
Dixie Stampede
With her tiny waist, Texas-sized hair styles and big brown eyes, this country singer and song writer brings a little bit of her smokey mountain heritage to visitors worldwide. Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede reminds her of the family fun of her childhood in the mountains of Tennessee – on a grand scale.
It’s no surprise that the giant 35,000 square foot riding arena is able to offer seating for nearly 1,100 guests. When Dolly dreams, she dreams big. The Dixie Stampede is a dinner and show experience that features 32 horses, a stampede of buffalo, horsemanship skills from 30 cowboys and cowgirls, as well as a North/South friendly rivalry, served up with a four-course feast. “Rumble in the Treetops” a lumberjack competition is the latest addition to the dinner show.
Equestrian showmanship on horseback
Trick riders demonstrate their equestrian skills with vaults and handstands, all while on horseback with the horses galloping around the arena. The Roman ride is an accomplishment onto itself where a team of two horses, moving side by side, support one rider standing astride the two; add a ring of fire for the horses to jump through and you have quite the dinner show.

Horses of color perform at Dixie Stampede
Several breeds of horses make up the Dixie Stampede. Belgian draft horses, known for their strength, pull the Conestoga wagons. Quarter horses comprise a majority of the Dixie Stampede stable, while the black Friesian horse, imported from its native Netherlands, serves as the mount for the Master of Ceremonies. Paint and Appaloosas round out the pack.
Dixie Stampede goes social
Dixie Stampede is on Twitter and Facebook. For all things travel-related, follow Nancy D. Brown on Twitter as well as Writing Horseback for horseback riding vacation news, and PLEASE like us on Facebook – Writing Horseback on Facebook. Photos courtesy of Dixie Stampede.
Are you a Dolly Parton fan? What are your favorite things to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee or Branson, Missouri?
If You Go:
Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede (800) 520-5544
Pigeon Forge, TN
Branson, MO
Related Post:
Medieval Times Horseback Riding Show
Photos courtesy of Dixie Stampede.