Dollywood Discussion Thread

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

^^Think of it like an unmanned ropes course. Hansa Park had one that I imagine will be similar to Adventure Mountain.





It worked well because there were multiple courses and you could pass slow people at each 'junction'.

[I love DWIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

Dollywood has posted three new photos on their Facebook Fan Page of Adventure Mountain Construction: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dollywood/239284692239

[tntornadox“Fear can make a donkey attack a lion”]

I know this thread it old, but it's the newest Dollywood thread I can find where I am gonna share some sad, developing news:

From WBIR/Knoxville:

A worker at Dollywood has suffered a 25-foot fall while painting the load platform of the Tennessee Tornado.

Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said the worker, a host, fell around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, and that Dollywood paramedics and the Pigeon Forge Fire Department responded immediately.

The worker has been taken to UT Medical Center for treatment. Owens said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Dollywood are with her and her family, but that he did not have an official patient condition to report.

Link: www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=114034
Folks, please keep this person in your thoughts, as this is a bad situation for the entire Dollywood family and those of us who have worked that ride over the years.

[I love DWIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

Dollywood has confirmed to the mountain press the women is improving: "We understand her prognosis is good, and she does appear to be improving."-Source

Several recent Adventure Mountain construction photos have been posted to the Wall Photos album on Dollywood's Facebook Fan Page.

[jedimaster1227Open Up Happiness]

Ride Entertainment Systems has sent us a press release about the newly opened Adventure Mountain, including some great photos of this awesome looking attraction.

Dollywood Opens Adventure Mountain

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: On Friday, March 27 Dollywood opened its “Adventure Mountain” ropes course to the public. The course utilizes Ropes Courses, Inc.’s, patented Sky Trail® system throughout the experience. This system, one which revolutionized ropes courses worldwide, allows guests to be hooked into the safety system and traverse the course as at their own pace. It eliminates the “carbineer clipping” system often associated with ropes courses and opens the experience up to a wide range of guests.

Jim Liggett, president of Ropes Courses, Inc., said, “We are thrilled to partner with Herschend Family Entertainment on such an exciting project. After building a custom course for their Stone Mountain property they came back and asked us to help them design the world’s largest ropes course for Dollywood. Of course we were only too happy to oblige.”

“Adventure Mountain” contains over 100 challenging elements spread across three adult courses and “Camp Teachittoomee”, which is a scaled-down course for children. The courses consist of:

Geyser Gorge: The easiest of the three courses is punctuated by geysers that spray up from the rocks below.

Black Bear Cliff: This area’s most unique feature is a narrow ledge that guests conquer high above Wilderness Pass.

Rocky Top Trail: This is the highest of the three courses and offers a wonderful view of the park, and a bell that guests ring to note their climbing accomplishment.

Ropes Courses, Inc.’s theme park projects are handled by Ride Entertainment Systems (http://www.rideentertainment.com).

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

Looks great! Can't wait to bring the TPR IntimidaTour trip here this summer!!!

[jray21Why do I still have a donkey title???]

Looks awesome! Dollywood is one of my favorite parks. I really hope to get back there soon.

I was there sunday and took on Adventure Mountain

Due to the rain that had just swept through the park most people had left and only about 40 remained in the park. So about 5pm we got in line for Adventure Mountain which was a walk on with many
re-riders. They were able to quickly get my group strapped up and we made our way up the first set of stairs.

When you get to the top of the stairs you have 3 levels to choose from. 1 being the easiest and 3 being the hardest. So we decided to work our way up by starting with level one. This course heads towards Mystery Mine and is fairly easy. The thing I like about Adventure Mountain is there is 4 options on each crossing including a wooden Bridge for those who don't like a challenge. The first half is easy and when you climb to the second half a staff member explains one of the harder crossings. (Got snagged so I backed out of this one) the rest is also pretty easy and they dump all three courses onto the same platform and make you go all the way down to the ground level where you have the option to stay to the right and go back up or go left and they unstrap you.

So we went again on to the second level which goes in the direction of Tennessee Tornado. This level started off pretty challenging. But the best part of the course is just before you climb the stairs you have an option to take the cliff walk which takes you out of the structure and over the midway along a steel beam and around some fake rocks designed like a real cliff. Than you go back across another steel beam which this is where the pouring rain really upped the challenge because the steel became very slippery (We had two that fell). The rest of the course was also pretty challenging.

We went back down and back up for the last level. Level 3 goes behind the mountain and up the hill. When up there you are about 20 feet off the ground but this is fairly easy. And when you climb to the second half you reach another option to go down some rope stairs or go straight across at about 40 feet up to ring the bell. I choose to go for the bell. My friend went across with no problem but I was stuck behind a kid who wasn't sure if he wanted to do it or not. A staff member was giving advise to the kid who went about a foot across before changing his mind so I made my way and it was a little scary but not very challenging. I made it across and rang the bell than went down to meet up with the rest of my group.

Over all it is a really fun experience which can be done in about 45 minutes. And is included with your park admission. So I highly suggest it but it is not exactly a capacity ride so on a busy day expect a decent wait for the ride.

Also I heard Dolly canceled the media event. Apparently she came out and said it was too cold and went back inside lol....

[DBruI will provide you with maximum pleasure.]

^LOL at that last line.

Thanks for sharing that report with us. Adventure Mountain seems like a really unique addition, and I can't wait to take it on! I just wish they would have found a way to hide all of that exposed steel...

[I love DWIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

Adventure Mountain really looks great!

A lot of smaller things were done to the park as well that make it much better. The exhibition hall (next to Daredevil Falls) is now "Hall of Memories" which has memorabilia from the parks 25 year history, including vehicles/cars from past rides such as Thunder Express and the Flooded Mine, and a lot of other cool things to look at for those theme park history buffs including a time line that compares what was happening in the world at the time of each Dollywood addition. You can also get your photo taken with a digital version of Dolly in the Hall of Memories. Dolly's Closet got remodeled. Friendship Gardens as been reworked so Showstreet does not have the bottleneck effect that it use to have during festivals. According to Dollywood's Facebook page the DIY network show "King of Dirt" worked with the park to remodel the flower bed and will air on the DIY Network May 9th at 9 p.m. eastern. The Dollywood Emporium has lowered its shelves, painted, and moved and remodeled things. Just a TON of small things that really make the experience better.

Also according to local tv stations and papers the Hallmark Channel will be shooting a 25th Anniversary special at the park that will include Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Miley Cyrus. Dolly will be filming her last appearance in April for Hannah Montanan's final season which she announced opening weekend along with promoting the new "Dollywood Vacations" brand and stating that the park will still be doing a resort and spa in the future (that she announced was in the '20 year plan' in 2005) but will still be holding off for a bit.

A lot of Video, audio, and pictures can be found of opening weekend here: http://www.dollymania.net/wood10-a.html

Dollywood also announced via Facebook that the 3rd annual "Thrills in the Hills" event is now open for online registration and if you register by April 16th you get free parking for the weekend. Link to event: http://dollywood.com/dollywood-q10222-c10214-Thrills_in_the_Hills.aspx

*EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention that you theme park memorabilia collectors may love, you will notice new banners hanging on the light posts this year featuring this years theme "Celebrate The Dreamer In You!" with the logo, and Dolly Parton. They have the same banners for sale at Dolly's Closet for $50 (they are double sided) and you can get your Gold Season Pass discount on them which is $10 off...they were selling pretty good opening weekend...I've already got one hanging in my room.