‘I Couldn’t Leave It to Beavers’

Dolly Parton has officially opened the doors of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, a flashy new travel center inspired by her time on the open road as she toured the country over her decades-long career.

The star made a surprise appearance for the ribbon cutting at Cornersville on Wednesday, kicking off a week-long celebration of special events, entertainment, and giveaways.

“Well, the doors are open and I could not be prouder. Whether you are hauling loads, hauling the family, or just passing through, we built this place for you,” Parton said. “Good food, real rest, a little music, and people who are genuinely glad you stopped in… that’s what the road has always deserved, and that is what you will find here. Welcome home.” 

Parton also took the opportunity to make a playful jab at her competitor Buc-ee’s. “I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” she said. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers.”

The project is a partnership between Parton, her longtime manager Danny Nozell, and Gregory H. Sachs, the owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop brand, which partnered with the singer to launch the revamped truck stop. Sachs also teased that there are more Dolly Parton-branded stops to come: “Pairing the history this landmark location has with Dolly’s spirit establishes a high benchmark for our future locations.”

Signature features of the Cornersville location include a Butterfly Lullaby (Mountain Gospel), a mural by Southern artist Britt Flood celebrating Parton’s roots and the sprawling landscape of Cornersville; a full-service restaurant and bar; a tour bus for photo opps; a cafe serving a “Cup of Ambition,” Parton’s coffee brand in partnership with Community Coffee; and even a Doggy Parton dog park. Of course, there’s also a shop chock full of sparkling Dolly Parton merch.