For those hoping to be one of the first riders on Dollywood’s Lightning Rod wooden coaster this weekend, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. UPDATE: Lightning Rod is now open! Read our Lightning Rod review here. The park announced yesterday...
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Lightning Rod Behind the Scenes Video Series
While Lightning Rod’s precise opening date is unclear (although we’re hoping soon), Dollywood is taking us “under the hood” of the record-breaking wooden coaster in an appropriately titled, behind-the-scenes video series. The first “Under the Hood” video introduces manufacturer Rocky Mountain...
Continue reading...Lightning Rod Construction Tour + Train Reveal
Although Dollywood is closed for the season, the park was bustling with activity over the weekend as crews continued work on the new-for-2016 Lightning Rod launched (yeah, launched) wooden coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). On Saturday, American Coaster Enthusiasts...
Continue reading...Smoky Mountain Alpine Coasters Comparison
If you’re going to be in the Pigeon Forge area this coming spring for the premiere of Lightning Rod at Dollywood, you might also want to take a ride on one of the four alpine coasters in the region. What...
Continue reading...Dollywood Shares Lightning Rod Construction Progress
Dollywood’s Lightning Rod, the world’s first launched wooden coaster, is due to open in March. And construction crews have been hard at work for months preparing the hilly terrain, building supports and laying track. The park recently shared incredible drone footage...
Continue reading...Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Revisited December 2015
I last visited Dollywood for the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration during its opening weekend in early November. The weather was a mess: muggy and rainy with temperatures plunging. Fortunately, the crowds were manageable. I returned to the park this...
Continue reading...Lightning Rod December 2015 Construction Update
Roller coasters that disappear into the woods, shrouded by hills and towering trees are some of my favorites — to ride. When it comes to watching their construction, not so much. I visited Dollywood last month and saw Lightning Rod’s 20-story lift...
Continue reading...Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort Review and Tour
Before I begin this review of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort I would like to issue an apology: Dear Dolly, I am sorry my kid threw up all over your brand new hotel. I am really appreciative of how nice your staff was...
Continue reading...Dollywood’s Lightning Rod POV Unveiled
Dollywood is giving coaster fans a chance to jump aboard Lightning Rod, its newest record-breaking offering, before the final pieces of track are even in place. Thanks to Los Angeles-based 3D Live, anyone with a smartphone can stream via YouTube 360...
Continue reading...Smoky Mountain Christmas 2015 at Dollywood
Two members of the Coaster101 team met at Dollywood last weekend for the park’s kickoff weekend for a Smoky Mountain Christmas. Nick: This was my first time experiencing Smoky Mountain Christmas. I had heard good things, it’s won the Golden...
Continue reading...Lightning Rod Rises at Dollywood
More than three months have passed since Dollywood announced the record-and-ground-breaking Lightning Rod wooden coaster. While at the park over the weekend, I stopped by the construction site. So how does it look? It looks great! But spoiler alert: aside...
Continue reading...2015 Golden Ticket Award Winners
On Saturday Night, Amusement Today announced the winners of its prestigious 2015 Golden Ticket Awards, which were presented annually to the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry for the 18th consecutive year. The results came from an international poll presented...
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