Hold onto your floaties, SoCal—Dolly Parton just made a huge splash in our backyard!

Dolly Parton's Dollywood parent company has significantly expanded its presence by acquiring several amusement parks, including Raging Waters in San Dimas, Boomer's in Irvine, and Castle Park in Sherman Oaks. This expansion into Southern California marks an important milestone as it positions Dollywood as the fourth largest theme park owner in the U.S. The acquisition reflects Dolly Parton's brand promise of fun and large-scale attractions, blending her signature southern charm with California's vibrant entertainment scene. Given Parton's renowned ability to entertain, there's excitement around the potential for thematic experiences drawing from her musical repertoire, such as a 'Jolene' lazy river or a '9 to 5' waterslide. In another significant theme park industry move, Kennywood, along with other nearby attractions, has been acquired by Herschend Family Entertainment, the same company that owns Dollywood. Acknowledged for its commitment to high-quality guest experiences, Herschend aims to ensure a seamless transition for employees and visitors while enhancing the parks' offerings. Similarly, Herschend has acquired Story Land, Water Country, and several other properties owned by Palace Entertainment. This acquisition allows Herschend to expand its reach across North America and leverage its expertise in creating family-friendly entertainment experiences. These acquisitions highlight a trend in the theme park industry where larger entities consolidate smaller, local attractions to enhance their portfolios and deliver superior guest experiences. As Herschend acquires more properties, it expands its legacy for maintaining long-standing, family-focused attractions and builds upon the traditions of renowned parks. Both Parton's and Herschend's expansions represent strategic moves within the leisure and entertainment sector, offering enhanced leisure opportunities for visitors while safeguarding local favorites. These moves also signify an era where entertainment brands are continually broadening their scope to provide diverse and engaging attractions.