Dollywood to debut Thunderhead 2004

EXCELLENT. I have been wanting to visit Dollywood for some time now (I really like the looks of Dolly's nice breasts - I mean park); this is one more reason for me to visit. GCI and huge hooters - who would have thought that would have ever been....

Everything points that the new area will be situated above Dreamland Forest and along the train tracks--the entrance to the new area will be most likely be just down the path from the dreamland forest restrooms in what is now maintenance roads that go past slidewinder's station and continues up to the road/train crossing. Ive gathered this because it said the coaster would be on two mountains and will fill in the valley betwen the two and from space via satelite it appears this will be the location.

Hmmm... Perhaps the station fly-by will be similar to Tremors fly-by in the giftshop? We can only hope :)

------------------
Corey
"This is America! We speak English not jive!"

and hope we will corey!
I know i'll be visiting my relatives in TN next year!
Any coaster that is built out in the woods.. ala Boulder Dash, is fine by me, espeically if it's glass smooth GCI quality with Millennium Flyer trains.

I'm drooling already!

------------------
"I'm starting to doubt your comitment to Sparkle Motion"

I still don't understand how they'll do the "fly-through"

I may be nit-picking, but it seems to me I've been on several rides with a "station fly-BY"....I may be mis-reading, but a fly-THROUGH sounds a little different. Discussions here have resulted in the concept of using the station house as a sort of above-ground *tunnel/shed* for the train....if anything out there is using the station in that manner, I certainly don't recall it that way...it will be LOUD, so I'm thinking of having ear-plugs in the station and using hand signals almost exclusively, sort of like the FoF crews do...

Purely speculative here, but I think the new GCIIs will all be using the MFlyer trains...I love those trains a LOT, but I sure would prefer it if the bars didn't simply FALL into your lap....a *little* bit of room would be nicer IMO...

------------------
It seems today, that all you see, are violins in movies, and sax on TV....lucky there's a Family Guy

I for one hope they change the name, I mean Thunderhead is just to open to comment by the CPG....... ;)

I would love M Flyer trains if they didn't self staple so horribly.

------------------
UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

Magnum, I was just going to say that. I really don't care for the Millenium Flyer trains simply because they always staple me during the course of a ride. Never fails. They are comfortable as all heck and look great flying through the course, but those stupid lap bars just ruin it for me. Oh well, at least they aren't using Gerstlauers! ;) I had my first Gerstlauer experience on my SRM trip, and I can honestly say I don't care to have any more.

Justin, who hasn't been to Dollywood since 1988...

------------------
Don't put anyone on a pedestal, because then people will point and laugh at them.

Brent said "Thunderhead is just to open to comment by the CPG.......;)"

And yet....somehow.....we mangaed to leave it alone....until Brent comes along pointing and giggling at the name....and now, if I *were* to snicker and say ANYTHING at all, *I* would be blamed??? Thanks Brent, now you've ruined all the fun....;)

bill, ROFL, thinking a park with Mountain Slidewinder has already crossed THAT particular line...:)
------------------
It seems today, that all you see, are violins in movies, and sax on TV....lucky there's a Family Guy

The name "Thunderhead" suggests to me a large white cloud appearing in the sky. I don't think it's offensive at all.

Sure thats all it is Doc....until the CPG gets ahold of it, then we have a problem. ;)

-Brent (who actually likes the name)

------------------
UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

I have no plans to make fun of the name.

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

Jcoasterman said,

"I was just going to say that. I really don't care for the Millenium Flyer trains simply because they always staple me during the course of a ride. Never fails. They are comfortable as all heck and look great flying through the course, but those stupid lap bars just ruin it for me."

How can you say that they staple you in? They click down on their own, and they would never come down that tight that it would ruin the ride itself. You said about just how comfortable they are. The lapbars are not anymore uncomfortable. They just won't let the restraint stay in a more loose position then necessary. The only way to stop that is to lock it in the position you want, and press your foot against so it doesn't come down any farther. Not a big deal. They are the best trains currently running on any wooden coaster.

GCI is really going ot have a hit on their hands with this one.

Youu are wrong there, they keep coming down throughout the ride making a stapled Magnum ride seem like cake in comparison.

I had this happen so bad on LR that I had serious problems getting the lapbar to come back up. I couldn't push it down to pop it back up.

------------------
UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

Dollywood.com now has a Thunderhead page. It shows 2 new renderings never before seen unless you have visited DW recently.In the last picture you can see TH's trains and the "fly-through" section.Notice how theme the trains are with a steam locomotive in the front with steam coming out.And you can see the entrance to Thunderhead Gap in the second one.