Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) is a privately owned themed-entertainment company that operates several theme parks and tourist attractions within the United States, and as of 2021, one of its aquariums in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The company says its mission is to "Create Memories Worth Repeating” in a manner “consistent with Christian values and ethics.”[1] HFE traces roots back to Hugo and Mary Herschend from Chicago, Illinois along with sons Jack and Pete.

Hugo suffered a heart attack and later died in 1955, however Mary along with her two sons continued to improve the cave attraction by installing electric lighting and building concrete walkways.

In 1969, Silver Dollar City drew national attention when producer Paul Henning brought the cast and crew of the popular Beverly Hillbillies television show to the park to film five episodes.

[9] The Herschends extended their brand in 1976 upon purchasing a small tourist attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, called Goldrush Junction.

In 1986, singer and actress Dolly Parton, who grew up near Pigeon Forge, became a co-owner, and the park's name was changed to Dollywood, reflecting her involvement.

At this point, the Pigeon Forge park was branched off into a separate division of HFE called The Dollywood Company, which oversees all the properties that Dolly Parton has interest in.

Former Herschend employee William R. "Bill" Doyle, III was hired as the President & CEO of Callaway Gardens in June, 2015.

Headlined by James Rogers,[16] the highly successful theatre was operated by HFE until 2001, when it was sold to Anita Bryant.

In 2017, HFE sold Ride the Ducks to Ripley Entertainment who shut the operations down in 2018 after the deadly sinking in Branson.

Herschend also briefly operated Six Flags Darien Lake from 2012 to 2014, installing the famous Moose on the Loose Pony Tack ride.