I rode Mystery Mine...

I promise not to give anything away. Great ride and a wonderful addition to Dollywood. They waited a while before opening on Friday morning due to the weather being "cool". I noticed that the ride was moving slow through the circuit. I actually thought that it would not make it through the last inversion on one of the test runs because it was moving so slowly, but it did. I asked the ride op what was going on and she told me they were running trains to "warm up the track". That was later confirmed when I asked another guy and he told me the same thing. The theming is great and everyone was very pleasant. They were only loading one of the 2 areas for loading so they will be able to move lines well once they are fully trained. I opted for the single riders line and it was a quick trip to the front car each time I rode.

Is it fun, thrilling, scary, all of the above?

I would have to say "fun". A great way to sum it up is a quote from someone I heard talking in line that said ....Thunderhead is a real roller coaster where this is a mouse coaster that is "hurky-jerky"...so there you have it......

^ Having not ridden either of those coasters, I can't really say for sure, but I don't think that sums up anything at all.

Well there is 2 coaster credits waiting for you...Have fun!!!

I have a friend who rode MM several weeks ago (in the frigid cold) for a commercial shoot. The video he showed me of one inversion has some mean hangtime, and almost looks as if it is going to stop (upside down).

He also told me there was some unexpected surprises but I told him to stop right there, DON'T TELL ME! I don't want it spoiled.

Byron-I think that you summed it up nicely. Welcome to CB. You will have to overlook some of the smart a$$ comments you will find from some of the members. *** Edited 4/3/2007 2:02:55 AM UTC by Steve Perry***

Thanks Steve. Im good at overlooking!!!!!!

Man, I think I am going to be terrified just from the vertical lift. I can't wait. Looks like we are going around Memorial Day week with some hiking in the Smokey Mountains, some music in Memphis and a stop over in St. Louis.

Does anyone have a POV of this yet?!?!?!?

Swampfoxer, yes there is some serious hangtime there. Thats what I was talking about in my earlier post. There are some other parts too, but not with that hangtime like the last element...

My only question that no one has touched upon is the rumor that with the addition of Mystery Mine that the park was going to connect Thunderhead Gap to Craftsmans Valley. I think either a ton of earth would have to be moved, or you better be in top physical shape if that is the case. Anyone know if they have done this?

^No connection for now...probably not for several more years as I understand.

The Thunderhead/Mystery Mine valley closes off a little past MM before descending to the Tennessee Tornado area. Basically a lot of terrain work will have to be done before a path to link the areas could be built.

*** Edited 4/4/2007 4:57:39 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

Oh man I can't wait to visit DW at the end of the month. :P

-Tina

Me and my daughter got to ride it this past Sunday, (the reason I'm so late posting is because we just got back this afternoon). What an awesome ride! Since it was in "soft opening" still I was mainly just hoping to get a ride in, I didn't expect the ride to be running complete with all effects/sound...but it was.

We only waited 10 minutes to ride, which made it even more awesome. Right as you leave the station the effects kick in, and the attention to detail was incredible. You can actually believe you're in an old abandoned mine. The two vertical lifts were a huge part of the ride beyond just getting you to the top. This thing has got Disney-like quality to it on every turn.

This thing is so unbelieveably smooth it's hard to put into words. On the in-line twist it throws you into it with some serious power! But you do get that hanging sensation on the heartline portion which is sweet. The mid-course section was very twisted as saw in photos so far, but you cannot be prepared for them...they are just plain fun! My six year old was just laughing herself silly on this ride, (esp. on this part).

As for the "unexpected surprises" mentioned above...they just plain blew me away with this ride. I'm not giving anything away though, in one week you'll all know for sure what were speaking about.

Thunderhead Gap is coming along so well. There is a good time to be had in this area alone. It's kind've reminding me of a "mountain version" of KI's Action Zone.

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phoenixphan :-) said:
My only question that no one has touched upon is the rumor that with the addition of Mystery Mine that the park was going to connect Thunderhead Gap to Craftsmans Valley.

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According to one of the employees we were talking to this week at the park that's due to happen within the next season or two. We were asking about what might be next for Thunderhead Gap? I can't vouch for the validity of the statement since I don't know the guy, but he didn't go too far into it, basically he just mentioned it in passing. *** Edited 4/7/2007 3:14:05 AM UTC by Floorless Fan*** *** Edited 4/7/2007 8:53:11 PM UTC by Floorless Fan***

You can definitely see where there is the intention to connect the two areas. They've left plenty of walkway space under MM's trestle for the entrance to the next area they build.

Was at DW on Friday checking out MM. My thoughts...awesome as a darkride/mine train type coaster, but not so great if you like huge airtime filled steel coasters. I did experience some SLC type headbanging on it (the dark tunnels hide a lot of the turns with no prep time to brace yourself), so personally I would not say it's a smooth coaster. However, I think for what it is, it's a fantastic addition to DW and definitely approaching Disney level.

I am going to try to get to dollywood soon! I have wanted to go since they build the TT but haven't had a chance...Hopefully I'll get to go before their next major addition.

Mystery Mine was pretty cool. I rode it last Thursday but to me it didn't have the reridability that Thunderhead has.

I think it was a great addition to the park. The themeing on it is really good, almost on par with Universal parks. It's a fun, mildly thrilling, family ride.

~Rob Willi *** Edited 4/17/2007 3:35:48 PM UTC by HeyIsntThatRob?***

Hmmm. I think it's time to talk the wife into committing to that late August trip.

I thought it was awesome. It felt a little more like dark ride than coaster (with the exception of the outdoor part at the tressel). As for no airtime? I must have gotten lucky then, because I got a surprisingly lot of airtime from the 90° drops. I wasn't expecting any.