Dollywood to debut Thunderhead 2004

Posted | Contributed by LONNOL

Dollywood has announced the construction of a new wood coaster called Thunderhead, scheduled to open next spring. The ride will be built by Great Coasters International, and feature a "fly through" section of track that will go through the station.

Read the press release from Business Wire.

Related parks

Awesome! I for one (and probably the only one) am very happy to see another GCI going in - and if the "fly through" is what I'm thinking it is, I've always wondered why no park has ever done this with a non-boomerang (or Impulse) coaster. It is an exciting part of both of those styles of rides, and I think it makes waiting for the ride a little less tedious since you can watch the train and people's reactions on it while you wait. Hmm, how far is Dollywood from Pittsburgh ...

------------------
"As soon as you design something that's idiot-proof, the world will go and design a better idiot."
--Brett

Of course my brother decides to move from Ashville NC to Philadelphia this year. He was an hour and 45 minutes from Dollywood. Oh well, I guess that's why they have hotels in Pidgeon Forge.

------------------
Goccvp1

No, there is at least one other person who is happy to see another GCI going in.... ME!

Only thing that could make this better than it already sounds... Mellinium Flyer trains instead of the standard PTC design.

------------------
Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"

"Fly through" station, How are they going to do it? I don't understand. It sounds cool, one more reason to visit Dollywood.*** This post was edited by WoodenCyclone 6/27/2003 10:49:57 AM ***
I would imagine that "fly-through" station means that at some point during the ride the coaster will pass through the coaster station. Sounds like that to me when I read the article. Very cool.

------------------
I like roller coasters.

That will be interesting with multiple trains running at the same time.

------------------
BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

Lord Gonchar's avatar
Us hardcore RCT players have been making coasters with station "fly throughs" for years :)

Sounds cool.

------------------
www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 8

SFLAKE, read the article, it IS using Millennium Flyer Trains.

This is great news becuase I live 4 hours from Dollywood and have family in Knoxville. I go once a year. This sounds great!

------------------
***DISCLAIMER***
This post, no matter how offensive it may seem to some, was not intended to hurt anyone either physically and/or mentally.

You can see artist renderings of the new ride at Screamscape.

And yes, Thunderhead will be using Millenium Flyer Trains even though the renderings don't show the flyer trains.

When will Dollywood make an official Press Release?*** This post was edited by CoastermanX 6/27/2003 1:12:54 PM ***

BullGuy's avatar
Nice. A new GCI ride was announced on my birthday. :)

------------------
Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

According to Dollywood site, they've made a press release in their media section, too bad it's off limits to the public.

------------------
Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean

Mamoosh's avatar
While we all know artist's renderings aren't always accurate the one I've seen does NOT show Millennium Flyers, but a custom train to fit the logging theme of the ride. That being said, Flyers do seem logical given GCI is involved.

------------------
A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Gargoyle [n.] - an olive flavored mouthwash.

The press release mentions that the coaster will use the GCII Millennium Flyers. The artist rendering sure looks kind of ThuNderaTion-ish as far as the structure (big thick ledgers)in the rendering goes. Might have used a photo of TNT or Dollywood's old mine train to go from.
I am just talking about the fact that the rendering trains are not Mill Flyer like trains. I hope the actual trains do incorporate some of the theme elements shown in the rendering.
Point being that this is just a rendering to build excitement and does not need to be 'factual'. The early billboards for Wildfire, for example, had trains that only bore a slight resemeblence to the actual trains.

Jim Wolgamuth


*** This post was edited by JWolg 6/27/2003 5:36:13 PM ***

Mamoosh's avatar
Right, Jim. I hadn't read the press release, just looked at the rendering, but as I said they're rarely 100% accurate. They probably *did* use an old rendering of ThuNderaTion.

mOOSH

------------------
A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Gargoyle [n.] - an olive flavored mouthwash.

I'm thrilled to hear another GCI woddie is being built I just whish all their creation used their wonderfull Millennium Flyers!

------------------
WARNING:
You are no longer who you were and tomorrow is now yesterday. In the event of an emergency, do not become alarmed. Move Quickly to the nearest exit.

Sounds Fantastic - Innovation at it's Finest!

------------------
Every coaster is a labor of love that begins as a gleam in someone's eye!

I'm very excited. We'll finally get a 3rd Coaster!

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

Does anyone know where the new section and coaster will be situated in the park?
I liked the Millennium Flyer trains on Lightning Racer.. why do you people all prefer PTC trains? Those orange lapbars are not at all comfortable.

You must be logged in to post

POP Forums - ©2024, POP World Media, LLC
Loading...