Creating memories worth repeating series#

The Herschends extended their brand in 1976 upon purchasing a small tourist attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, called Goldrush Junction. a conference, golf and spa resortįull Service resort and spa, conference & golf In partnership with Marriott International, Inc. Pigeon Forge location opened in 2019.Ī dinner, show and cruise originally known as Kenny Rogers Showboat Branson Belle.Ĭabin style lodging in the Great Smoky Mountains Leased from Ida Cason Callaway FoundationĬhain of dinner theaters, Formerly in Myrtle Beach & Orlandoĭinner Theatre first opened as a Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede but converted to Pirates Voyage in 2011. Owned by the State of Georgia operated by HFE Included with admission to Wild Adventures Included with admission to Kentucky Kingdom Purchased for $34.5 million ($48.7 million in 2022 dollars ) Owned by the Kentucky State Fair Board but operated by HFE Current properties Amusement parks Owned/operated Name In April 2021, Hershend announced its purchase of the Vancouver Aquarium following the latter's severe economic losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also co-owns and co-operates with partners Dolly Parton and her company The Dollywood Company, the dinner and theatre company Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Dolly Parton's Stampede (formerly Dixie Stampede).

Creating memories worth repeating series#

In 2010, Herschend Family Entertainment was featured on the reality TV series Undercover Boss. In 1969, Silver Dollar City drew national attention when producer Paul Henning brought the cast and crew of the popular Beverly Hillbillies television show to the park to film five episodes. The idea was a success, and the Herschend family soon found themselves involved in the theme park business.

In order to increase attendance furthermore at the attraction, a gimmick was used by naming the village ' Silver Dollar City' and distributing silver dollars as change to every visitor in hope that when they would spend the rare coins they would tell people where they had got them from. The attendance nearly doubled and a small frontier town was erected to entertain visitors as they waited for their cave tour. A cable train was installed in 1958 to ferry guests out of the depths of the cave upon the end of the tour. Hugo suffered a heart attack and later died in 1955, however Mary along with her two sons continued to improve the cave attraction by installing electric lighting and building cement walkways. In 1951 Hugo obtained a 99-year lease on a Branson, Missouri area attraction called Marvel Cave. The family vacationed in Missouri's Ozark Mountains region and fell in love with the nature the area offered. HFE traces roots back to Hugo and Mary Herschend from Chicago, Illinois along with sons Jack and Pete. The company says its mission is to 'Create Memories Worth Repeating” in a manner “consistent with Christian values and ethics.” History HFE is currently headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. In the 1980s the name was changed to Silver Dollar City Inc., and in 2003, the company gained the current name. Herschend Family Entertainment ( HFE) is a privately owned themed-entertainment company that operates several theme parks and tourist attractions within the United States, and as of 2021, one aquarium in Vancouver, Canada.įounded by Jack and Pete Herschend of Branson, Missouri, in its early years HFE was simply known as Herschend Enterprises.