There are hotel stays you remember for the cloud-like pillows and palm-fringed pools—and then there are stays where sleep feels almost an afterthought.
On a recent journey through Tennessee, I experienced two of the latter: first, I slept in Dolly Parton’s former tour bus in the Great Smoky Mountains. That was followed by a stay in the Memphis apartment where Elvis Presley spent his formative teenage years. I’ve been a fervent fan of both musicians since I was a kid, and the whole thing felt like I was on a greatest-hits tour of Tennessee’s ultimate music sleepovers.
The journey started in Pigeon Forge, where I tumbled out of Parton’s bed, ready to pour myself a cup of ambition. The superstar singer was born in the Great Smoky Mountains region of East Tennessee, and in 1961, she opened Dollywood Parks and Resorts theme park not far from where she grew up. This is where you’ll now find Suite 1986, her beloved 45-foot motor coach. It served as her home-on-wheels for 15 years while she toured the country (Parton, famously, doesn’t fly).
Stepping into Parton’s Coach of Many Colors, you’ll find its many cabinets crammed with the star’s ritzy, sequined stage wear and sky-high wigs. Every surface is decorated with folksy, hand-painted murals and a lavish sprinkling of rhinestones. There’s even a tiny, Parton-sized soaking tub.
At the back of the bus, you’ll find the spot where all the magic happened. This is where Parton slept, wrote many of her hit songs, and prepared for shows before a mirror framed by dazzling Hollywood-style lights. I settled in for the night in her plush pink velvet bed, which is so petite that my feet almost poked past the end—perhaps a little unsurprising given that Parton is about five feet tall. A fold-down prayer table sits nearby, and a small fridge packed with snacks is within arm’s reach to fuel late-night songwriting sessions.
Though her bejeweled Louboutins are sealed behind a glass display, it felt like I was stepping into her shoes—and that’s all part of the plan, says Shana Tharan, the general manager of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.
“Guests are given a genuine glimpse into Dolly’s life on the road. The bus is just as Dolly used it, down to the small hole in the bedroom carpet,” she says. The package has attracted everyone from affluent travelers seeking a big-ticket stay with serious bragging rights to country music enthusiasts.
“One guest shared that she had experienced homelessness while growing up, and that Dolly’s music was a steady source of comfort and motivation throughout her childhood,” Tharan says. “She described the moment of staying on the bus as ‘full circle.’ These are the memories and moments that make this experience so special.”
The two-night package includes tickets to Dollywood, a private dining experience prepared by Parton’s chef, theme park and dinner-show admission, and a tour of the Great Smoky Mountains in a bubble-gum-pink jeep. The coach itself sleeps two, but friends and family can come along for the ride with an additional guest room at the resort accommodating four more. At $10,000, it’s no budget stay, but all profits are donated to The Dollywood Foundation.
A few days later, I swapped rhinestones for rockabilly as I drove six hours west to the Home of the Blues, Memphis. Tucked away inside a red-brick complex once known as Lauderdale Courts is the only Presley-owned home in the world that allows overnight guests.
The modest five-room apartment is part of a revitalized residential community now called Uptown Square Apartments. This is where the young Memphis Flash lived with his parents as a teenager, and his signature sound, style, and ambition began to crystallize.
Inside, the space has been restored with careful attention to period detail. The living room is stocked with classic Elvis films, best enjoyed from the vintage sofa. In the kitchen, an original 1950s refrigerator and skillet stand ready, perfect for rustling up Presley’s famously indulgent peanut butter, banana, and jelly sandwiches.
The bedroom where Elvis slept is the most telling room of all. Larger than his parents’ bedroom, its walls now bear marks of superstardom: traces of lipstick kisses dot the walls.
But staring up at the same creamy ceiling Presley once gazed at, years before the relentless touring and the temptations of fame took their toll, you can get a sense of the King’s humble beginnings and wide-eyed optimism. If you crack open the window, you can still hear the rumble of passing freight trains and the sound of the blues drifting in from nearby music joints—it’s probably a soundtrack that’s remained relatively unchanged since Presley called the apartment home.
Despite the stay being a relative bargain at $250 per night, accommodating up to four guests, it still flies under the radar, probably because there’s no online booking platform. Instead, curious visitors must call or email the property directly to arrange a stay.
But it’s well worth the effort and the chance to get a glimpse into two icons’ lives. These are two experiences where the real luxury isn’t necessarily about the thread counts, but in the thrill of stepping, even briefly, into the world of legends.
