AGP Executive Report

Dolly Parton Tourism & Hospitality: Dollywood and Sevier County are in full tribute mode after Parton’s death, with fans packing the park and local landmarks, while her legacy keeps expanding through travel-facing projects like the upcoming SongTeller Hotel in Nashville and ongoing Dolly-themed experiences. Arts & Culture: A Dollywood anniversary tribute song (“Little Butterfly”) is finding new audiences after a radio moment, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame announced Parton’s posthumous Class of 2027 induction. Local Economy: A new UT-commissioned study says Tennessee Athletics generated more than $1.1B in statewide economic impact in FY25, including major visitor and spending effects. Travel Safety & Planning: Tennessee-related travel headlines also include a reminder to plan for big event traffic and road changes around major venues, plus a separate fentanyl case tied to a pursuit that ended in Alabama. Sports Calendar: Week 0 college football matchups and schedules are rolling out, including Memphis vs. UNLV, giving travelers another reason to plan weekend trips.

Tourism & Travel: Southwest Airlines is bringing back its Nashville–Montego Bay nonstop on March 13, 2027, with Saturday service—an easy, one-flight option for Jamaica beach getaways. Local Development & Jobs: Bradley County’s proposed “Project River” $11.3B industrial energy campus is drawing scrutiny from residents over transparency as it targets up to 2,600 jobs. Attractions & Hospitality: Dolly Parton’s legacy continues to shape Tennessee travel—her tourism empire includes Dollywood and the SongTeller Hotel, with new projects already in motion. Theme Parks & Public Sentiment: Hersheypark apologized after a Dolly-related social media reply sparked backlash, underscoring how quickly visitor-facing brands can get caught in the news cycle. Road Access & Infrastructure: TDOT’s Sgt. Elbert Kinser Bridge rebuild won a regional technology/innovation award after Hurricane Helene damage. Outdoor & Safety: A reminder for travelers: Hands Across the Border DUI enforcement is expanding across Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina to reduce drunk and drugged driving crashes.

Dolly Parton Tourism & Tributes: Dolly Parton’s death at 80 after a brief cancer battle has sparked a wave of Tennessee memorials and visitor moments, from Sevierville’s courthouse bell tolling for five minutes at noon to fans gathering at Dollywood and across the region. Dollywood & Fan Travel: Reports say Dollywood will stay open as usual and honor Parton’s final wish, while a resurfaced clip highlights her “secret song” sealed in a Dollywood vault until 2045—another reason fans will keep planning trips to Pigeon Forge. Local Outdoor Funding: Clinch-Powell RC&D awarded $85,000 for outdoor projects in Claiborne and Campbell counties, including ADA upgrades, a Norris Lake blueways effort, and youth STEM learning—good news for family-friendly nature tourism. Big Jobs, Big Impact: Bradley County’s “Project River” could bring $11.3B in investment tied to a power plant and data center, with claims it will restart local forestry demand and boost school/road funding. PGA Tour + Tennessee Tie-In: Tour Championship health update: Scottie Scheffler says he’s 95% recovered after hand, foot and mouth; meanwhile the 2027 PGA Tour schedule confirms major Florida Swing stops that many Tennessee golf fans will plan around. Travel Practicalities: GasBuddy reports the lowest Roane County premium price at $3.89 (week ending Aug. 15), a small but useful datapoint for late-summer road trips.

Dolly Parton Tributes & Tennessee Tourism: The world is mourning Dolly Parton, who died at 80 after a brief cancer battle in Nashville, and Tennessee fans are turning grief into travel plans—hundreds gathered in Sevierville at a Parton statue, while Dollywood and other local sites are pledging to keep her legacy alive. Local Events: Kuttawa Days in Kentucky drew about 3,000 visitors for lakeside music, family activities, and kayak excursions—an easy reminder that the region’s outdoor weekends are still pulling crowds. Travel Watch: With U.S.-Canada tariffs escalating, travelers are asking if trips will cost more; the key takeaway: borders remain open and short stays don’t require a visa, so the impact on typical tourist plans may be limited. Road & Budget Reality Check: AAA reports Tennessee diesel averages about $5.33 a gallon, with prices near record highs—especially relevant for road-trip and truck-heavy travel.

Nashville Tourism & Culture: Dolly Parton’s Life of Many Colors Museum and the new SongTeller Hotel are set to open this fall in Music City, bringing immersive Dolly storytelling plus on-site stays and suites. Music City Group Travel: Nashville Ultimate Rides launched party-bus and group transportation with direct pickup/drop-off at Lower Broadway and BNA, aiming to simplify the “ride home” plan for visitors. Outdoor & Wildlife: A viral clip from Percy Warner Park shows Tennessee’s largest and most dangerous venomous snake, the timber rattlesnake, underscoring how rugged trails can surprise hikers. Local Adventures: A new guide spotlights the steep High King Hill Vista Trail in Yellowwood State Forest—short, steep, and built for a quick challenge. Family-Friendly Dining: Memphis restaurants are promoting Kids Eat Free deals during the back-to-school week, giving travelers and locals a budget-friendly meal option. Community Events: Chattanooga’s Rita Vital Moccasin Bend Lecture Series returns with free fall talks tied to national parks, conservation, and Cherokee history. Travel Safety: The NTSB opened an investigation into a fatal crash that killed two Milligan University cyclists in Carter County. Roadside Stops & Road Trips: Buc-ee’s keeps expanding—its Arkansas opening drew a big crowd, reinforcing the chain’s pull for Tennessee-bound travelers.

Memphis Music Tourism: The City of Memphis and Memphis Tourism teamed up with the Music Roadtrip app to give visitors a free, year-round guide to music landmarks, venues, record stores, and ticketed events—plus updated destination profiles. Road Safety & Cycling: The NTSB is investigating a crash that killed two Milligan University cyclists and injured others; the suspect, 69-year-old John Benfield, is set to appear in court Aug. 31. Theme Park Noise Watch: Universal’s new coaster is drawing complaints from nearby residents who say the screams are impossible to tune out—another reminder that expansion can clash with neighbors. Dollywood Health Update: Dolly Parton says she’s dealing with “hard times with my health” after caring for her late husband, and she’s still moving forward with projects including a Nashville museum. Big Development in Chattanooga: The Bend’s developers say the project is on track to top $1 billion, with a new $350 million retail and residential district aimed at adding 1,000+ jobs. Travel Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest E15 price in Cocke County at $3.10/gal (week ending Aug. 15).

TSA & Real ID: Some Tennessee-issued Real IDs aren’t scanning correctly at TSA checkpoints. TSA says officers will manually verify you, and you can also avoid delays by bringing other ID like a U.S. passport. Road & Drive Plans: TDOT is continuing the SR 111 “J-Turn” safety project in Putnam County, with a median closure at Old Sparta Road and South Maple Avenue starting Aug. 25, plus possible brief lane closures later. State Parks & Nature: Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park is expanding by 413 acres through collaborative conservation, adding protected hardwood forests, waterways, and habitat near Lost Creek. Outdoor Events: The Travelin’ McCourys bring bluegrass to Riverdance Restaurant’s riverfront lawn in Guild on Sept. 10. Local History Exhibit: “Our American Story: Voices from Tennessee” opens in White Bluff at the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center through Sept. 8, featuring Tennessee history and Dickson County voices. Travel Safety: A multi-vehicle crash on Highway 70 east near Sligo bridge sent four people to hospitals via airlift.

Fundraising & Family Travel: The Wilderness Trail Region Porsche Club of America launched “Horsepower for Hope” to help repair and fuel cars used to transport families to Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, with donations open now and a free public car show set for Sept. 19. Local Events & Culture: Theatre Bristol will stage “The Mockingbird Sings” at ARTspace Stage Sept. 4-6 and Sept. 9-10, tying into the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival. Road & Safety: A DUI checkpoint is planned Sept. 11 on Newport Highway at the Greene/Cocke line, and TDOT will run sinkhole repairs on SR 1 in White County with lane closures Aug. 24-27. Storm Recovery: MLGW reported power restoration progress after a bow echo hit the Mid-South, with tens of thousands still without electricity. Parks & Neighborhoods: Nashville opened Mariposa Park in Antioch, adding 10 acres of trails, play areas, and pickleball/basketball courts. Travel Buzz: Memphis was ranked No. 1 for stress-free road trips by Travel + Leisure, citing low congestion time loss. Gas Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium prices in several Tennessee counties for the week ending Aug. 15, including Wayne ($4.39) and Madison ($4.05).

Nashville & Music Tourism: Big Thief brought a major Nashville moment to the Ryman Auditorium, playing its unreleased triple album Horsepower in full and spotlighting the Americana/roots icons involved in the project—another reminder that Music City shows up as a destination, not just a backdrop. Fall Travel Planning: The Old Farmer’s Almanac released its 2026 fall foliage forecast, with peak timing varying by region—useful for Tennesseans planning weekend drives and longer leaf-viewing trips. Local Transit & Visitor Experience: Memphis is looking to restart parts of its Downtown trolley service in the fall, a long-running effort that could reshape how visitors move through the core. Road Trip Costs (Fuel Watch): GasBuddy reports the lowest diesel in Montgomery County at $3.95 (week ending Aug. 15) and the lowest in Meigs County at $4.99—small but timely savings for travelers heading out midweek. Family-Friendly Attractions: Buc-ee’s opened its first Arkansas location in Benton, with hundreds camping overnight for the grand opening—another sign of how roadside stops are turning into mini attractions for road travelers.

I-24 Choice Lanes: Gov. Bill Lee says Tennessee’s Transportation Modernization Board approved DriveTN to deliver the $9.2B I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project—design, build, finance, operate and maintain—aimed at easing congestion on one of the state’s busiest corridors. Gatlinburg Bear Encounter: A family vacation in Gatlinburg turned tense when a black bear climbed onto a cabin deck and tried to open glass doors, testing handles before being kept out by locked deadbolts. Memphis Storm Recovery: MLGW reports thunderstorms knocked out power for 100,000+ customers, with a multi-day restoration expected and priorities including hospitals and water/sewer facilities. Tennessee State Parks: Clinch River Valley State Park was dedicated by Tennessee State Parks, adding another reason for weekend road trips. Chattanooga Students on TV: UTC students and faculty were featured on Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown” after their underwater archaeology work near Jamaica helped locate a previously unfound British warship. Travel & Events: Theatre Bristol brings “The Mockingbird Sings” to ARTspace Stage Sept. 4-6 and 9-10 ahead of the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion; Murfreesboro’s International Folkfest is planning its 2027 dates (June 6–13). Air Travel Boost: Southwest’s schedule changes push Nashville International Airport to the top for added departures, with more frequent flights on existing routes. Wildlife Safety Note: Colorado officials warn bear conflicts are rising as drought and seasonal hunger push animals toward human food.

State Parks & Outdoors: Tennessee State Parks dedicated Clinch River Valley State Park along the Clinch River in Hancock County, adding a new 21-acre stop with blueway access points and a visitor center at Kyle’s Ford—another rural reason to plan a Northeast Tennessee getaway. Road-Trip Planning: TDOT announced a busy Aug. 23–29 work week in Montgomery County and nearby areas, including crack sealing, resurfacing, utility work, and lane restrictions on I-24, I-40, and I-65, with drivers warned to expect single-lane traffic and rolling roadblocks. Dollywood & Nashville Tourism: Dolly Parton shared a health update after missing the NightFlight Expedition opening, saying she’s still healing but “still workin’,” with dizziness and dehydration keeping her from traveling to East Tennessee. Local Travel Safety: Nashville police say a Colorado man missing during a work trip was found dead near a downtown parking lot; officials are still investigating. Family Fun: A new girls flag football recruiting platform, H.E.R.S.365, is rolling out with “diamonds” instead of stars to help athletes get noticed.

Chickamauga Lake Fishing & Boating: TWRA is holding public input meetings on its Tennessee Black Bass Management Plan, and at a Birchwood session fishermen raised concerns that dock owners’ aquatic vegetation spraying could hurt fishing quality and bass-tournament tourism. Great Smoky Mountains Parking Tip: On Aug. 25, U.S. visitors can skip the park’s $5 daily parking tag for the park’s 110th birthday, but it doesn’t reserve spots—plan ahead and check congestion. Nashville Nightlife Safety: After a missing Colorado visitor was found dead, Nashville’s Office of Nightlife reiterated basics for tourists: go with a group, stick to well-lit areas, and arrange a safe ride home. Local Events & Attractions: The Tennessee Aquarium welcomed another Gentoo penguin chick, and Signal Mountain’s Mindfield Meet 7.0 is drawing drone and RC pilots to Billy Tripp’s sculpture this weekend. Road & Travel Alerts: A fatal I-24 crash near the Rutherford-Davidson line involved a Camry and tractor-trailer; separate reports also flagged a missing 10-year-old in Memphis. Music on the Move: Grace Potter, Pokey LaFarge and All Night Boogie Band are among the artists with fresh releases and upcoming area shows.

Bonnaroo Update: Organizers say Bonnaroo will take a much-needed year off in 2027 so “The Farm” can recover after back-to-back severe weather, including heavy rain in 2026 that stressed drainage and infrastructure. Outdoor Expo + Music: Nashville-based country/TikTok star Hannah Dasher will headline a free concert at the Ultimate Angler Outdoor Expo in Alabama on Oct. 3, following the Ultimate Angler World Championship at Lake Guntersville and Goose Pond Colony (Sept. 27–Oct. 3). Holiday Tour in Nashville: Steven Curtis Chapman is bringing “The Music of Christmas” tour back in 2026, celebrating the album’s 30th anniversary across 11 cities. Road Safety (I-24): A 26-year-old driver died in an early-morning I-24 crash near the Rutherford County line after a sudden lane change struck a tractor-trailer; no impairment was found. Local Rail Hopes: Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly says passenger rail progress is gaining momentum after a trip to North Carolina, pointing to rising ridership and a newly registered Sunbelt Atlantic Railway Coalition. Travel Costs Watch: AAA reports the national gas average is $4.10, up from last week, with crude oil staying elevated. Family-Friendly Events: SEU Worship announces “The Found in the Field Tour” with stops across eight cities this fall and spring.

Tickets & Arts: Greeneville’s Niswonger Performing Arts Center added a second show for “American Idol” winner Hannah Harper on Sept. 12; a few single tickets remain for the 2 p.m. matinee (7:30 p.m. is sold out). Travel & Air Access: Southwest Airlines plans Saturday-only nonstop service from Nashville to Aruba starting March 2027, giving Middle Tennessee travelers a direct Caribbean option. Road & Commuter Planning: TDOT is seeking public input on I-65 improvements in Maury, Williamson and Davidson counties as it studies congestion and safety along a 34-mile stretch. Local Tourism Spotlight: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville will keep building its $35 million parking garage after winning a Metro zoning appeal, despite neighbor protests. Memphis Dining Watch: The Tennessee Department of Health posted updated restaurant inspection scores in Memphis/Shelby County, including noted improvements and several low-score concerns. Outdoor & Events: The Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River runs Aug. 27–30, with anglers eyeing record smallmouth weights.

Outdoor Fundraising & Hiking: A retired Spanish teacher from Burr and Burton Academy finished a 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail journey and raised about $5,000 for Manchester’s Community Food Cupboard. Theme Park & Music Spotlight: Dolly Parton accepted an ACM Poet’s Award virtually from Nashville, while also staying home from Dollywood events as health concerns keep her off the road. Travel Safety in Tennessee: Nashville police are looking for a missing visitor robbed after paying a man $20 to “show him around,” a reminder to stay alert when traveling. Cycling & Emergency Response: A cyclist was airlifted after a 200-foot fall near Old Highway 96 in Williamson County, with multiple agencies praised for a high-angle rescue. Road Travel & Infrastructure: Tennessee moved ahead on I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes, selecting a private partner for the massive project aimed at easing congestion. Family Travel & Education: Nashville State and CMCSS launched a free accelerated associate-degree program, letting students earn college credit early while staying in high school activities. Memphis Airport Upgrade: MEM approved a new Escape Lounge deal, bringing a $2.9M passenger comfort boost to the main terminal. Outdoor Learning Trend: A roundup highlights campgrounds where families can mix weekend camping with hands-on education. Public Safety Update: A Tennessee jury convicted a traveling pastor and his wife in a child abuse case, ending a ministry that traveled across the country.

I-24 Choice Lanes: Tennessee has picked Drive-TN to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the $9.2 billion I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project between Nashville and Murfreesboro—adding 2 optional lanes each direction over 26 miles, with dynamic pricing and general-purpose lanes staying free. Local Engineering & Outdoor Access: Greene County named Brad Peters its first staff engineer, funded through a federal grant tied to the U.S. Forest Service, with a focus that includes upgrades at Horse Creek Recreation Area and trailheads. Family-Friendly STEM: Memphis unveiled a new Orange Mound STEM Center with robotics and coding tools, aiming to spark tech interest early through free programs supported by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and TVA. Outdoor & Adventure: The Ocoee River’s Olympic legacy is still pulling visitors—rafting on the 1996 course remains a big draw, with reminders of the Games along the route. Safety & Travel Tech: Lenoir City police used Flock cameras and Meta Glasses video to help find a missing endangered 13-year-old in North Carolina within 28 hours. Community & Tourism Events: East Tennessee’s “Daily Connections” highlights include Knoxville Walking Tours and Farragut’s history tour as part of America 250.