At Dollywood, superfans honour the late singer and local hero

It now attracts four million visitors a year and employs more than 4,000 people, bringing much-needed economic support for the struggling communities of the Appalachian Mountains. The region's hardscrabble existence is perhaps best illustrated in Dollywood's full-size replica of the humble two-room log cabin where Parton grew up with her 11 brothers and sisters in Locust Ridge, outside Sevierville.

Donchatz and her sister peeked into the cabin, pausing at the many original family treasures on display. "I think growing up in Appalachia, she's always been my hero," Donchatz, a 35-year-old mortgage processor from Asheville, North Carolina, toldAFP.Star visited regularly.

Parton, who died on Tuesday aged 80, co-owned and developed the nostalgia-fueled theme park, building a massive economic asset that has long been valued by locals. She visited regularly as the park grew to include over 50 rides, a museum, water parks, hotels and daily live shows and workshops.

"It's been a huge impact, for not just our business but the whole community" in Sevier County and beyond, Laurie Blanton Faulkner, co-owner of the family-run Pottery House Cafe in Pigeon Forge, near Dollywood, toldAFPin the bustling dining room. "Having them at the back door has been such a blessing for us.

"Dollywood has proved to be a blessing for many, directly generating about $2 billion of economic impact a year for the state of Tennessee, & Resorts president Eugene Naughton, who worked closely with Parton for years.

"Family, faith and doing good in the community where we live and work" have been key commitments that Parton and her partners have strived for over the past four decades, he toldAFP.Retirees Ray White and his wife Patti, rolling slowly through Dollywood on their mobility scooters, have been coming to Pigeon Forge from their home in South Carolina since 1989 and are in awe at Dollywood's influence and the changes in the region.

"It's grown immensely because of Dollywood," said White, 77, noting the positive economic impact. One of Dollywood's allures is its reflection and promotion of a mountain culture that has steadily faded from modern life. Guests stroll into blacksmith shops and corn mills, dine on cinnamon bread and other local delicacies, and seek quiet time in an authentic Appalachian chapel.

"She made me proud to be Appalachian. She put us on the map a little bit -- a lot," Donchatz said.