Thrill seekers and rollercoaster enthusiasts are spoiled for choice of theme parks across the US. There are heavy hitters like Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Point. There are also eight Disney and a couple of Universal parks. But if you’re not up to date with theme park news, you may be surprised to learn which one tops the charts.
The National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA) has revealed the results of its yearly Amusement Park and Attractions Survey. The 39th annual survey reveals several interesting favorites, but the winner of the “Favorite Theme Parks” category is Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennesee. It’s an award the park has earned for three consecutive years. The park beat Disneyland California, which placed second.
Dollywood is located in the Great Smoky Mountains and spans a massive 165 acres. All that space is filled with over 50 rides, including multiple roller coasters. Lightning Rod, in particular, is noteworthy as it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. Per Smoky Mountains, the ride claims that title as its top speed exceeds 70 MPH. The park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, an event that was kicked off by Dolly Parton herself. She reportedly said, “On opening day in 1986, I was just hoping that people would really want to come visit a theme park with my name on it.” The singer also teased a new attraction at Dollywood in 2026 but kept the details under wraps.
The NAPHA Survey Reveals Other Favorite Theme Parks
While “Favorite Theme Parks” is arguably the most coveted category in the survey, there were plenty of other winners. Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania was named the number one traditional theme park. It beat out Kennywood in second place.
Dollywood was also a runner-up in the “Most Beautiful Park” category, losing out to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia. The park has held that title for a whopping 35 years. There were also some ride-specific mentions. Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort won the “Favorite Wood Coaster” title for the 14th year running, while Millennium Force in Cedar Point won in the Steel category. The “Favorite New Attraction” title went to Bobcat in Six Flags Great Escape.