coasterfreaky

It's Mack. http://www.mack-rides.com/lang-en/c131/default.html I thought it might be the Tow Ride...River Battle though doesn't have a tow cable, so it must be the Blaster.

Here is another story about Dollywood... http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19418187&BRD=1211&PAG=461&dept_id=169689&rfi=6 I did not know that they expanded the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. Kraken, can you check the sanctuary out and take some pics?? : ) If the train is open can you take some pics of the upper loop and post back here?

You know, I'm not 100% sure. I know they have a test seat outside of mystery mine. I'm pretty average in size, so I have not paid too much attention to the size of the seats. I want to say that all seats are the same size though. You know, if you give Dollywood a call and ask they will go out of their way to find an answer for you. Good luck!

Robb, thank you for fixing this first TR. I think I'm over the learning curve. Here is a news report with some video of River Battle if anyone is interested. http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=55873&provider=gnews -freakness

Thanks. No, I didn't get to see any of the shows, except the one or two bands that were playing in the pathways. I'm going to go back in a week or so and see at least a couple of the shows and ride the train to see what's going on in the upper loop. Yeah, mystery mine could use a little bit more themeing on the backside. But count your blessings b/c it could just be plastic siding. They at least painted it or faux finished the backside. I had not heard about canopies on Tn Tornado. I'm not sure where they would put them b/c the entire queue is inside the building, so it's shaded already.

[quote="Holtskee" I read elsewhere that Mystery Mine was closed because it vallied before the dive loop during testing. Don't know about the other rides though...I'm kind of under the impression that the park wasn't ready to open for the season yet. Thanks Holskee, Yeah, my friends and I kept saying the same thing all day long about not being ready to open. It was a good effort though. The tennessee tornado crew was badass running two trains. They had the train out before the 2nd train was in the butterfly, so it didn't slam into the safeties. I saw it stop in the safeties one time in the 20 or so cycles i saw pass. It was insane. I can't say the same about Thunderhead. I didn't ride it, but i was watching the cycles and they were slow. I didn't know that about Mystery Mine. I didn't see a crane over there, but I'm not how they deal with a valley. I'm not even sure how they would get a crane back there?? The workers were at the entrance and the info coming out of some of them seemed hopeful - "it might open up in an hour or so" i heard one say. Just be honest about it. It's okay to say it won't be opening up, really its cool. I don't like to be teased or given false hope when they know it won't open.

I think they could certainly put some flats in on the new path. I think a screaming swing would look awesome on top of the hill near RB. The other interesting thing was the new path had some new "off shoots" that were walled up. So it definitely looks like they have future plans in mind. I wish the train was running because I wanted to see what work went on in the upper loop during the offseason. Last fall they had cleared out the upper loop and I'm sure these new offshoot paths will one day head up to the upper loop and who knows where else. Dollywood has hundreds of acres in which they can expand. I thought I heard they were planning on adding a new theater in Wilderness Pass, and I would bet money that all the future attractions will be in that vicinity.

Yeah, sorry about these pictures being so large. I will see if i can resize them and repost. I'm working on Iphoto and my antiquated mac..oy.

Sorry about the disjointed first photo trip report. I promise they'll be better in the future. Overall, we had a great day. I was most interested in checking out River Battle and letting everyone see what it looks like. The park was packed - all lots were full upon arrival, so I knew it would be crazy. The new path is fantastic. I really love walking between all the 'thrill rides' and having them in a row, so to speak, is great. Thunderhead was running two trains, but had a 45 minute wait, so we passed. Mystery Mine was not running all day, Blazing Fury was not running when we passed by it, the steam train was not running either. Some minor dissapointments, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves on the other attractions. Later, Coasterfreaky

After being drenched in ice water, we went on down the new path towards Tennesse Tornado. Overall thoughts of River Battle: It's perfect for summer, notsomuch in March, but I had to get my ride on it to test it out. Another winner in the themeing department. Wonderful little animals everywhere, targets, there's just a lot going on - everywhere. In a way overwhelming to take it all in. Very interactive for both the rider and the onlookers, just as they promised. I was exhausted after riding it, but I was full of aqua rage. I got my bicep workout for the day with those guns. Splinters snacks, in Wilderness Pass, walking from RB towards Tn Tornado. Wilderness Pass is a lot wider than the path headed up to Timber Canyon. Rockin Roadway, rehabbed for 2008 3 Point Challenge. New for 2008 Looking up Wilderness Pass Tn Tornado. Two train operation

Hi everyone, I was at Dollywood on the official opening day and snapped a few photos of the new ride and some other stuff around the park. Hope you enjoy the photos. Sorry folks, this is my first photo tr and it may take me awhile to upload all the photos. Did I mention that it was ice water? Freezing! Aqua rage! Here I am starting my River Battle journey. I'm in the blue shirt on the left side, all icognito. Exit Bridge and more aquatic assualt cannons You can see that targets are everywhere. When one was hit, either you got a surprise or someone else on your boat got a surprise. More themeing Hole for rent? teehee Excellent themeing Going under the water arch Boat Located around the perimeter were water canons that you could shoot the riders with. Signage fans rejoice! Here's where the old and new meet. When you turn the corner under Myster Mine, this is what you see. New restrooms on the right side (sorry, sunshine issues), River Battle is on the left as you can see. River Battle's footprint is surprisingly big. The new pathway under Mystery Mine.