Visitors to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede are used to seeing the magnificent steeds that perform in the attraction’s dinner show. To celebrate Dixie’s 20th anniversary, some special horses have been “released,” and a number have been corralled by the city of Pigeon Forge for all of its visitors to enjoy.
To mark Dixie Stampede’s 20th anniversary in Pigeon Forge, the area’s arts community and children were invited to create a one-of-a-kind exhibit of hand-painted horses for display. A “herd” of 20 horses was created, and 11 of them can be seen at various locations throughout Pigeon Forge.
Professional artists, area school children and Boys & Girls Clubs members painted the horses. More than 50 hours were devoted to painting each five-foot-tall, 100-pound horse. Supplies were donated to the schools and youth groups by Dixie, and all participants were given “free rein” to come up with an appropriate theme.
The commemorative steeds on display in Pigeon Forge include:
-“A Dolly of a Horse” by artist Robert Tino, on display at the Dixie Stampede theater
-“River Dance “by artist Beverly Jones, on display at Dollywood’s Splash Country
-“Trillium Fantasy” by artist Vern Hippensteal, on display at the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
-“Horse of Many Colors” by artist Chuck Ottollini, on display at Dollywood
-"Words To Live By” by Pigeon Forge Boys & Girls Club, on display at the Dollywood Marketing Office
-“Home of the Tigers” by Pigeon Forge Middle School, on display at The Track
-“Diverse Cultures” by Pigeon Forge High School, on display at Music Road Hotel
-“Claude Monet French Impressionism” by Pigeon Forge High School, on display at The Old Mill
-“Celebrating Graphic Design” by Sevier County High School, on display at the Quality inn
-“Where Eagles Soar” by Seymour Primary School, on display at WonderWorks
-“Heartsong” by Sevierville Boys & Girls Club, on display at Ramada Inn.
In addition to the Pigeon Forge horses, nine others can be seen on display at locations in Sevierville and Gatlinburg. Other participating groups and artists include: Sevierville and Seymour Intermediate Schools, Kodak and Gatlinburg Boys & Girls Clubs, Pigeon Forge High School Future Farmers of America, New Center School and Ariell Jones.
All 20 of the horses will be on display until Nov. 5, after which they will be individually auctioned. Proceeds from the horses decorated by schools and youth groups will benefit the children’s school or organizations. Proceeds from the sale of the professionally painted horses will be donated to a Sevier County charity of the artists’ choosing.
For more information about the 20th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, call 1-800-356-1676 or visit www.dixiestampede.com.