Dollywoodlover20

Anybody heard any word on LR? I'm down here with family just for a weekend getaway. Got stuck in traffic for the parade but overall the town isn't too crowded. Weather is amazing.

There's a video on YouTube of the inside of the que house and station, and WOW! They didn't spare theming on this thing. It's detailed to every wall. Like as soon as you walk in there's an actual poster of Cas Walkers that says "Seveir Co. Fairgrounds....This Saturday...(The time) (Dolly's picture) DOLLY PARTON" and then Cas Walkers name. So that's another instance of Cas brought back in the ride. From what I seen the line seems to weave inside then out over and over which gets confusing from a video standpoint. There are three "levels" that you walk through. The paint floor, engine/mechanics floor, and I can't remember what the last one was called. I did hear Pete say in the background that something will contain strobe, sound, and smoke. So there's more to this coaster than we know. Way more.

From an event they had today I was looking at a picture taken from the station where the train was on the brakes. Inside the station were what looked to be like packaged torso's of water dummies lying everywhere. Not sure if they'll start using those for a day or two then open it up or what will go. Rumors have made their way across the state line about a weekend opening though.

Quoted for truth. The crazy thing is, even though I'm just in the next state over, it's almost exactly the same distance from me as it is from you. From a major airport? Not sure how anyone could make a statement that Dollywood is in the middle of nowhere. It is in the smack dab middle of the one the bigger tourist traps and one of the top 2 (most years it is #1) visited national parks in the country. Exactly, two very crowded towns. Plus it's right next to Knoxville which is 2.5 hours from Nashville. Don't see where that's coming from. The park it's self is in the hills but I'd rather have a park in the hills full of surprises rather than a parking lot park.

The video made my phone glitch and shut down a few times but from what I seen of the launch its even faster just like I wanted it to be and the fact that it had workers in the cars near the back says that opening is near.

Very glad you enjoyed Dollywood, and yes a lot of people don't care for Mystery Mine due to the OTSR, and Pete was asked if they were going to convert Mystery Mine to lapbar, and his response was they've thought about it but just not at this time.

Bahaha yes it's working! And I'm rolling of laughter!

Images aren't working on my end.

I rethought about that and when I last visited and got close. The lift is a pretty tall climb even though it may not look it from the ground, again this coaster plays with perspective. I've re watched the launch video over and over, at the base you see the train pick up speed a bit then not actually start to "launch" until the entire train is a few feet up the hill. Still though, watch at the main top and you'll see the train crest over, it is going fast. For those who haven't seen the elements on the other end in person, some twisted beasts await you haha. Lots of twisty airtime hills that a picture just can't capture.

I zoomed in and really watched the train from the bottom, those LSM's grab the train and drag it up the hill (I love that) then if you look it gives no mercy when going into the false drop. Full speed, I can only imagine what this is going to do once people ride it!

I feel like in the video they were running it at a lower speed, because it just seemed to cruise up the hill really until it got past the LSM's then it kicked into gear. At least that's what I can note from my phone.

What other videos did you say you had of it? It really looks amazing!!

That non inverting loop is more banked than when I seen in person. I have a friend that's there and she said watching it made her only more excited to go down and ride it together during opening.

Beautiful!!!! Please keep them coming! That looks so amazing even from that distance (which is where the quad down will really be able to be seen besides around River Rampage)

Tears of joy! Tears of joy!!!! Oh happy day!!! Did you get any video?

Just posted 30 mins ago. I'd say a guess at opening would be May 6th as well. Dolly's there, tons and I mean TONS of people will be there. If you've never been to a homecoming day visit, the park gets a bit tight.

Well if you've ever been to the park when Wild Eagle closes for lightning, bee's whatever, people will honestly sit around or close by the coaster and watch/listen for a test run around the track. Once they hear or see that train they will immediately RUN (no joke I've watched it happen many times) to the que, and not just a few people, crowds of people. So just picture this. Lightning Rod rolls out of the station as people are walking by, red flag goes off for them to stop and watch. As soon as it makes that immediate successful launch up and over the hill, people will swarm the area. Especially being that it can be seen from many points of the park. You will have guests running from all over just to get turned right back around.

Peeling out is burning rubber and then going really fast. It's also called a "burnout" which is what I call it, my town holds a burnout competition for muscle cars and hot rods in the fall. If you can handle the smell of burning rubber, it's fun to watch.

Found this on Twitter, can't tell if the actual LSM's have been removed or if they've been replaced. Something looks different though.

LOL if this was to happen so many people will be disappointed. Even more than they are now.

I was just playing around with an estimated guess just by the amount of workers they had. Literally they were lined all the way up the thing, some on the catwalk and some fooling with the LSM. If I read the sign correctly (couldn't get a good look because I didn't want to stop directly under and a trolley was coming) the theming "road sign" said "CAUTION STEEP INCLINE AHEAD". Love these little small details. And yes like I just drove by and this one guy was literally watching me with every inch my truck made. 2nd time it's happened.

Just drove out to the park and took these and got looks from hell from the guys on the launch (and I can understand why lol) anyway there were like maybe 6 guys on it working on both sides. So I would give it the end of April for opening, early May? They've placed theming around the launch (signs, tow truck and a car)

Ok so I'm just now learning about this car show. Apparently Pigeon Forge is slammed during the show which makes me a bit nervous. I plan on driving in on the 12th and leaving on the 14th, which is the day the show starts. How crowded would it be on the days prior to the actual show? I imagine it could get pretty bad but hopefully not gridlock. Pigeon Forge is most definitely slammed during this time. Hotels are getting booked for the late week so make reservations. I'm down here right now and people are already down to spend the entire week and it's at a moderate crowd. So I would say be ready for long traffic stops and waits in traffic. We've been to many Rod Runs (both fall and spring) and usually the hotels go first because they're on the strip where the show happens. So we get a cabin, park the car and walk.

No Way Jose's stands by its name, No Way Jose..

We usually take a trip down to Dollywood late June/ early July (after the 4th) because that gives everything time to get kinks out, we hope Lightning Rod is up by then, if not I mean I'm 2.5 hours away I can always make a weekend trip down but you know some aren't that close. I do see them trying a Labor Day event for it because that's another extremely busy time in Pigeon Forge that we tend to avoid. If they had it up and going this week it would be absolutely PERFECT. Why you ask? Spring Rod Run, one of the most crowded times for the area besides Fall Rod Run, and plus it would fit the attraction.