024, subsequently proposed the idea to his colleagues. The project encountered several delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the extensive approval process required to collaborate with both Dollywood and Parton herself. McMahan also indicated that Parton's declining health affected the timeline, as she had initially planned to record the narration for each tour stop.
Amanda Marr, director of marketing and communications for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that the project required years to complete and involved close cooperation with Dollywood. Marr stated that Parton personally reviewed and approved all proposed locations and expressed enthusiasm for the concept. Marr added that many of the stories integrated into the tour were derived directly from interviews Parton had given over the years, supplemented by input from McMahan, who grew up concurrently with Parton. The tour also incorporates interviews with individuals who were present during the events, such as Bill Kilpatrick, the pharmacist at Kilpatrick's Drugstore.
Since its opening on Friday, the tour has attracted significant public interest, drawing large crowds. Marr noted that the Chamber of Commerce has faced challenges keeping brochures restocked due to the high demand. She observed visitors actively engaging with their phones and brochures, indicating widespread enjoyment and positive feedback on social media, with many expressing excitement to experience the tour during future vacations. Katelynne Taborski, a visitor from Indiana who took the tour before departing after a family vacation, praised the experience for its visual insights into Parton's past and the meaningful connections it offered. Taborski cited the Dolly Parton statue as her favorite stop.
McMahan underscored Parton's intrinsic drive, asserting that even before her widespread fame, "She had the grit and determination." He suggested that anyone acquainted with her at the time recognized her potential for future success, though the ultimate extent of her achievements was unimaginable. The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce reaffirms that Parton personally reviewed and gave her approval to all the locations featured in the tour.
