SANFORD, Florida – I counted at least six blonde wigs on a Dolly Parton-inspired flight from Florida to Tennessee.
“We knew the assignment, so we had to do it,” Karen Nehus said after we landed.
She wore a pink sequined jacket, black fringe shirt and matching pants with her mane of platinum curls. Other passengers donned denim, rhinestones and T-shirts with Parton’s face on it for Allegiant Air
Flight 925.It was the first of two specially numbered "Destination Dollywood" flights from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport on Nov. 6, and part of a whole weekend planned at Dollywood.
Allegiant and Dollywood dreamed up the fan experience well before Parton's passing in August, announcing the first flight back in February.
“Allegiant tells us the Dollywood-themed flight was one of the fastest-selling flights in their history,” Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton said in a statement in March, when the second flight, Flight 2925, was announced. Both were numbered after Parton's hit song "9 to 5."
"It just looked like something really fun to do and we all like Dolly and we thought it would be a blast, which it was," Nehus said. “We were very sad when she passed, but then we decided we were going to make it a celebration of her life, so that’s what we’re doing.”
The whole day felt like a party. At Sanford's airport, passengers were welcomed with displays of oversized flowers and butterflies (which Parton loved), live musicians and characters from Dollywood, and activities like bracelet making, a photo booth, and chances to win prizes ranging from Dollywood magnets to Allegiant travel vouchers.
Goodie bags were handed out upon boarding, and passengers and crew wore butterfly headbands on the plane. The flight itself was relatively normal, but there was Dolly Parton and Dollywood-themed trivia, along with another giveaway. Three passengers were randomly selected to each get $500 in Allegiant travel vouchers and two Dollywood theme park tickets. The whole plane cheered for the winners.
Upon landing, all passengers were given personal loaves of Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread and welcomed by more Dollywood characters, as well as Naughton.
“It’s really, really, really, really special,” Stacy Lynn Warner said of the trip.
She described herself as a huge Dolly Parton fan and said she'd always been inspired by what Parton did for others. Her late mother loved Parton too, and Warner said they vacationed at Dollywood every year when she was growing up.
"I would be like, 'Mom, can't we go somewhere different?' and she'd be like, 'I'm paying for the vacation. I'm going where I want to go.' Now look at me. I go all the time," Warner said with a smile, pointing to herself in a metallic sequin cardigan, bejeweled black dress and black cowboy hat over her blonde wig.
There are several special events planned at Dollywood on Nov. 7 for Flight 925 and Flight 2925 passengers who purchased tickets to the park, which just kicked off its Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Those include extended park hours, exclusive ride time on select attractions, and reserved seating for the popular Christmas in the Smokies show.
“Bringing all these fans together, it’s a humbling experience for us,” Kristen Schilling-Gonzales, Allegiant’s vice president of Planning, Network and Charters, told USA TODAY.
The flights were Allegiant’s first for any fandom. Asked whether others are planned, Schilling-Gonzales added, “Certainly that’s on the table, so stay tuned. “
The reporter on this story received access from Allegiant Air and Dollywood. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I took a Dolly Parton-inspired flight. Here’s what it was like
