Dollywood unveiled plans today for Lightning Rod, the world’s fastest — and first launched — wooden coaster. Opening in March 2016, Lightning Rod is another groundbreaking Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) wooden roller coaster — themed after a tricked out 1950s-era hot rod. Lightning Rod...
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States for Rocky Mountain’s Next Coasters Revealed?
A job posting may have revealed where we can expect to see Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) projects in 2016. The posting names Rocky Mountain Construction as the company and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., (home of Dollywood) as the starting location. The...
Continue reading...SeaWorld Entertainment Names Joel Manby as President and CEO
According to this press release, SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Joel Manby as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 7, 2015. At that time, Manby, 55, will also join the Company’s Board of Directors....
Continue reading...Virginia Vortex Arrow RCT3 Coaster
I still play Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 when time permits. Sure, the game is dated. The visuals are nothing compared to the stunning graphics offered by a simulator like No Limits 2. But nothing beats playing the roller coaster simulator game that...
Continue reading...Dollywood Celebrating 30 Seasons in 2015
Dollywood is celebrating its 30th anniversary season in 2015 by honoring its past while “unveiling a new project designed to enrich the award-winning theme park for years to come.” Yesterday, park officials announced investment details for 2015, including plans for a...
Continue reading...Coaster101 Roundtable: Our Most Underrated Coasters
This is the first post in the Coaster101 Roundtable Series, where the Coaster101 team takes a topic, and all present our opinion. Recently, About.com Theme Park Expert Arthur Levine published a list of his “Top 10 Most Underrated Roller Coasters in North...
Continue reading...TWINterns: An Interview with Dollywood Interns Evan and Landon Sherwood
Recently Coaster101 traveled to Dollywood, and sat down with summer interns Evan and Landon Sherwood, who are rising seniors at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Evan and Landon took some time out of their busy schedules to talk to...
Continue reading...CityWalk-ish Proposal for Former Opryland USA Site
As a native Tennessean, my heart has never quite healed since losing Opryland USA after only one visit as a five-year-old. And I’m sure many Nashville residents would feel the same. Proposals have come and gone over the years for...
Continue reading...A-Z Coaster of the Week: Thunderhead
This week’s A-Z Coaster is none other than Thunderhead at Dollywood — which is celebrating its 10th year of operation in 2014. Opened in 2004, The twisted wooden coaster is a product of Great Coasters International (GCI). Thunderhead’s debut marked...
Continue reading...Dollywood Exceeds Expectations
Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains lies Dollywood, Pigeon Forge’s most visited attraction. Unlike the many overpriced tourist-traps in the area, Dollywood exceeds expectations and blows its visitors away with their kind service and family atmosphere. They really...
Continue reading...FireChaser Express is fun for the whole family
Last month Dollywood opened FireChaser, a dual-launch family coaster, and Coaster101 recently got to experience the awesome new addition. The Gerstlauer built coaster occupies the site of the former Adventure Mountain climbing attraction and even reuses some of the thematic elements....
Continue reading...FireChaser Express Opens at Dollywood
Dollywood started its 29th season with a blast — by opening FireChaser Express, the dual-launch Gerstlauer family coaster. The $16 million coaster is touted as the first of its type in the United States. The 2-minute and 19-second coaster launches riders...
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