Like everyone else I know, I, too, was part of the collective “Awwww” on Aug. 25 when I learned that the iconic and beloved Dolly Parton had left us. To loosely borrow from John Gillespie Magee Jr.’s “High Flight,” she slipped the surly bonds of Earth and is now dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings, I suspect.
Since her unexpected passing at the age of 80, I’ve reflected quite a bit on my thoughts on Dolly and have discovered that I have a lot of things to say about her. For today, however, I’m just going to concentrate on her in relation to food and travel.
During the summer of 2023, Hubby, Daughter and I went to Tennessee for vacation. Though we had a lengthy list of things we wanted to do, high on that list was a visit to Dollywood, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful theme parks I’ve ever visited. It comprises 11 different themed areas, all of which have significance from Dolly’s childhood and upbringing. There’s Wildwood Grove, Wilderness Pass, Timber Canyon, Craftsman’s Valley, Owens Farm, Showstreet, Adventures in Imagination, Rivertown Junction, Jukebox Junction, The Village and Country Fair.
In Craftsman’s Valley, we ate lunch at Granny Ogle’s Ham ‘n’ Beans. The mom of Dolly’s best friend, Judy Ogle, is the inspiration for the Southern eatery that features classic comfort food. Hubby had the chicken pot pie that featured a cheddar scallion biscuit crust. Daughter selected the pit ham dinner which consisted of smoked, pulled ham accompanied by mashed potatoes and green beans. I chose the chicken cassoulet which was a slow-simmered stew featuring great northern beans, chicken and smoked sausage. Granny Ogle’s skillets are all served with freshly baked cornbread. Every single bite was excellent. It was nothing fancy, just good old Southern home cooking at its finest.
Having ridden a couple of the rollercoaster rides upon first entering the park, Daughter and Hubby opted to ride some more rides while I headed to the Grist Mill to wait in line to purchase a loaf of cinnamon bread that I had on good authority was worth the wait. I waited 45 minutes and it was well worth it. Made fresh daily before your very eyes, the famous snack may be enjoyed with buttercream icing or Dollywood’s own apple butter. It was absolutely delicious and my only regret is not getting a picture of it.
Built in 1982, the Dollywood Grist Mill was the first fully operational grist mill built in the state of Tennessee in more than 100 years. Workers constructed it exactly as it would have been more than a century ago when folks in the Smoky Mountains relied on the giant water wheel to grind corn and wheat.
Walking through Jukebox Junction, I was stopped in my tracks when I rounded a corner and saw a building that said Watson Motor Company. It was surprising because my maternal grandparents owned and operated Putt Watson Motor Company, the Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and GMC dealership in Livingston, for many, many years. I had learned enough about Dollywood to know that everything there has significance so I was super curious about Watson Motor Company. Once home, I did a deep dive and learned that it was once a real business in Sevierville, Dolly’s hometown. A sign recalls Dolly saying, “I remember going to town and seeing all those cars at the Watson Motor Company. We didn't have a car when I was little. Daddy couldn't afford one. Finally, Daddy bought a car and would take us to church on Sunday evening and Wednesday night prayer meetings. That's when I started singing in church.”
How cool! I wish my grandparents had known there was a Watson Motor Company in Tennessee. It would have tickled them. They, too, were fans of Dolly. In fact, it was in their home that I first became acquainted with Dolly when she was a regular on “The Porter Wagoner Show” which aired weekly.
During that same trip to Tennessee, we also spent the better part of a day at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville where we saw the plaque from when she was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame by the Country Music Association in 1999.
Since her passing, my inbox has been flooded with articles regarding Dolly’s favorite recipes, whether it’s her favorite potato salad or her favorite dirty martini. I haven’t taken on any of these yet because it just seemed too soon. I know I will at some point though, so be on the lookout.
Dolly is also a philanthropist in a class of her own and has had a tremendous impact on the children of Polk County, Texas through her Imagination Library which sends free books monthly to children from birth to five years old. I’ll share more about this program in an upcoming issue.
