Dolly Parton has officially opened the doors to her new travel stop, Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop, located off Exit 22 in Cornersville, Tennessee. The expansive 50,000-square-foot facility aims to provide travelers with a comprehensive experience, including gas pumps, a restaurant, a general store, live music, and clean restrooms.
During the grand opening, Parton playfully alluded to Buc-ee's, a popular Texas-based travel center chain known for its beaver mascot. "I'm sure some of you are wondering why I wanted a truck stop. Well, I couldn't leave it to beavers," she joked, referencing Buc-ee's mascot. Parton also expressed confidence in her establishment's ability to meet customer needs, stating, "We're not trying to compete with anybody; we don't think we'll have to. We think we're going to have everything that you want or need."
Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop offers a variety of amenities for both truckers and tourists. Visitors can find a full-service barbecue restaurant and a grab-and-go option from DLY BBQ, as well as ice cream. The stop also features "Dolly's Cup of Ambition Coffee," in partnership with Community Coffee, serving premium roasted coffee and fresh pastries. The coffee shop is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entertainment is also a key feature, with a main stage planned for concerts, live karaoke, and story time sessions featuring readers from the local library. Additional amenities include showers, restrooms, a trucker lounge, and gas pumps equipped with EV charging stations. The travel stop is open 24/7.
To celebrate the opening, Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop is hosting a week of events through July 3, including live music, giveaways, and surprises. The festivities are set to conclude on Friday, July 3, with a community celebration featuring live music, a cornhole competition, bounce houses, raffle prizes, food trucks, ice cream, and a fireworks display.
Early reactions from visitors have been positive, with one trucker noting it as "the nicest, most unique travel stop" they have seen in over 40 years of service. Another visitor expressed enthusiasm for making a road trip specifically to visit the new stop.