I'm Back From Thunderhead Gap

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coasterpunk said:
Wood coaster are suposed to feel out of control Thunderhead just doesn't feel it is out of control.

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I'm confused. Is this a good thing that Thunderhead doesn't feel out of control when wood coasters are suppose to feel out of control?

Harry, same thing was asked above ^

A simple typo.

Yes, Thunderhead AND Tennessee Tornado will be open until December 30 this year. (Smoky Mountain Christmas will give us the oppurtunity for night rides)

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coasterpunk said:

Wood coaster are suposed to feel out of control Thunderhead just doesn't feel out of control, it is out of control.

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Is that better? :)

oh, and great work on the trains coasterpunk! They're really works of art. *** Edited 3/29/2004 1:35:33 AM UTC by CoastermanX***

I think it's awsome knowing I had a part on making the craziest wooden coaster happen. I didn't have anything to do with the paint but the paint is sweet.

The only thing that would possibly be cooler would be to have trains painted with that chameleon paint. Imangine how cool a train would be changing colors flying past you. Thats probably more money than a park would want to spend though.

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coasterpunk said:

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coasterpunk said:

Wood coaster are suposed to feel out of control Thunderhead just doesn't feel out of control, it is out of control.

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Is that better? :)

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LOL, it's amazing what one comma can do!

I was so happy I wasnt stapled on Thunderhead, at those sppeds, it may ahve hurt just a bit. :)

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CoastermanX said:
Thunderhead Gap has the coaster, restrooms, a so called 'rainmaker', a coca-cola truck that sells drinks, and showers which are just mist towers.

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They brought back the Rainmaker show! They haven't did that in along time! (It's cheezy but fun, or at least the original show was!)

So happy everybody is positive about Thunderhead! Can't wait for April 17th!

Were there any other changes in the park?

*** Edited 3/29/2004 3:59:51 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

Tennessee Tornado now exits into a arcade. the lower queue was gutted. the entrance is till the same, but you turn immediantely right and up the stairs. Thats about it. *** Edited 3/30/2004 12:56:21 AM UTC by CoastermanX***

Well, I'm glad they are making use of that unused queue-space. Kinda recalls the old Thunder Express arcade which you exited into.

It wasn't the ride ops fault there was only one train running. Actually thanks to the ride ops Thunderhead did run for the preview day. Everyone put in long hours to get just one train running. There just wasn't enough time to get all the settings set for a 2 train operation.

Well it really wasn't a matter of "settings" but instead some required testing that needs to be done before putting two trains on the track. We understood that everyone would have liked to have seen both trains running, but there are requirements that needed completed for even one train that took us very long hours (I put in 2 20 hour days in a row along with Jeff and many other Dollywood folk). The original plan did not even have us open for the sneak peak, but everyone did their best so we could have something. Really, doesn't 4 1/2 hours for 2 rides beat 4 and 1/2 hours for none :). Personally I think Dollywood and in particular operations should be thanked for everything they did to make at least a sneak peek of what is to come possible.

Yea Brian, you did put in alot of time too. I did too but it wasn't work so my time doesn't count. :) Everyone that spent those all day and nights marathons need some credit.

I guess most people think that once a ride rolls around the track once or twice it it good to go. It's almost mindblowing how much a ride needs to run before it it ready for day in and day out operations.

Like you said when most of the testing is done and you can sit back and ride it makes all the headaches worth it.

All things considered regarding the known weather-related delays, I'm *amazed/impressed* that you guys got it running as soon as you did. April 6 came early in ThunderHead Gap...

Kudos to GCII and Dollywood....I'll get there ASAP....:)

Anyone have any good pictures yet?

Grand Opeing today! Dolly was on NBC's Today show this morning showing off her new ride. Hopefully, we'll be seeing some TRs soon (I know some people on CBuzz had to go to Grand Opening.)

I was there....working!

how was thunderhead today? monstrous im sure ;)

Well, let's just say they shut off the line an hour early and were still operating at time to close!

Dollywood.com now has a 2004 map up for your viewing. Here.