Greetings all,
The post about our track records got me thinking about some of the parks that I've been to in the past. I was at Dollywood a few years before Dolly bought it, and I recall riding what I believe was an indoor water ride. I took a look at the rides listed on the official site, but I did not see anything that jogged my memory. At the time I was there, it was known as Silver Dollar City. There were only two thrill rides, the Blazing Fury and this other ride that I cannot remember the name of. I used to have a poster style park map, but unfortunately over the years, it has vanished.
Can anyone please fill in my gaps in my memory?
Thanks,
JJ
Dollywood used to be called Silver Dollar City? When did they built the now Silver Dollar City in Branson?
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What is life without ups and downs!?!?
um...no. It's always been called Dollywood and Silver Dollar City has always been in Branson.
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Scorching the Competition in 2001
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Wrongo. What is now Dollywood was originally built as the Rebel Railroad. At some in the late 60's George Roose (of Cedar Point fame) became involved with it. Some rides were added and the name was changed to Gold Rush Junction. It was then was sold to the family that owns Silver Dollar City in Branson. It was actually the first attraction in Branson. The Tenn. park was operated as a Silver Dollar City for a while. Then they partnered with Dolly Parton in the early '90's ( I believe ) and the name was changed to Dollywood.
I was at Silver Dollar City in 1984 if that will help anyone with a name for the ride. The same trip we also went to Opry Land and the World's Fair in Knoxville. Ah, that was quite a summer to remember. Now if I only knew the name of that water ride. hehe
-JJ
Are you thinking of Fire in the Hole? Thats a great ride!
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Say no, to lap bar nazis!
GhostriderCCI, Fire in the Hole is located at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.
Well after studying the Dollywood map it appears there is no longer a ride that resembles what I remember as an indoor water ride. From looking over the layout and thinking back to the map I had of SDC, the ride would have been located somewhere near Daredevil Falls is located. I really wish I could locate the poster I had in the past, but unfortunately it seems, the box it was stored in was thrown away by my mother after I moved out. :-(
-JJ
*** This post was edited by JJFang on 12/11/2000. ***
*** This post was edited by JJFang on 12/11/2000. ***
Ok to clear up confusion...which there seems to be a lot of in this thread.
SDC is in Branson. It has a scenic railway that ends with a splash called Fire in the Hole
Dollywood is in Pidgeonforge. It has a It has a scenic railway that ends with a splash called Blazin' Fury
Stone Mountain in Georgia is building a scenic railway that ends with a splash called Great Train Chase.
All three rides are/will be basically the same ride.
Thank you
Dustijn Hollon
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Like mantis only scary and exciting
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Ok what you do not seem to realise, Dustijn, is that Dollywood *was* known as Silver Dollar City. As Dutchman wrote, Dolly didn't purchase the property till the late 80's or early 90's. When I was there in 1984, it was still Silver Dollar City, there were two indoor dark rides. One was Blazing Fury, the indoor coaster that is still there. The other ride was an indoor water ride. Now this wasn't a log flume. It was more of a faster paced boat ride that was not designed to drench you in water. This is the ride that I cannot remember the name of and it's driving me insane! :-)
-JJ
Dolly Parton invested her 50% about 1985. I have the grand opening on video. She sang '9-5', not if anyone cares. The other 50% is owned by the group that operates the Silver Dollar City in Branson. Now, on the other hand, Kenny Rogers owns 50% of that park. But that is another story.
Yeah, there were rumors flying around the park management circles when Kenny Rogers bought into the Branson operation. He wanted to change the name to Kennywood, but didn't realize that the name was already taken. Really!!!!!!
I'm sorry, I thought you were mistaking SDC for Dollywood.
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Say no, to lap bar nazis!
Well thanks to Dollywood's Customer Service, I have discovered the name of the ride. :-)
This was what was sent to me:
The only indoor water ride that was on park prior to it becoming Dollywood was the Flooded Mine. It was replaced in 1998 with Daredevil Falls. The ride was themed around a prison escapee named One-Eyed Jack and the boat ride took you through a flooded mine shaft where prisoners were working.
I have to admit, I didn't really expect anyone there to remember the name, but thankfully someone did have the info so my quest has ended. :-)
Thanks to those of you that tried to help.
-JJ
Dutchman said:
"Yeah, there were rumors flying around the park management circles when Kenny Rogers bought into the Branson operation. He wanted to change the name to Kennywood, but didn't realize that the name was already taken. Really!!!!!!"
Well they could have called it Mr. Roger's Neighborho.... DUH!
The other roller coaster that used to be at Dollywood was called Thunder Express. It was located where the Tennessee Tornado is now, behind Blazing Fury. It was your normal Arrwo mine train that the bought from one of the Six Flags parks in 1989. As a matter of fact, the Tennessee Tornado still uses the same exact station (only you enter from the other side), and the track leading up to the lift and then back into the station, so I guess you could almost say the they "Phantomized" Thunder Express!! lol
JOE
P.S. I too went there when it was Silver Dollar City. And the flooded mine ride was fun but stupid, so I was more than glad to see it go and be replaced by Daredevil Falls, which sucks too, just not as bad :-) Sorry to ramble on and on and on and on and on and on...
I wish Dolly would stop replacing these rides and just add. I wouldn't think any park would remove a decent coaster, especially when they only have two. At least they still have Blazing Fury. I love that ride. And Thunder Road is excellent too.
JJFang - you could not have possibly gone to the Knoxville World's Fair in 1984. Because the World's Fair was in 1982. I can prove it - still have the ticket stub. Just a minor technicality.
Went through Pigeon Forge in 1988 - and it WAS Dollywood at that time, as I have pictures of the sign, and even walked through the park when it was not open.
