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

You would not expect the drop. and the end of the ride .

any other ideas

^Yes I have an idea -- use the EDIT feature and not post three times in a row.

Raptor Pilot - TT is very well hidden, but it could be argued that TH is out in the open. What I had in mind when I said that was how County Fair has all of its ride out in the open. At SDC the only things that could be argued as being highly visible are the Balloon Chase and the Carousel. Under-get-it?

Yeah, thunderhead is out in the open. Makes good use of the terrain, but hidden it is not.

Except at nite. When the lights are all off ;).

For some reason I just dotn see dollywood as a thrill park. I didnt know what to expect when I went but for what it is, I enjoyed the park, even w/ only 2 coasters. I would like to see more traditional rides like dark rides. As far as thrill machines I just dont really see them fitting into the dollywood theme.

Sure, TH is out in the open when you're right up on it, because of the nature of the design (and being in the valley), but much it can't be seen until you're heading up Thunderhead Gap. IMO, the same can be said for TT. You can see it's track from a distance as you're walking up to it, and almost all of the layout can be seen when right up on it (and not meaning from the station).

At least that's what my memory and photos seem to show. :)

BTW, if in your opinion TH is out in the open, does that mean you would rather it not have been built? And (again) do you think it negatively affects the park atmosphere?

*** Edited 5/30/2005 7:03:39 PM UTC by Raptor Pilot***

Dollywood will begin groundwork for the new "Thrill Ride" for 2006 NEXT WEEK. What other than a coaster would take 9 months to construct? It will take place in Thunderhead Gap, behind the restrooms. They will also open a new full-service restraurant in the Gap next year.

It won't be a PowderKeg type ride, they said they would consider adding something similar to DW if the SDC version ran smoothly- well, it's only been open a few months, and coaster planning takes years.

Your ideas are as good as mine. Expect an announcement soon!

Lots of things could take nine months to prep/build, depending on how much work they have to do to prep the area (cut down treas, level some land, plumming & electrical).

I'd still like to see a haunted house type ride that was really well done there.

Another coaster wouldn't hurt my feelings either, though.

Well it has been said that a lot of people's travel plans for 2006 will change once they hear what is coming ... whatever that means.

^^^ I would rather it had been built at SDC ;) No the location is fine, it is just really out in the open if they plan on adding anything out that way. However it appears that the mission statement of DW differs from SDC and I have the unfortunate OCD of trying to make DW another SDC.

Dollywood's operating phiolosophy has always been different from SDC's.

They finally discovered that if a ride isnt totally hidden, that's okay, as long as it's themed well, and offers a great experience that pleases guests, it'll work good for both parties involved.

I think it will be something HUGE. HUGE <- Catch my drift? ;)

Dollywood may reach 3 million guests this year if the trend continues- proving once again it is the money maker for HFEC- and it has and is stepping up to the plate. *** Edited 5/30/2005 4:37:23 AM UTC by CoastermanX***

Swooshy said: "However it appears that the mission statement of DW differs from SDC and I have the unfortunate OCD of trying to make DW another SDC."

Dollywood Mission Statement

Silver Dollar City Mission Statement

They look the same to me. *** Edited 5/30/2005 7:49:21 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***

Here's what I've heard and think:

Dollywood will connect Thunderhead and TT.

They will add a S&S drop ride

Can you say Powder Keg East?

A nice terrain out and back woodie at the other end of the park.

More kiddie rides spaced throughout the park not just in one section.

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Dollywood will connect Thunderhead and TT.

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Tornadohead?

J/K

Now we are talking in my point of view, but we may want to understand that dollywood may be tryimg to fit in with the other parks , keeping up the theme park line, in rides, entertainment, food , and thrills, I went to florida this past weekend and saw the new ride at busch gardens I saw it from the highway which is about 5 blocks away, now thats a big ride if you can see it from the freeway!

I'm glad I'm not the only person who misses the Flooded Mine.

My family has been annual passholders for YEARS. I hate that they're closing the Lucky 7 mine area just because of the old Silver Dollar City memories. There are actually walkways in the face of the hill above the mine ... But now i can't remember what they led to. You walked behind the waterfall. I think it may be covered by vines now. (Or am I getting that confused with something at Magic World?)

I was at DW again last week and I commented to my dad that I missed the saloon in the area of the train station. There used to be one in SDC days. We discussed how capacity would be a problem if it were like a stand-alone saloon show, but I think it could work if instead it were a restaurant with occasional saloon shows. I'd like to see that again in the area of the train station. Or perhaps that's what they're building in Thunderhead Gap?

I think the chairlift / skyride idea is a great one. When I was in the new flyer-ride thingy I was more interested in what I could see from that height than the ride, which isn't very exciting.

A drop tower themed to every man's fantasy of Dolly Parton, a strip pole. JK but I do like the park the way it is. Maybe a Space shot with a theme to a geyser with undergroung loading and water effects that blast when you take off

xrae said: "My family has been annual passholders for YEARS. I hate that they're closing the Lucky 7 mine area just because of the old Silver Dollar City memories. There are actually walkways in the face of the hill above the mine ... But now i can't remember what they led to. You walked behind the waterfall. I think it may be covered by vines now. (Or am I getting that confused with something at Magic World?)"

I hate that the mine will be torn down as well, as I’ve always kind of considered it a "signature" part of the park. It's always nice and cool inside, and the mine tunnel itself was very themed. Back in the corner of the mine, as you are coming out on the Grist Mill side, they have a neat little optical illusion effect set up. It looks like you are staring into a mine shaft that goes way back under the mountain, but you are actually just looking at a painting with some black lights aimed on it.

I had saw some guardrails for a walkway up on the hill above the mine, but I had always wondered what they were for. Your post ties them into being part of the funhouse attraction that occupied the upper levels of the mine prior to the Dolly Parton museum taking over that space in 1986.

I don't think Magic World had any walk-thru funhouses, but it did have a miniature train ride into a haunted castle. I don't remember too many details of it though...

I found this photo on smugmug of an old sign that is inside the mine from the Silver Dollar City Tennessee days. I guess the park never repainted it to say Dollywood.

If they do tear the Lucky 7 Mine down, I hope they leave the big waterfall up. It add to the mountainous feel of the park...

Screamscape posted this:

6/9/2005 - Screamscape has heard from several readers about a new survey Dollywood is taking that describes three possible new attractions and asks to pick your favorite name for each. I’ll mention the attractions but not the long list of names for each since that would be rather lengthy and could cause problems for the park when they try to trademark their final choice. The first is a pair of drop slides for Dollywood’s Splash Country (a 50’ and 70’), the next clearly shows a lumber mill themed Huss Topple Tower, while the last (and best) is for an indoor/outdoor coaster with a vertical drop. The artwork used for both of the rides looks fantastic and the rather small cars used on the coaster itself (along with a particular track segment) really remind me of the Gerstlauer created Typhoon (Eurofighter) at Bobbejaanland. Of course, concept artwork is just that... concept artwork. For all we know this could be for a B&M Dive Machine.

*** Edited 6/9/2005 10:32:22 AM UTC by Dukeis#1***