Ask a handful of Dollywood park-goers what they’re excited to eat at Dollywood, and a good plenty will say the Cinnamon Bread. But ask Dolly herself, and she’ll say something different.
“My favorite thing to eat at Dollywood is everything,” Dolly told Southern Living with a chuckle. But if she had to pick, she goes for the famous funnel cakes.
“Even if I’m in my bus or the Dolly suite, I say, ‘Run get me some funnel cakes.'” Parton told Southern Living. “I can’t leave here without funnel cakes.”
So I set out to see for myself what all of her fuss was about. It was my first time at Dollywood, and lucky for me, it was also the Harvest Festival: A time when all sorts of fall food specialties are abound at every booth. I had the option of choosing all sorts of toppings on my funnel cakes, from apple and pie fillings to whipped cream and crumbled Oreos. I opted for the plain funnel cake with its generous dusting of powdered sugar—after all, a classic is a classic.
Getty: Amy Ryan
What Makes Dollywood Funnel Cake Special
The “cake” itself is delicious enough—its ribbony shape is crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside. The dough itself is not too sweet, and there are ample divots for the powdered sugar to fall into as you eat. But it’s more the presentation and setting of the funnel cake that impressed me, and made it memorable.
The size: And let me tell you: It’s huge. The funnel cake takes up the entire plate, and while some cakes taper off at the edges, this one is properly thick through and through. I expected to share it, and I did offer a few bites, but for the most part I enjoyed it all to myself—and happily.
The setting: Dolly may order her funnel cake to her tour bus, but I was struck by how intentional even the location of the funnel cake booth is. Sidled up to the Dollywood Country Fair, a portion of the park that’s designed after a mini State Fair, which I’d argue is the greatest charm of Dollywood. Designed with children in mind, there’s a Scrambler, two different swings rides, kid-friendly games, and a classic “rise and drop” ride. Walk a bit farther and you’ll find the rollercoasters (of which I road my first one, ever!) I love that the funnel cakes and the fair go hand-in-hand. Bravely riding my first ever rollercoaster at 30 years old and then enjoying a funnel cake? I felt like a kid again.
The sugar: It is absolutely loaded with powdered sugar. Yes, all funnel cakes are, but Dollywood doesn’t hold back. Perhaps Dolly understands that you only get to eat a specialty “fair” food like funnel cake ever so often—and every detail down to the mess of sugar is just right. After all, there’s nothing worse than a funnel cake that’s not gobbled up in a cloud of sugar.
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Other Dollywood Food Favorites
Warm, fragrant loaves of Grist Mill Cinnamon Bread are a fan-favorite—I even passed a resort goer wearing a shirt that said “I’m just here for the cinnamon bread.” Yet while the sweets are a common attraction, I think the savory dishes are really where Dollywood shines. Attending the park during the Harvest Classic offered up a surprisingly wide array of fall food specials, including succotash with red potatoes, sweet peppers and onions, and spicy sausage. It hit the spot on a chilly day before enjoying a funnel cake and hot chocolate all to myself.
Other Southern Appalachian specialty dishes like pinto beans with ham, fried green tomatoes, and classic hot dogs come in heaping sizes to share with the family, and they’re perfectly prepared. Bags of pork chitlins, both regular and spicy, are available across the park—a fun snacky detail that you’d be hard pressed to find at other sorts of theme parks. There really isn’t anywhere quite like Dollywood, and this is especially true when it comes to the food.
