Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" CLOSED

[Ed]

WKMG-TV, channel 6 in Orlando, is reporting that Dixie Stampede has ceased operations effective immediately, and is selling the property on Vineland Road, just East of Disney property. They report that a spokesperson for the company says the facility will be considering reopening in another location in the Orlando area.

Details are still sketchy.

[Ed]

WKMG-TV, channel 6 in Orlando, is reporting "breaking news" that Dixie Stampede has ceased operations effective immediately, and is selling the property on Vineland Avenue, just East of Disney property. They report that a spokesperson for the company says the facility will be considering reopening in another location in the Orlando area.

And the Orlando Sentinel adds:

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceases operations
Christopher Boyd
Sentinel Staff Writer
4:23 PM EST, January 7, 2008

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceased operations today, just hours after a company spokesman denied the dinner theater was having any difficulties.

The dinner attraction, located a short distance east of Walt Disney World alongside Interstate 4, has traded on its connection with country singer Dolly Parton, who did promotions for the business in its early years.

The $28 million facility, whose entertainment was built around horse acts, opened in June 2003. There are three other Dixie Stampedes, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Branson, Mo.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

[Melanie]

Wow. That's weird.

[MickeyMousse]

It must be true since the location is no longer listed on the Dixie Stampede website. We always liked seeing the horses outside-hope it isn't going to become another outlet!

[DizneyFreak2002]

Honestly, I never been there.... I wondered how it compared to Mideval Times and Arabian Horses.... I know Capone's really was bad, and honestly, I am shocked that it is still open....

[DisneyTwirler13!]

I'm very upset!!!
I loved Dixie Stampede! When I was in middle school, my choir teacher took us to sing there (we paid our own way through a car wash and a cookie dough fundraiser), and some of us went back the next year as a group of friends. I t was like a tradition or something.

[Scar]

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede abruptly ceases operations

The $28 million facility, whose entertainment was built around horse acts, opened in June 2003.

I'm very upset!!!
I loved Dixie Stampede! When I was in middle school, my choir teacher took us to sing there ...

Anyone else feeling a little old right about now.

[BelleandtheBeast]

That is strange and sudden. I had never been to the one in Orlando, but the one in Pigeon Forge was so good during Christmas time. They had and awesome Christmas show. I recommend it to anyone traveling in that area.

[Celestria]

It must be true since the location is no longer listed on the Dixie Stampede website. We always liked seeing the horses outside-hope it isn't going to become another outlet!

DING DING DING

congrats, we have a winner! that is exactly what it will be. more orlando premium outlet malls. said so on the news

[goofysbabe]

That's sad to hear. I've been to the one in Pigeon Forge and in Branson and both had really good food and the shows were awesome! My children loved it. My son was chosen to chase the chicken for our side and we won!!!! He was given a children's book signed by Dolly and a flag. Afterwards on the way out everyone was giving him high fives. What a great time. Well, guess Fla. needs another store - heard they had a shortage

[Mackflava99]

What was Dixie stampede? a restaurant?

[Beast_fanatic]

What was Dixie stampede? a restaurant?

It was a dinner show.

[NJ Camper]

We where just there in nov. we have been past it many times but never went we on a whim said lets try it we drove there to see about show times and availability and walked right in for the next show it was pretty full i would say about 3/4 or more the holiday show was good we enjoyed it the pre show was good and so was the food

[FortheloveofStitch]

It was a great time, we went to the Christmas Show in November '06. My daughter still talks about it today and still has her flag and mug/boot.

[#1donaldfan]

Good !!!! Sorry to say that our experience with the Dixie Stampede was (to me) horrible, horrible, horrible (TN)......who eats food without utensils, in front of a dust bowl, watching a miniature buffalo use the arena as his personal restroom..... the food was slapped on our plate, we were rushed by a dude trying to make a tip and who didn't care if we ate or not. My tea was good though, but I had to beg for a second shot, I almost dehydrated between glasses....

[D-ko]

It was very sudden. Apparently, many employees found out when they got to work

[DigitalDaredevil]

I've never been there. I just did not get the feel that it was up to par with other similar shows, but that is my own stubborn, uninvestigated opinion.
I have been to Capone's which I thought was not very good. Medieval Times is good, especially if you get crowds that are really into it and vocal. I also saw a mystery dinner show, I think it was called Sleuths. The point was to catch the lies stated by characters and you will figure out who the criminal was. It was ok, but we caught a "lie" form a character who was not the criminal. Kind of petty but ruined the fun for us.

[Stan]

I heard a bit more about this through the grapevine- don't know how accurate. Maybe there was more in the paper I didn't see.

Apparently somebody (the outlet folks I guess) offered so much $ for the property that Dolly & company felt it would be bad business (poor stewardship) to turn it down. So they'll find another place & rebuild, probably 10x nicer- but that's not going to happen overnight.

I guess this means that, square foot for square foot, an outlet mall in the right place makes more $/day than even an established & popular attraction.

How many of you allocate outlet shopping time to your WDW vacations? I haven't set foot in one of those places in 10 yr, and I don't think I've missed much.

[NJ Camper]

None at all unless we forget to pack things we go in the fall/winter area so the temps can range a bit we have had days or even the whole trip where we wore shorts then days or the whole trip wearingpants and sweatshirts even jackets or a combination of all the above nov-feb can be tough but that would be the only reason for us if we wanted to go to the outlet malls we could do that at home

[NJ Camper]

Anyone heard anything new with this heard it closed but did anyone start anything new there yet or is there any rumors of what it could be used for????????