Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop is so much more than a place to get fuel and a quick snack. Renée Reizman I visited Dolly Parton's Tennessean Travel Stop, a fairly new spot in Cornersville, off of I-65. It had a dog park, fuel stations, several Dolly Parton-themed restaurants, and road-trip essentials. The exterior and bathrooms were also beautiful. This was a great place to stop on a long road trip. On a rainy day in rural Tennessee, I began seeing billboards for Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop off of I-65. I'd been on a long, cross-country road trip with my dog and the weather had placed me behind schedule. This stop, located in Cornersville, Tennessee, would be a welcome break. I was already planning to visit Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in the Smoky Mountains, but when I learned the Queen of Country had opened this attraction of sorts in late June, I planned a detour to check it out. As a veteran road tripper, I was curious to see how it compared to other beloved roadside chains like Buc-ee's, Wawa, and Love's. The stop seemed pretty promising from the outside. 005 Renée Reizman The travel stop is about an hour south of Nashville and open 24/7 — it seemed quite busy when I arrived around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday. The truck stop looked quite large at around 25,000 square feet on 18 acres, though the parking lot felt smaller than I expected. After seeing the Buc-ee's in Luling, Texas — the largest convenience store in the world, spanning almost 80,000 square feet — I was imagining a space that could fit a couple of football fields. This lot, however, wasn't much bigger than your average QuikTrip's. Still, l easily located an empty spot. I could already hear live country music wafting from the establishment, which got me hyped. It's not just pet-friendly — there's also a dog park. Renée Reizman Before even entering the building, there was a lot to see. My first priority was taking my road-trip partner, my Chow Chow, Flora, to Doggy Parton. This modest-sized, fenced-in dog park was on par with the ones at most Love's truck stops, but it had much more personality. The fence was adorned with silhouettes of Parton juggling a tangle of leashes, getting pulled by what appeared to be Great Danes and German shepherds. It was a hit with my pup. Renée Reizman The grassy park looked very clean and had multiple waste-bag dispensers, trash cans, and even a picnic table. Flora loved that she could be off-leash after so many hours in the car. The truck stop looked vibrant and photo-worthy. 004 Renée Reizman After the dog park, I had to indulge in a couple of outdoor photo opportunities. One of Parton's old tour buses was parked beside a colorful mural depicting Tennessee's pastoral, rolling hills. The side of the blue bus had a giant retro photograph of Parton behind the wheel, her name written in rhinestones, and a winking "DLY 925" license plate. A rainbow music staff created a walkway from the bus to the front entrance. On the side of the building was the mural, "Butterfly Lullaby (Mountain Gospel)," designed by the artist Britt Flood. The giant butterfly in its center attracted many other travelers, who were queued up to snap photos as they grew wings. Nearby, I spotted an outdoor patio with lawn games and more Instagram potential between the cute retro pickup truck with flowers spilling out of the flatbed and another large mural. The stop has practical offerings for road trippers. 026 Renée Reizman Finally, I stepped foot inside the travel stop. I entered through the far left entrance, which is closer to the trucker's fuel pumps. It brought me into perhaps the most practical part of the establishment. Right away, the beverage dispensers and shelves of food reminded me of a typical convenience store but more elevated with shiny, dark tiles and walls decorated with vinyls and images of Parton. Inside, there are plenty of grab-and-go snacks and essentials. 025 Renée Reizman Like any gas station, there was a fridge of cold drinks, large carafes of coffee, road-trip snacks (like beef jerky and gummy worms), and plenty of automotive accessories to help a long-hauler. There are showers and laundry available, too. 009 Renée Reizman I was glad to see that the stop wasn't just playing with trucking as a gimmicky aesthetic to entertain tourists, but was actually providing valuable services to professionals passing through town. There was a lounge for truckers decorated with tour posters, showers available to use for $16 (or free with a fuel purchase), and a laundry room charging $4 a wash. Beyond that, there is a ton of merchandise. 011 Renée Reizman Past this section of gas-station staples, the building opened up to a full Parton paradise. An enormous chandelier made up of sparkling guitars hung over rows of bedazzled merchandise. I held back on buying too much, but later regretted it. Renée Reizman Knowing that I'd be at Dollywood in a matter of days, I restrained myself from stocking up on a sparkling blue travel mug or a Jolene fanny pack. I only grabbed a souvenir magnet for a steep $14.95. Later, I regretted my self-control because many of these products weren't available at the theme park. I especially wished I had splurged on a bright-pink tank top embellished with the glittering mudflap-girl-style Parton for $29.95. Next stop was the restrooms at Dolly's. Renée Reizman Once I wove through the merch, I headed to the restroom. Popular Southern rest stop Buc-ee's has a reputation for having incredibly clean bathrooms, which is one of the most welcome sights during a long drive. So, my bar was pretty high for Dolly's. Even the bathrooms here felt photo-worthy. 014 Renée Reizman Given the stop's popularity, I thought there could have been more stalls, but the facilities looked sparkling clean. The bathroom also just looked beautiful. It was covered with large black-and-white portraits of Dolly getting ready in her dressing room, the perfect backdrop for a bathroom selfie. In terms of food and beverage options, there was a whole Dolly Parton universe. 012 Renée Reizman I had three options for dining: the grab-and-go DLY BBQ, an unnamed full-service restaurant that offered a Southern-style buffet for $21.99 per adult and barbecue plates, and Cup of Ambition for coffee, drinks, pastries, and soft-serve ice cream. There was also a bar above the restaurant, stylized with dark glam and a large portrait of Parton from her "Rockstar" album era. (At the time of my visit, it seemed it had been reserved for a private event.) For dinner, I headed to the main restaurant, where there was live music being performed. Renée Reizman The large restaurant had high ceilings, a large wall of windows, and a stage — not a huge surprise considering live entertainment is also part of the usual lineup at Dolly's. Typically, there's live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. While I waited to get seated, I caught a band performing a country-style cover of The Killers' popular hit "Mr. Brightside." The restaurant also had a large buffet with instruments displayed above it. 017 Renée Reizman From the line, I could also see the buffet, which had a salad bar and lots of Southern fare, like mac and cheese and fried chicken. Above it, there were banjos, guitars, and other colorful instruments on display. Buffets have never appealed much to me, so I instead planned to order the meat and two sides dinner for $15.99. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I decided to grab something else. 020 Renée Reizman Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side. There were several large parties ahead of me, so I gave up waiting for a table after about 20 minutes. I still had another hour to drive in the dark, after all. Instead, I decided to grab a quick and convenient bite from DLY BBQ. My dinner to-go was pretty decent. 029 Renée Reizman I got a $9.99 brisket sandwich from the grab-and-go area at DLY BBQ. I didn't think the sandwich was as good as the one I've had with sliced brisket at Buc-ee's for around the same price, but it was still moist and tender, and outranked most gas-station food. I also noticed that a famous Dollywood treat was available for purchase. 013 Renée Reizman Though I passed on dessert, I appreciated that both DLY BBQ and Cup of Ambition sold loaves of Dollywood's famous cinnamon bread for $12.99. I couldn't believe that people could now get the coveted confection without having to make a trip to Pigeon Forge. I grabbed a refresher from Cup of Ambition before I left. 023 Renée Reizman Cup of Ambition had quite the beverage menu, including things like refreshers, tea, milkshakes, and espresso-based drinks made with Community coffee. There was even an option to add a "Dolly Dollup" of whipped cream to any iced drink for $1. It came in flavors like banana puddin', chocolate cinnamon bread, caramel, and strawberry. I settled on a strawberry-acai refresher, and the regular size (my only option besides large) cost $4.95. The caffeinated drink was sweet and tasted very similar to a Starbucks Energy Refresher. There was so much to see that I almost forgot to fuel up. 007 Renée Reizman I enjoyed Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop so much that I nearly forgot to get gas on my way out. The pumps use gas supplied by Exxon, and the setup looks no different than a typical station. Prices felt pretty on par with what I'd seen nearby, too. I made sure to top off my tank before heading back onto the wet roads to complete the day's long drive. All in all, I'd totally come back. 024 Renée Reizman Compared to popular rest stops like Buc-ee's, Dolly's totally holds its own. This was worth the detour, and even though it was a bit crowded, I'd make sure to stop again if I were near this leg of the I-65. It's definitely a fun place to stop if you need to refuel, grab refreshments, or just take a break with some live music. Read the original article on Business Insider
Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop is so much more than a place to get fuel and a quick snack.Renée Reizman I visited Dolly Parton's Tennessean Travel Stop, a fairly new spot in Cornersville, off of I-65. It had a dog park, fuel stations, several Dolly Parton-themed restaurants, and road-trip essentials. The exterior and bathrooms were also beautiful. This was a great place to stop on a long road trip. On a rainy day in rural Tennessee, I began seeing billboards for Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop off of I-65. I'd been on a long, cross-country road trip with my dog and the weather had placed me behind schedule. This stop, located in Cornersville, Tennessee, would be a welcome break. I was already planning to visit Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in the Smoky Mountains, but when I learned the Queen of Country had opened this attraction of sorts in late June, I planned a detour to check it out. As a veteran road tripper, I was curious to see how it compared to other beloved roadside chains like Buc-ee's, Wawa, and Love's. The stop seemed pretty promising from the outside. 005Renée Reizman The travel stop is about an hour south of Nashville and open 24/7 — it seemed quite busy when I arrived around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday. The truck stop looked quite large at around 25,000 square feet on 18 acres, though the parking lot felt smaller than I expected. After seeing the Buc-ee's in Luling, Texas — the largest convenience store in the world, spanning almost 80,000 square feet — I was imagining a space that could fit a couple of football fields. This lot, however, wasn't much bigger than your average QuikTrip's. Still, l easily located an empty spot. I could already hear live country music wafting from the establishment, which got me hyped. It's not just pet-friendly — there's also a dog park. Renée Reizman Before even entering the building, there was a lot to see. My first priority was taking my road-trip partner, my Chow Chow, Flora, to Doggy Parton. This modest-sized, fenced-in dog park was on par with the ones at most Love's truck stops, but it had much more personality. The fence was adorned with silhouettes of Parton juggling a tangle of leashes, getting pulled by what appeared to be Great Danes and German shepherds. It was a hit with my pup. Renée Reizman The grassy park looked very clean and had multiple waste-bag dispensers, trash cans, and even a picnic table. Flora loved that she could be off-leash after so many hours in the car. The truck stop looked vibrant and photo-worthy. 004Renée Reizman After the dog park, I had to indulge in a couple of outdoor photo opportunities. One of Parton's old tour buses was parked beside a colorful mural depicting Tennessee's pastoral, rolling hills. The side of the blue bus had a giant retro photograph of Parton behind the wheel, her name written in rhinestones, and a winking "DLY 925" license plate. A rainbow music staff created a walkway from the bus to the front entrance. On the side of the building was the mural, "Butterfly Lullaby (Mountain Gospel)," designed by the artist Britt Flood. The giant butterfly in its center attracted many other travelers, who were queued up to snap photos as they grew wings. Nearby, I spotted an outdoor patio with lawn games and more Instagram potential between the cute retro pickup truck with flowers spilling out of the flatbed and another large mural. The stop has practical offerings for road trippers. 026Renée Reizman Finally, I stepped foot inside the travel stop. I entered through the far left entrance, which is closer to the trucker's fuel pumps. It brought me into perhaps the most practical part of the establishment. Right away, the beverage dispensers and shelves of food reminded me of a typical convenience store but more elevated with shiny, dark tiles and walls decorated with vinyls and images of Parton. Inside, there are plenty of grab-and-go snacks and essentials. 025Renée Reizman Like any gas station, there was a fridge of cold drinks, large carafes of coffee, road-trip snacks (like beef jerky and gummy worms), and plenty of automotive accessories to help a long-hauler. There are showers and laundry available, too. 009Renée Reizman I was glad to see that the stop wasn't just playing with trucking as a gimmicky aesthetic to entertain tourists, but was actually providing valuable services to professionals passing through town. There was a lounge for truckers decorated with tour posters, showers available to use for $16 (or free with a fuel purchase), and a laundry room charging $4 a wash. Beyond that, there is a ton of merchandise. 011Renée Reizman Past this section of gas-station staples, the building opened up to a full Parton paradise. An enormous chandelier made up of sparkling guitars hung over rows of bedazzled merchandise. I held back on buying too much, but later regretted it. Renée Reizman Knowing that I'd be at Dollywood in a matter of days, I restrained myself from stocking up on a sparkling blue travel mug or a Jolene fanny pack. I only grabbed a souvenir magnet for a steep $14.95. Later, I regretted my self-control because many of these products weren't available at the theme park. I especially wished I had splurged on a bright-pink tank top embellished with the glittering mudflap-girl-style Parton for $29.95. Next stop was the restrooms at Dolly's. Renée Reizman Once I wove through the merch, I headed to the restroom. Popular Southern rest stop Buc-ee's has a reputation for having incredibly clean bathrooms, which is one of the most welcome sights during a long drive. So, my bar was pretty high for Dolly's. Even the bathrooms here felt photo-worthy. 014Renée Reizman Given the stop's popularity, I thought there could have been more stalls, but the facilities looked sparkling clean. The bathroom also just looked beautiful. It was covered with large black-and-white portraits of Dolly getting ready in her dressing room, the perfect backdrop for a bathroom selfie. In terms of food and beverage options, there was a whole Dolly Parton universe. 012Renée Reizman I had three options for dining: the grab-and-go DLY BBQ, an unnamed full-service restaurant that offered a Southern-style buffet for $21.99 per adult and barbecue plates, and Cup of Ambition for coffee, drinks, pastries, and soft-serve ice cream. There was also a bar above the restaurant, stylized with dark glam and a large portrait of Parton from her "Rockstar" album era. (At the time of my visit, it seemed it had been reserved for a private event.) For dinner, I headed to the main restaurant, where there was live music being performed. Renée Reizman The large restaurant had high ceilings, a large wall of windows, and a stage — not a huge surprise considering live entertainment is also part of the usual lineup at Dolly's. Typically, there's live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. While I waited to get seated, I caught a band performing a country-style cover of The Killers' popular hit "Mr. Brightside." The restaurant also had a large buffet with instruments displayed above it. 017Renée Reizman From the line, I could also see the buffet, which had a salad bar and lots of Southern fare, like mac and cheese and fried chicken. Above it, there were banjos, guitars, and other colorful instruments on display. Buffets have never appealed much to me, so I instead planned to order the meat and two sides dinner for $15.99. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I decided to grab something else. 020Renée Reizman Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side. There were several large parties ahead of me, so I gave up waiting for a table after about 20 minutes. I still had another hour to drive in the dark, after all. Instead, I decided to grab a quick and convenient bite from DLY BBQ. My dinner to-go was pretty decent. 029Renée Reizman I got a $9.99 brisket sandwich from the grab-and-go area at DLY BBQ. I didn't think the sandwich was as good as the one I've had with sliced brisket at Buc-ee's for around the same price, but it was still moist and tender, and outranked most gas-station food. I also noticed that a famous Dollywood treat was available for purchase. 013Renée Reizman Though I passed on dessert, I appreciated that both DLY BBQ and Cup of Ambition sold loaves of Dollywood's famous cinnamon bread for $12.99. I couldn't believe that people could now get the coveted confection without having to make a trip to Pigeon Forge. I grabbed a refresher from Cup of Ambition before I left. 023Renée Reizman Cup of Ambition had quite the beverage menu, including things like refreshers, tea, milkshakes, and espresso-based drinks made with Community coffee. There was even an option to add a "Dolly Dollup" of whipped cream to any iced drink for $1. It came in flavors like banana puddin', chocolate cinnamon bread, caramel, and strawberry. I settled on a strawberry-acai refresher, and the regular size (my only option besides large) cost $4.95. The caffeinated drink was sweet and tasted very similar to a Starbucks Energy Refresher. There was so much to see that I almost forgot to fuel up. 007Renée Reizman I enjoyed Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop so much that I nearly forgot to get gas on my way out. The pumps use gas supplied by Exxon, and the setup looks no different than a typical station. Prices felt pretty on par with what I'd seen nearby, too. I made sure to top off my tank before heading back onto the wet roads to complete the day's long drive. All in all, I'd totally come back. 024Renée Reizman Compared to popular rest stops like Buc-ee's, Dolly's totally holds its own. This was worth the detour, and even though it was a bit crowded, I'd make sure to stop again if I were near this leg of the I-65. It's definitely a fun place to stop if you need to refuel, grab refreshments, or just take a break with some live music. Read the original article on Business Insider
