Dollywood Breakthrough?

It occurs to me that this major new state of the art woodie that Dollywood will open in April of 2004 could catapult the park into a whole higher category. It's always been great for atmosphere, shows, food, cleanliness, hospitality and design, but without a major coaster has not been on the radar of most enthusiasts.
If this new coaster is as good as they claim, all that should change.

It makes me want to visit, finally ;)

mOOSH

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But what about Tennessee Tornado? I would definitely call that a "major coaster".....

But with the addition of Thunderhead, people like me (and Moosh) are going to want to check it out.

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"That's DOCTOR Evil. I didn't spend six years in evil medical school to be called 'Mr. Thank You Very Much.'"

TT is a blast and definitely the best Arrow I've ever ridden. I personally don't think they've ever designed one better. Fast, smooth, and surprising! Thunderhead should definitely put Dollywood in a new ballpark...the major league!
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Nashville needs a theme park!

This station pass through should be interesting. Apparently, the ride will be 4:00, putting it up there in the same class with Beast. They claim it will be a double out and back, like a barbell, with loops at both ends. The station is stepped. The line comes in on the boarding side, but behind the loading track and 10 foot above it the track comes back through the station. At that point the train will be running at about 60 mph, just coming off the second highest drop, and on the other side descending into the helix. So riders in line can watch the coaster at its mid run fastest. They claim this is the only major coaster in the country which in midrun actually passes through the station, not over, under or beside it.
Dollywood also says this will be a visually beautiful wood structure, reminiscent of Mean Streak.

I'm already making plans to go there next Spring. I don't want to go durring the summere becasue the park is overcrowded all summer long. I know that from a few summers ago when the shortest wait was a half hour. Durring the Spring and Fall there were no waits anywhere.

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Chris Knight
And I'll never, ever, ever, ever, ever make a song about the Sibbie.

There's no question that Dollywood will be more popular from now on in the coaster community. This park reminds me of how Busch Gardens in Virginia started out.

Infact, the two parks are very similar in there standards and quality. IMO, Dollywood is the better landscaped of the two, and is cheaper as well.

I Think the main reason why Dollywood is not popular in the Coaster community is that people go expecting to be blown away with Six Flags style rides, but, Dollywood is much more of an "Entertainment" Park wrather than an "Amusement Park".

I myself am happy that Dollywood, and the entire SDC park family, chooses not to follow the crowd, and keeps there parks more relaxed and laid back than a Paramount or Six Flags park would be.

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"The Mountain Slidewinder. Voted The #1 Non-Rollercoaster Ride in America Amusement Business Magazine, 1991"