If you could add a ride at dollywood, What would it be and why?

I would have to say a nice Intamin Hyper. Say a version of Expedition Ge-Force. :)

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Dukeis#1 said:Not to be pessimistic, but I don't think the park would want to rebuild attractions it got rid of.

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Because that is what the park is really missing right now, rides that the whole family can enjoy together. I realize the just added all of the County Fair rides, but rides like Flooded Mine are ones that ever member of the family can enjoy

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Dukeis#1 said:...they would have built one back in 1989. (rather than picking up TE from SFoMA)

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TNT was added in 1993, I would say there is hope. They probably picked up the south track of River King Mine Train because it was cheap, much like that Arkansas park bought it from DW.

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Dukeis#1 said:Not that I don't miss the FM...it's just that the average Joe couldn't care less. After all, what 12 year old would rather ride a slow moving indoor boat ride over a high speed flume?

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12 year olds don't know a good thing when they see it. Also I said a dark ride LIKE Flooded Mine. That could be anything that involves shooting targers ala Sally Corp.

Not to get off topic, but...along with SDC, the only other interactive built in-house I know of offhand is IB's Den of Lost Thieves.
I'd love to know of any others....anyone?

The younger thrillseekers here are *understandably* motivated to sing the praises of a giant brand-new hyper, or a huge new intense flat ride, but DW is going to try and keep with what's been working for them, and their demographics.

Rides that the whole family can ride, and enjoy, together, those are what make grandma and grandpa happy...and they're the ones paying...;)

*** Edited 5/18/2005 3:14:13 PM UTC by rollergator***

^Which is exactly why it is NOT neccessary to build extreme thrill rides at Dollywood. I would not expect to see half of what people listed above to ever show up at DW. I mean seriously...a hyper? They don't want to ruin the look of the park and the way it blends in with the Smokies.

Because Wildfire (no, not a hyper) just ruins the look of SDC. BGW looks pretty bad with it's big coasters too.

And TH and TT are as bad as DW wants to look. Should they not have added them?

You did suggest an S&S launched up above.

BTW, and you can hide a coaster in the trees easier than you can some of the large flat rides. ie. Beast.
Considering the layout of DW, it'd be easy to hide rides from view unless you're standing next to it.

Also some kids just might ride a decent sized coaster before they would be willing, or able, to ride some of the flat rides (drop, frisbee).

Pffft.

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rollergator said:The younger thrillseekers here are *understandably* motivated to sing the praises of a giant brand-new hyper, or a huge new intense flat ride, but DW is going to try and keep with what's been working for them, and their demographics

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Noone but the annual season passholders and the park knows that Dollywood's Demographic is CHANGING.

DW is becoming more of a park for everyone, and is drawing EVERYONE. They have to conform to their interests as well.

SDC, im sure is changing too, but DW is REALLY changing- years ago it was mostly older people, now it is teenagers, families, couples, AND old people.

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rollergator said: SDC, im sure is changing too, but DW is REALLY changing- years ago it was mostly older people, now it is teenagers, families, couples, AND old people.

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Which is where every park SHOULD be... I think it's great to go into a park and see people from all walks of life and where EVERYONE is enjoying the park. Dollywood, to me, has the perfect mix of intense rides, shows for the older generations, attractions for all ages, and of course, food for everyone!

I personally would like to see a mixture of attractions to keep the same atmosphere, which would include:

-A launched coaster (PowderKeg)

-Some sort of transport ride from Thunderhead Valley to the Tennessee Tornado area.

-Extended Festival of Nations (I loved it this year!)

-A dark ride (Curse of Darkcastle-ish)

-Coupons for park entrance (It's almost impossible to find a discount!)

Just some of my ideas, but I think Dollywood is great the way it is... One of the best overall parks IMO.

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Raptor Pilot said:
Because Wildfire (no, not a hyper) just ruins the look of SDC.

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You can't see the coaster unless you are on the observation deck as it is hidden from the park by the large queue/gift shop building. In fact you can barely see any of the rides at SDC from the midways as they all blend in very well. The only ones that you could argue would be Waterworks Waterboggan and the train. The other rides will only give you a "taste" but most of the ride is hidden from sight (and that includes PowderKeg).

As for the demographics, they have changed some as we are seeing more tweens/teens coming to the park now, but for the most part you still see families and the older crowd who are there for the festivals. The teen crowd is more prevelant at Celebration City. I think that is one thing that we have over you guys. We can stick with tradition at SDC and have the BIG THRILLS at CC, whereas DW has to play both roles and has an identity crisis at times...

I think Dollywood is trying to experiment into getting the two- tradition and thrills- to go together in synch and harmony. Give them some time, they will get it to work.

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Swoosh said:
We can stick with tradition at SDC and have the BIG THRILLS at CC, whereas DW has to play both roles and has an identity crisis at times...

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There really is no written rule as to what kind of crowd Dollywood has to cater to. The park's slogan- "The Smoky Mountain Family Adventure", means that there is something for everyone.

I think Dollywood will eventually be like Busch Gardens, where the park draws all different varieties of people. In the future, the park will still be what it is today, yet even better.

Dollywood is moving away from the entertainment park image it had in the 90s and is simply becoming an all around great theme park, with something that is sure to satisfy everyone.

I still don't like the picture of 300ft tall coasters and drop towers on the hills above the park, but I'm sure it won't ever actually come to that. (Unless the park is purchased by Six Flags!) ;)

*** Edited 5/19/2005 4:42:06 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

To give you all an idea of what to expect from Dollywood in the coming years, I was talking with the parks pr manager and he told us that next years additions to the park would be a thrill ride, kids area, and full service restaurant in the Thunderhead Gap area.

According to another reliable source the 10 year plan that they have for the park right now calls for another wooden and steel coaster in the future. I don't expect either to be monster machines. I'd say something along the lines of what they have now.

Anyone who goes to the park or has been to the park the in the past couple of years will have noticed that the lucky 7 mine shop and the old dolly museum have been vacated for some time now. Some of the themed plaster in the "cave" is already being torn down. This is where I expect the next coaster to go. However this is just my educated guess.

BTW, I agree with everyone else that a skyride would be an excellent addition to the park. Although I do know that some traffic flow problems are going to be aleviated in the future thanks to the parks future plans.

I think every one is see the same thing here they need more family rides!

I would expect the steel to be a B&M coaster of sorta with maybe 1-3 more inversions than Tornado. (They have to offer something larger or smaller to differentiate the two)

Ive heard that they are looking at Lightning Racer right now for their next wooden coaster experience.

That would be amazing- a Thunderhead-ish racer/dueler!

When I was at Dollywood I also imagined a skyride type device that ran the length of the park. It wouldn't have to be tall, could go up on the hillside if necessary, and have pretty seats- approved by Dolly of course.

As far as a new coaster, I imagine an in-house type of ride that would be similar to the Slidewinder, but make it an ore car that switchbacks down the side of the mountain, thru lots of curves and tunnels. It would be "runaway train" or, even better, "Mauch Chunk" style of coastering. It would fit their image and theme, provide moderate to intense thrills, and not destroy the view.

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SFOG Country said:

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rollergator said: SDC, im sure is changing too, but DW is REALLY changing- years ago it was mostly older people, now it is teenagers, families, couples, AND old people.

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Just for clarity's sake - that was CoastermanX, not me...

Anyone looking to build a mine ride (and DW should build one), should visit SFFT to see what a mine-train coaster can do! :)

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SFOG Country said:

-A dark ride (Curse of Darkcastle

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I think a DarKastle-type ride would make a great addition to Dollywood. It could be themed around an old mountain haunted house. (Well, any theme that could put that type of ride system to good use would be great)

It could be built up in the Thunderhead Gap area, or maybe where the Lucky 7 Mine/Old DP Museum is now...as a homage to the Inventor's Mansion funhouse that use to be in there back in the SDC-TN days.

I really hope Dolly Parton and Jack Herschend are taking note of what is going up (then dropping straight down) at BGT. :)

*** Edited 5/20/2005 8:46:55 PM UTC by Dukeis#1***

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Swoosh said:
You can't see the coaster unless you are on the observation deck as it is hidden from the park by the large queue/gift shop building. In fact you can barely see any of the rides at SDC from the midways as they all blend in very well. The only ones that you could argue would be Waterworks Waterboggan and the train. The other rides will only give you a "taste" but most of the ride is hidden from sight (and that includes PowderKeg).

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Isn't that pretty much the way DW's are and how any added could be, especially considering the valleys DW has to hide things in?

I'm curious, do you think their two coasters, neither of which are small coasters by any means, hurt the image of the park? If not, I don't see why any other good size coaster would be any different.
BTW, when I said hyper, I was halfway kidding/dreaming. The title was afterall "If *you* could add a coaster...", not "What will/should they get next?". :) And I'm pretty certain you'll never see a 300ft coaster there. How many parks get a 300ft coaster afterall?

It does seem like a mine ride would fit in very well there. Too bad I never Thunder Express.

First of all, Has there ever been anymore talk about the future areas DW hinted at in that survey many of us did about a year, year and a half ago? They had some really creative concepts in that survey.

Raptor Pilot and several others have hit on SDC's coasters, and before i read their replies I kind of thought about something like Powder Keg, but I also like the abandoned mine scenario they gave in the survey, (complete with a drop ride/freefalling mine elevator).

To me, Dolly and her people do a great job at DW, and whatever decision they make will be good.

The only way I'd like to see a Hyper at Dollywood is if it made complete use of the terrain and the track didn't come very far off the ground. I'm sure there are some hills it could go up and over that are almost 200' tall. Then it could dive into a tunnel. But thats just me being creative.

I think Dollywood is on the right track for what they're catering to. I can't wait to go back soon.

Every time I went to dollywood I thought that a ride in the lucky 7 mine area of the park would be a good location for a new ride , I imagined it would be where the do not enter sign was or is the trains would be mine carts and you go thru the mine and see differrent mine artifacts but as you got to a section the ride would freefall about 20 to 25 five feet to start the fun filled ride and at the very end of the ride would be a very refreshing experience. Does that sound cool or what?