Deep in the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, there's an amazing theme park owned and operated by the extravagant, legendary country entertainer, Dolly Parton. The spirit of old fashioned Southern hospitality combines with the latest in modern technology to delight over 2 -1/2 million visitors per year.
Brochure courtesy of Dollywood
The Grist Mill - Dollywood features beautiful settings (Photo courtesy of Dollywood)
In 1961, the park began as "The Rebel Railroad", consisting of a steam train, a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a saloon. In 1966, it became "Gold Rush Junction", and, in 1970, it was purchased by the Cleveland Browns football team. In 1976, the park was acquired by Jack and Pete Herschend, owners of Silver Dollar City, in Branson, Missouri. Dolly Parton became a co-owner in 1986 and, from that time on, the park acquired a whole new personality and changed its name to Dollywood.
Today, the park offers splendid music, food, arts and crafts. Entertainers appearing on stage include nationally known celebrities, and Dolly herself. The Dolly's Kinfolks Show features several of her family members. Many more of her family can be found working throughout the park. Dollywood employs 40 to 50 of her relatives.
The Queen of Dollywood (Photo courtesy of Dollywood)
Other attractions include Fire Tower Falls, the Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure, the Timber Tower and the Lumberjack Lifts.
Sister Joyce encourages her son, Scott, to show off his muscles on Lumberjack Lifts (Photo by Shredley)
Dollywood features Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, plus the Splash Country waterpark. A steam train known as the Dollywood Express circles the park.
Dollywood Express coming through the trees (Photo courtesy of Dollywood)
In keeping with Ms. Parton's dedication to the environment, Dollywood is home to a large sanctuary for injured eagles, hawks, and other endangered birds. The American Eagle Foundation works hand in hand with Dollywood to reintroduce our feathery friends back into nature, and supports an active breeding program.
Our new friend, Jenna, introduces us to one of the eagles (Photo by Shredley)
Let's face it. We went to Dollywood for the coasters. This became our destination because Dollywood is home to the wooden coaster voted #1 two years in a row by Amusement Today. The park is home to 3 steel coasters and one spectacular woodie. A fifth coaster will make its debut in 2007- more about that later.
For the keiki, there's Veggie Tales Sideshow Spin. This family style steel coaster was designed by L&T Systems and has been operating since 2005. It's almost 12 feet high and reaches speeds of over 14 miles per hour. It's thrilling, and vegetables are good for you.
Veggies right this way! (Photo by Shredley)
Father and son "veg out" (Photo by Gonchar www.coasterimage.com)
Blazing Fury is an indoor combination roller coaster and dark ride. It features several fiery scenes followed by a series of three drops. This sit down steel ride was designed and built by Dollywood's maintenance and construction crew.
Blazing Fury - hot and hostile (Photo by Shredley)
Tennessee Tornado is a multi-looping steel sit down coaster designed by Arrow. We've ridden quite a few Arrows, and, compared to the others, this one is incredibly fast and smooth. With speeds up to 63 miles per hour and a highest drop of 128 feet, it offers guests a whirlwind of excitement. Tennessee Tornado turns riders upside down three times along its 2,682 feet of track. We really enjoyed it.
Enter here - is your tornado insurance paid up? (Photo by Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com)
Tennessee Tornado - three inversions in the dense foliage (Photo by Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com)
Tennessee Tornado - a rare and chilly front seat view (Photo by Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com)
In April of 2007, plans are being made for the debut of Mystery Mine. At a cost of $17,500,000, this steel sit down coaster will feature three inversions. Designed by Ingenieur Buro Stengel of Germany, the ride will be over 1800 feet long and reach speeds of over 45 miles per hour. This one will definitely be on our "to do" list.
Mystery Mine - a wild and crazy piece of track (Photo courtesy of Dollywood)
Thunderhead has been operating since 2004, and was designed by Mike Boodley of Great Coasters International, Inc. It features speeds of up to 55 miles per hour along its 3,230 feet of track. This amazing ride is one of the best twisting wooden roller coasters ever built. In addition to being rated "Best Wooden Roller Coaster" by Amusement Today for 2005 and 2006, Thunderhead scores in just about every coaster enthusiast's top ten list. See our Oceanic column of September 2006.
Thunderhead - riders ascend into the first turn (Photo by Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com)
Thunderhead - the train negotiates one of many banked turns (Photo by Shredley)
Joni, Shredley, Joyce, and Scott thunder through The Smokies (On-ride photo by Dollywood)
Thunderhead - all of the twists and the turns (Photo by Gonchar www.coasterimage.com)
We loved Dollywood, and the Great Smoky Mountains. We look forward to comin' back real soon!
Next month, we'll go to Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana. It's a great park on a beautiful peninsula.
Much Aloha!
-Joni and Shredley
Related Links:
www.dollywood.com
www.rcdb.com
www.coasterimage.com
www.themeparkreview.com
www.aceonline.org
