Dollywood announces drop tower and junior coaster for 2017

20 stories above the Canyon’s pool

That makes me wonder if it's going in the old Topple Tower location.

They will be replacing lightning rod with these new attractions. Lmfao

Punk Chaser? Really? Lame name

whistle punk: a lumberjack who operates the signal wire running to a donkey engine whistle

I'd reckon the topple tower site is the place. It's small, it's round, it's useless. It's also up the hill, so at 200 feet the sense of height will be... heightened. It will be a great view of the park on one side and the hills on the other.

There's a small interactive kids area behind that location that butts up against Thunderhead and I think it doesn't get a lot of traffic. That might be the place for the kid coaster.

I hope this tower doesn't topple.

Is there a source for any more details on the coaster? Normally I wouldn't pay much attention, but since this is Dollywood, I bet they have something at least a little unique or interesting planned.

I completely misread what the name was...Whitsle Punk Chaser. I thought it said whilst Punk Chaser Lol

I like the name of the junior coaster a lot. The park can use a good, quality junior coaster. RCDB says it will be a steel coaster, but does not give a manufacturer. The press release mentions Thunderhead, so I bet the new coaster is placed into that area of the park.

I have always pictured a drop tower in the spot of Timber Tower ever since that ride was removed.

Will the 200 foot drop tower be taller than Wild Eagle, as far as the skyline goes? Wild Eagle has a 135 foot drop, but it was built on the top of a mountain. I think the lift hill is said to be about 210 feet tall. It starts from 30 or 40 feet from ground level, so I bet the tower will not rise above the wing coaster if it placed in the Timber Tower area.

Dollywood has really become a really great thrill park over the last decade, which adds to everything else they offer. This is great news.

Will the new coaster operate?

Serious question.

Serious answer: obviously

Those do seem like good attractions for that area of the park. It was dead in there a few weeks ago when we visited. Considering River Battle was closed and Mystery Mine was the only thing open until hitting Thunderhead.

I do think they could use some more flats spread around the park.

Coasterfantom2 said:

I do think they could use some more flats spread around the park.

This. So much this. Having almost all of them concentrated in one area (County Fair? Country Fair? Whatever.) really reduces their impact and utility, IMO.

Even just relocating a couple would help a lot. Love the park and can't wait to get back.

^Yeah I can't remember that name but that part of the park was packed when we were waiting to ride the train. We didn't try to ride any of the flats with the crowds. It seemed as though a lot parents with smaller kids were hanging out in that area.

All the coasters with the exception of Lightning Rod(only open one of our three days there.) were walk ons.

matt. said:
Is there a source for any more details on the coaster? Normally I wouldn't pay much attention, but since this is Dollywood, I bet they have something at least a little unique or interesting planned.

The park confirmed it will be a steel zamperla gravity coaster.

I'm assuming Whistle Punk Chaser is the same as the Cocoa Cruiser at HersheyPark (same model that the park confirmed). Very much a "kiddie" coaster as opposed to a family coaster... :(

With HersheyPark and Dollywood adding drop towers this year, what park now becomes the "biggest" without one?

Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom. SeaWorld Orlando.

Disneyland, Both US Universal Studios

Geauga Lake.

Too soon?

More like too late, and it's all Dick's fault. (!!!111!!)