While we’ve already covered what is possibly the biggest change at Dollywood in 2024 — Lightning Rod’s launched lift hill replaced with a chain — that’s not the only Dollywood 2024 change you’ll notice this season. Keep reading for eight...
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Lightning Rod Chain Lift Review and Reaction
I recently rode Lightning Rod at Dollywood for the first time since its launched lift was converted into a traditional chain lift for the 2024 season. Here’s what I thought of the new ride experience. First, some backstory. The world’s...
Continue reading...The Coaster101 Podcast: An EPIC (Universe + More) News Update
After we dropped our most recent episode, a good amount of news dropped in the theme park industry, and in true podcast fashion, we’re a few days late in covering said news. Nick and John join Andrew to talk all...
Continue reading...Dollywood Unveils New Dolly Parton Experience Renderings
The Dolly Parton Museum — dubbed the Dolly Parton Experience — is scheduled to open this spring, and Dollywood has just released new renderings of the immersive, interactive exhibits. The Dolly Parton Experience will feature “interactive elements to make guests...
Continue reading...Pumpkins and Coasters Galore at Dollywood Harvest Festival 2023
Dollywood’s annual Harvest Festival is an autumn lover’s paradise. The theme park is filled with over 12,000 pumpkins (many of those being real), seasonal food and drink offerings as well as a huge offering of live music. By night, the...
Continue reading...Dollywood’s Lightning Rod Launch to Become Traditional Chain Lift in 2024
Breaking news out of Dollywood — the theme park today announced that Lightning Rod’s launched lift hill will be converted to a “high-speed chain lift” for the 2024 season. The wood-steel hybrid Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) coaster will also receive...
Continue reading...6 Biggest Surprises From My First Visit to Silver Dollar City
Earlier this month, I made my first ever visit to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Long had it been at the top of my list of theme parks in the USA I wanted to visit but the ten-plus hour...
Continue reading...Big Bear Mountain Initial Reactions to Dollywood’s 2023 Coaster
Big Bear Mountain, Dollywood’s new-for-2023 multi-launch coaster, is now open! Coaster101 writers John and Kyle attended the media preview event last week and returned with thoughts about Dollywood’s 10th and longest coaster (as well as a few bear puns). Keep...
Continue reading...Dolly Parton Unveils BIG Plans for Dollywood’s 2023 Season and Beyond
During yesterday’s annual Season Passholder and Media Preview Day, Dolly Parton unveiled several pieces of information that Dollywood fans have been longing to hear for quite some time. During the event, Parton announced opening months for Big Bear Mountain and...
Continue reading...Dollywood Shares Big Bear Mountain Construction Progress
Dollywood today shared exciting construction photos of Big Bear Mountain, the park’s new-for-2023 multi-launch coaster. Construction on the Vekoma-manufactured coaster continues to progress at a rapid pace. In fact, the coaster’s final section of track is expected to be installed...
Continue reading...Big Bear Mountain Construction Update December 2022
Big Bear Mountain construction is moving at a blistering speed as the park prepares its sprawling, triple-launch family coaster for its 2023 debut. I visited the park over the weekend for the park’s annual Smoky Mountain Christmas and of course...
Continue reading...Big Bear Mountain Construction Update – Track Arrives at Dollywood
Work continues on Big Bear Mountain, Dollywood’s new-for-2023 multi-launch family coaster — this week, sections of the coaster’s bright orange track began arriving as footers continue to be poured across the sprawling construction site. The six-acre construction site will soon...
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