mordecai-75

So does Waldameer.

^ I agree with you that the new rides can be easily installed through the short off-season Dollywood has, so why the summer 2017 thing? My best guess is that it's just a bit of percaution due to the LR issues, or even better, the entire area is gonna get a major theme upgrade and could potentially be closed off for the first part of next season. It could easily be blocked off without closing the back pathway or Thunderhead's entrance (assuming the kiddie coaster is gonna go where the playground is). However if they were to use this opportunity to keep Thunderhead closed for a while to smooth out the precious ol' girl a bit with some re-tracking (and possibly add it's version of the wasp repellent roof to the lift hill, "i personally think a full tunnel drop like Goldstriker's would fit Thunderhead beautifully") people wouldn't mind in the long run. Whatever may be the case, i think Dollywood is on point with the year after year additions they've be giving us. Let's hope this trend keeps going the way it is,

Dollywood- 1. Lightning Rod 2. Thunderhead 3. Wild Eagle 4. Tennessee Tornado 5. Firechaser Express 6. Mystery Mine 7. Blazing Fury 8. Sideshow Spin

But will it be the standard model? RCDB lists at least one coaster with that ride system that has a custom layout. Personally, I expect it to be a clone of Grand Exposition Coaster at SDC (which I assume is a clone as well). In a nutshell, Sideshow Spin is that already. Dollywood has stated that every new ride they add will have an extensive theme to it. It may just be a kiddie coaster, but it'll be a kiddie coaster with a strong theme, fun stuff imo. Since they surprised us with this phenomenal announcement in such a random fashion, one visiting Dollywood next year could find Timber Canyon completely unrecognizable. Not just because of the two new rides, but it might just get a whole makeover. When LR was announced, there was no mention of the surrounding upgrades to Jukebox Junction until very close to the planned debut. The fact that they say summer 2017 leads me to believe that alot more of that area will be changed other then just throwing in a drop tower and a kiddie coaster.

^ i was was wondering the same thing, i hope not though. Keep them both, why not? If they revamp the country fair area at some point, it takes up less space than most traditional carnival rides. They could find somewhere to put it. (If you haven't rode it, it's a somewhat forceful little kiddie coaster) No need to scrap it unless it just truly has ran it's course. (no pun intended)

I truly hope it ends up being a wooden junior coaster, something like a Woodstock Express would be a real treat for the youngsters at the park. However if it's just some common steel kiddie coaster, i'm perfectly fine with that too. It will still be an excellent addition to the park (i mean, i was completely content with just getting the Splash Country slide). This was a total surprise for all of us, and i don't think there's any thing wrong with a family park having two run of the mill kiddie coasters (if that's what it turns out to be). Either way, Dollywood's finally gonna have us a drop tower!!! Let's all rejoice and be thankful that this wish was granted. If i have one minor nit-pick, it's that i don't like that they are using the word "chaser" in two coasters but whatever, it doesn't matter. Thank You Dollywood! EDIT: What the coaster is got posted before i finished my post haha. The principle of what i was saying still holds true, and this coaster will be a welcome addition to the park.

God bless Dollywood!!!

It would be a bit ridiculous to announce an October festival the October a year prior (it clearly says 2017 people). I believe it is a drop tower. Maybe they waited for fall to announce so they could say something like " this fall we're gonna tell you how your gonna fall next spring " , or something like that. Anyway, we'll all find out in the morning, prop's to them for not making us sweat it out.

Finally, a drop tower?? Hopefully.

^ Indeed!

You say in this that you had your first front row ride on Phoenix, that somewhat perplexes me as i assumed you were the Knoebels go to guy on the forum. Why so many visits without trying the front?

I visited Knoebels for the time first this past June, we legitimately used this map to find the pirogies and didn't have any issue finding them. Just kinda let the image burn a print in your brain, then when you come across Power Surge, just slowly turn around in place. You should start to see other features from the map and instantly know where to go, that worked for us at least. Go ahead and order double when you find it, one batch will just piss you off enough to want more, "they kinda work lack crack in that way". They are quite delicious, however our favorite food we got on our trip was a hoagie pizza from Cesari's, this thing was massive and was only like 16 bucks, truly tasted more like a hoagie than pizza, and was most likely the best individual theme park food item i have ever had (next to Dollywood's cinnamon bread of course). We ate on it for 3 days, that place should start a national chain with that pizza, papa john would have to cry himself to sleep nightly if that were to happen.

^^^^^ I understand and and agree with your point. My home park is Dollywood, i visit 30+ times per season. We technically got a new coaster this year (and i guess i may catch a little hell for saying that we kinda really didn't), but i've loved the park long before Lightning Rod was even thought about, or RMC for that matter. Everytime me and my family go, we have fun, there is so much more to take in than LR, if you get bored while your at Dollywood then the problem is with YOU, not the park. They do have their downfalls in certain areas from time to time, like waiting forever for food and such, but you get that everywhere. I don't see another coaster coming for another 3 to 4 years (hope i'm wrong), but that's not gonna stop me from getting our passes each year, and waking up in the mornings the of days we're going feeling excited.

Dollywood could get about a 1000ft of track added to Tennessee Tornado. I really don't even care what it does, but it would be a tweek that would really boost the ride up to where it belongs in people's rankings "in my opinion."

I just watched a video on youtube that claimed Holiday World had a park section themed to some asian holiday called Lunation back in the early 90's. It said that they had a Vekoma SLC named Luna that killed like 80+ people in it's 4 years of operation. I'm pretty sure it's just internet bulls#!t, but i was just wondering if anyone knows if this was ever a thing? The youtube channel is called thrill central for people that want to look up the video, i'm not computer savvy enough to post a link or i would have. It seemed made up to me, just wanted to get some knowledge if anything is even remotely close to being true about this.

^ Just don't get people confused into thinking your talking about Sooper Dooper Looper.

^ Are any rows still blocked off?

^ On one of my rides of LR i was paired with a first time visitor to the park who was telling me how Wild Eagle was the best roller coaster he had ever been on, and that this was the only one in the park he hasn't ridden yet. So i told him to strap himself in as loose as he could and prepare to have your mind blown. He screamed throughout the entire ride and when we hit the brakes i said "much better than Wild Eagle right?" he said "i don't know, i just really like going upside down". I just told him that was fair enough and to have a great time for the rest of his visit. To each their own i always say, some people love the inversions, and people like me want to feel like i'm going fly right off the train and smack into the surrounding trees. Hope you and your crew had a great time.

Way to much garbage like this going on in the U.S. these day's.

^ I wouldn't consider the "bugs worked out" until they can open and close the park with both trains running without blocking off any rows and without having several bouts of down time daily for an extended period of time. Then we know the bugs are gone. Lightning Rod aside, if you haven't been to the park in that long, you are in for a fantastic trip. The collection of coasters Dollywood has accumulated since your last visit are all unique and excellent rides in my opinion. They always seem to use the terrain to their advantage when building their coasters, which gives them a little extra flair provided by nature that you don't get at alot of parks. You'll have a great time even if Lightning Rod's bugs are crawling, i get the effect from them often and i live here. I hope by the time you visit it's running the way this beast of a ride was planned to. But if not, the rest of Dollywood that you haven't experienced yet will be a trip worth taking for you.

Don't forget Tailspin Racer at Dollywood's Splash Country.

Excellent TR, i love Lake Winnie.

The worst coaster i've ridden is Wild Lightnin' at Lake Winnie. People always talk about Wildcat at Hershey being so rough, i didn't think it all that bad. Maybe it's because this ride broke me in for what ROUGH can really excel too.

I think they are very solid gut wrenching flat rides. They are also very eye appealing in my opinion. If Larson can make them bigger, i hope they do. The bigger the better.

^ Great review man, you described the insanity of this ride to a tee, although i haven't noticed the bump yet. I've ridden back row only once and basically had that feeling you described of "what just happened" but i guess my adrenalin was too high so i couldn't really focus on the overall details. My second and only other ride i've had, i was assigned row 5 (a non wheel seat) i was able to expect what was coming from a blurred memory of my first ride and my body was less tense. It really gives a feeling like it's just having it's way with you in a positive manor. I consider Lighting Rod my #3 overall behind Skyrush at #2 and Fury325 at #1, but maybe after more rides it could move up a spot. In my opinion LR feels like a wooden Skyrush with a lower to the ground pretty terrain setting. It's a monster of a ride!