8251 Vineland Avenue, Orlando, Florida 407-238-4455, 1-866-443-4943 Dolly Parton brought a little magic to Central Florida all the way from her hometown of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with the opening of the 1,000-seat Dixie Stampede dinner theater. Billed as “Orlando’s Most Fun Place to Eat!”, the Dixie Stampede extravaganza highlights the friendly rivalry between North and South with 32 horses, dozens of splendidly costumed cast members, seating for 1,000 and a 35,000-square-foot arena. The festivities include a delicious four-course feast, music, comedy, trick horseback riding, state-of-the-art special effects and a patriotic grand finale.
Dixie Stampede is located off Interstate 4 at Exit 68 in Orlando, Florida. Performances take place daily but call ahead to make reservations. Admission to Dixie Stampede is $49.99 for adults and $21.99 for ages 4 to 11. Ages 0 to 3 are admitted free of charge. Discount Dixie Stampede tickets are available.
Update: In an unexpected and abrupt move, the Dixie Stampede, which first opened in the summer of 2003, closed its doors for good on January 7, 2008. The attraction, which lies on 13 acres just off Interstate 4, has already been sold to the adjacent Orlando Premium Outlets. A total of 162 employees were laid off immediately. In a prepared statement, portions of which appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, Dolly Parton commented, "We at Dixie Stampede have been blessed, but I am a firm believer in timing and opportunity. This was an opportunity we could not pass up. We're exploring our options now and we will be back better than ever!" According to unconfirmed reports, Dixie Stampede management is seeking a new location in Central Florida to reopen the show in the future. All other Dixie Stampede locations remain open, including the Pigeon Forge Dixie Stampede.
