The descriptions are ample and vivid, and Hollis went to great lengths to trace the history of these sites, including those that have disappeared. In his research, he has uncovered how many attractions were repeatedly reincarnated either to reach their current state of development or decline in popularity until they closed. In addition to the histories of major vacation destinations, Hollis also tells the stories behind some more familiar stops, such as Holiday Inn and Dairy Queen. He also explains how roadside motels and goofy golf developed. There is an incredible amount of information in the 193 pages that make up Dixie Before Disney .
Photographs are numerous, and illustrations appear on every page.
While most are in black and white, some are reproduced in color in an eight-page section in the middle of the book. Additionally, following the Epilogue, there are ten bibliographical essays that provide great detail on his source materials and research. This book would be a very good addition to any collection simply because it is a topic which is probably not well represented in many libraries. It would also be an excellent resource for those who have not seen these attractions. More important, Tim Hollis book might be a particularly useful and fun resource for libraries located throughout the South near the attractions that drew thousands of families to pack up for summer vacation long before there was Disney.