Springfield – Peter Herschend, co‑founder of Silver Dollar City and longtime business partner of Dolly Parton, remembered the country music icon’s extraordinary influence on both entertainment and philanthropy. Herschend, whose family’s entertainment company helped launch Dollywood and Dolly Parton’s Stampede, said Parton “transcended the norms of music, business, politics and entertainment.”
Four decades of partnership
Herschend and his brother Jack first met Parton in the 1970s when they opened a sister park to Silver Dollar City in her hometown of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. After learning of Parton’s desire to give back to “her people” in the Appalachian region, the Herschends proposed a joint venture that combined their theme‑park expertise with her name recognition. The partnership produced Dollywood, which opened in 1986 and drew 1.2 million visitors in its first year, up from 750,000 the year before.
Beyond the park, the Herschends collaborated on Dolly Parton’s Stampede, a popular dinner‑show attraction that opened in Branson in the 1990s. Herschend recalled their first meeting at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Dollywood attraction, sharing a laugh while shoveling dirt.
Imagination Library champion
Herschend described himself as the “head cheerleader” for the launch of Parton’s Imagination Library in Missouri in 2023. The program provides free books to every child under five, a mission Parton considers her proudest achievement. Missouri lawmakers funded the program for all newborns two legislative sessions ago, and Herschend, then serving on the state board of education, supported the effort.
“We were supportive of that, and Imagination Library is able to be there today because of the financial impact that Dollywood had for Dolly,” Herschend said. “It made it possible for her to provide not hundreds, but millions of dollars of financial support to Imagination Library.”
Funding uncertainty
Despite the state’s backing, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education warned that the program may lack funds to accept new applications, though it will continue serving families already enrolled as resources allow. Herschend’s family entertainment company has encouraged donations to help sustain the library.
Legacy of a remarkable woman
Reflecting on Parton’s death at age 80, Herschend said, “It’s a loss, but we are graciously blessed to have had Dolly Parton as a partner and a friend.” He emphasized her dedication to the people of east Tennessee and her decision to focus her impact there rather than expanding further into Missouri.
Herschend’s tribute underscores the lasting partnership between a Missouri‑based entertainment family and one of America’s most beloved cultural figures, highlighting both economic contributions and a shared commitment to children’s literacy.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
