Dollywood theme park began in 1961 as a small Civil War-themed tourist attraction called "Rebel Railroad".  Rebel Railroad's main component was the steam train, but there were also other interesting things on the property such as an old time saloon and general store.  In the late 1960s, the name was changed to "Goldrush Junction", and the Civil War theme gave way to a Wild West theme.  The Cleveland Browns football team purchased Goldrush Junction in 1970 and expanded the park with a log flume and several other small rides.

In 1976, Jack and Pete Herschend of Branson, Missouri bought the park from the Cleveland Browns and the following season changed the name from Goldrush Junction to "Silver Dollar City Tennessee", as a sister park to the Herschends' original Silver Dollar City in Branson.  Dolly Parton joined the Herschend brothers in 1986 when she bought into the theme park and redeveloped it as Dollywood.  The railroad line was kept as a feature of the park, and renamed The Dollywood Express.  The five-mile line provides a 20-minute circular ride in open carriages to the furthest reaches of the park, and back through the centre to the station.  Since opening in 1986, Dollywood has grown to become Tennessee's top tourist attraction.

http://www.dollywood.com/

This photograph and the video stills were taken in September 2006.