PhantomPoster32

Everything is being added next season

The Gatlinburg one is very fast but is by far the shortest. The Ober one has a great layout but is extremely rough in the straight aways. My favorite is the Goat coaster with Smoky Mt being a close 2nd.

It is eligible for ACE Landmark plaque, just not the ACE Coaster Classic plaque, right? Coaster Classic is mostly for historic wooden coasters utilizing buzz bars basically. Landmark just means it has innovative significance I believe. If Screamin' Eagle is getting a plaque, I wonder if Great American Scream Machine will as well. It too opened as the world's tallest and fastest coaster before Screamin' Eagle came to be and is both older and still utilizing buzz bars instead of the awful ratchet bars (I wish I got a chance to ride Screamin' Eagle with buzz bars). The Raven at HW and Eagle are the two coasters getting the Ace plaques this year. Thanks! Didn't realize The Raven was getting one. Still seems odd GASM isn't getting one and doesn't already have one since Screamin' Eagle is. I wonder what the decision process is there. Well... the park would have to host a Con to get one.

Mystery Mine

Welcome to yesterday. If you'll notice no one had even posted on the topic until you felt the need to bring it up. I'm sure TNT and HWFan can fight their own battles without your help. It's obvious that neither party is going to change the others' opinion so like adults we dropped it.

This is the last thing I will say on this issue. First I never said that there where no minor issues in the park.(Once again I dont think you are reading the entirety of my posts or perhaps I'm not being clear enough for you so I'm going to put tgis as simply as I can.) I dont care if you think the park looks run down, that is your opinion. However when you post that Six Flags doesnt fix things unless theres a new ride in the area that is when I have an issue. Yes its your opinion, but it is an opinion that is disproven by reality. I point to Highland Fling and Boss entrance as proof. What new attaction was added there. Nothing. Then why did Fling get an extensive rehab and Boss entrance get redone? Palace Theater, Mrs. Kitty's, The Tommy G, and Thunder River etc. The list continues to roll on. Again. You get to see the minute changes daily. I don't get to visit nearly as often and if the park made some much needed progress (FINALLY) kudos to them. It sure is interesting how defensive and upset you get when an outsider states something critical about the park. Perhaps self reflection on your part on what really matters should occur. And yes the park still looks run down. Deal with it.

*bangs head against wall* While my shift starts at 11:15, I'm heading to the park early. I'll spend my 30 minutes taking a quick trip report of all the decaying buildings, streets, rides, and theming. I think you and another posted missed the point. Yes they are NOW doing work to redo issues that should have been taken care of a long time ago. Stop taking things so personally. You just work there you don't own the park. Lets crack open the history books to chapter 2008 page 254. Money was tight as the company braced for bankruptcy, spending money only on necessities. (That would explain why themeing and building maintenance wasn't being spent on. The limited budget was being spent on ride maintenance instead) Now turn to a newer chapter such as 2012 and up and maintenance of themeing and buildings has returned. See you are missing the point. Your point was valid a couple years ago. Clearly you dont follow this thread very closely(or read posts completely or both). Your right we dont own the park. We only work there. You know what separates the good employees from the ok employees? (I've worked there for almost 4 seasons now and been in a leadership position for 2 of those 4. Safe money would say I know what I'm talking about) The ok employees only work at the park. That is their exact mentality. The good employees take ownership of the park and strive to go the extra mile to make the guest experience better. When you insult the park for something it did years ago during tough financial times it is indeed insulting to those that have worked hard to try and improve the image of the park. Lighten up, Francis. You can have pride in your job without getting so defensive when someone posts their opinion (and it happens to conflict with your own). Here's the long and short of it. You see the minute changes because you see these things on a daily basis. Kudos to the park for FINALLY addressing issues. Forgive me for not being a sunshine pumper and getting excited because they are doing basic upkeep. The park (as a whole) still looks extremely run down. You have scars of past shops and games pretty much everywhere. Not going to apologize for expecting more. The whole mentality of "it's just Six Flags" doesn't fly with me.

Wood is wood to the GP. Don't think for one minute that they care about who made it. They will likely think that Dollywood made it (we know this as in house production). I think you missed his point, though. Lightning Rod will be far smoother than a traditional woodie, and the GP is not so stupid as to think: "Ow! This is rougher than the new one!" Oh yes they will. There will be talks of "they're tearing out Thunderhead because it's so rough". You're giving the GP waaaaaaay too much credit

*bangs head against wall* While my shift starts at 11:15, I'm heading to the park early. I'll spend my 30 minutes taking a quick trip report of all the decaying buildings, streets, rides, and theming. I think you and another posted missed the point. Yes they are NOW doing work to redo issues that should have been taken care of a long time ago. Stop taking things so personally. You just work there you don't own the park.

Another update from the park's Facebook account

Wood is wood to the GP. Don't think for one minute that they care about who made it.

When my home park wooden coaster, Outlaw Run, showed me that wooden coasters don't have to be rough. Thunderhead is really bad this year. Still marginally fun but nowhere near what it used to be.

Yes and No. It'll be an extra day gone from home though so it's more of a logistics complaint than anything. Don't get me wrong, I like Dollywood -- but you have to remember I'm spoiled by having the (IMHO) superior SDC in my backyard, so DW doesn't have the allure to me as much as it might to others.

I just find it annoying that the park lets things get do run down that the only way an area gets improved is if a new ride is added there or in place of something. Preventative maintenance would go a long way to making the park look better and would probably save money in the long run. Don't bother putting in theming if you're not going to maintain it. We used to make the joke that the only theming SF could do well was "rundown" but then even that went to crap with Batman and Mr. Freeze.

No. Not ending. But it's very inconvenient that LR is still not open. This is totally "#firstworldprobs" but now I'll have to make another stop at DW either coming or going to Florida later on this summer. I'm currently in Pigeon Forge and while I had a great day with my family at the park today - the only reason we chose TN for Spring Break this year was LR (we're all teachers). I guess I put too much faith in HFEC and RMC to have it open after the success they had with Outlaw Run.

It's not just a Dollywood phenomenon. SDC constantly has this issue. It's most noticeable during Christmas and BBQ Festival

That's because SDC is a destination park whereas SFSTL is not. It's the most regional of all of the parks in the state. I would go as far to say very few people on the other side of the state would make a trek over to visit - more of a "we're already in St. Louis and have run out of things to do, so I guess" kind of thing.

June opening

Seriously? Other parks in the chain are getting RMCs or similar - but hey, at least we get double rides on the Eagle.

Just theme Fright Fest to Krampus this year and then you don't have to worry about switching out decorations

Photos from park's Facebook account.

If you put merit to rumors that sounds like exactly what the park is doing... yes, both (2017 / 2020)

Yes but imagine a ground hugging tree canopy enclosed inverted. How can you say no to that?

New light poles

Well it had to be moved because something a little more important is going to go there. Just saying. Oh and whomever said that they'd like an inverted at the park may be getting their wish soon as that's the big rumor going around backstage regarding the 2017 coaster. Over in Grand Expo it sounds like