Dolly Parton was known mostly for her work in music and film. But her legacy extends into a commercial real estate empire that includes a major theme park, dinner theaters, resorts and a soon-to-open Nashville hotel.
Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80, spent decades investing in entertainment and hospitality properties that helped transform Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, into one of the South's most visited tourist destinations while expanding her presence in downtown Nashville and elsewhere around the country.
While many celebrities have licensed their names to hotels and restaurants, Parton maintained ownership stakes in a collection of properties tied closely to her brand, with holdings centered on Tennessee's tourism economy.
Parton's largest commercial asset is her 50% stake in the 165-acre Dollywood Theme Park and Resorts, alongside co-owner, Herschend Family Entertainment, according to media reports. Her stake in the business is estimated at $165 million, media reports say.
There are several themed dinner venues in Tennessee and elsewhere in the South, including two locations of Dolly Parton's Stampede and three Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show. In backing theaters, she said she wanted to provide memorable yet affordable family entertainment.
Parton also invested in hotels, including one in downtown Nashville. She bought the site at 211 Commerce St. to house her new Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel. The hotel is expected to begin taking reservations Sept. 14 and to double as a museum displaying Parton's career memorabilia.
The SongTeller hotel is designed to have 245 rooms and suites and is a "love letter" from Parton to the city, the musician shared on the hotel's website before her death. "From intimate venues to eclectic yet sophisticated rooms and suites, I've poured my heart into this new song," she added. Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum is to open this year on the third floor of the hotel. It will be the largest exhibit celebrating her life in the world to date, the hotel said.
The singer's real estate ventures extended a career built on creating memorable experiences. In "9 to 5," her best-known film role, Parton helped bring an office workplace to life on screen. She earned a Grammy and an Academy Award nomination for her work.
Prior to making her foray into commercial real estate, Parton invested in private residential properties, including her Brentwood Estate, about 10 miles south of Nashville. The 63-acre property was purchased by Parton alongside her late husband, Carl Dean, for $400,000 in 1999, according to media reports. The estate is now valued at about $10 million, reports state.
Parton once owned a California retreat with an 1,800-square-foot Craftsman-style mountain cabin, which she donated to the Ronald McDonald house in 2023. The charity later sold it for $585,000, according to media reports.