IronButterfly

Considering the $300MM pledge in 2013, I think Dolly is ready to pledge a cool half billion. I would love for her to change the location of her upcoming movie and television studios from Nashville to East Tennessee and announce "Dollywood Studios" as the latest park in her empire. We know by the City of Pigeon Forge slip up that another resort is on the horizon. I would like to see the park expanded to the upper train loop though the topography will change, making Dollywood Express a mode of transportation in addition to an experience to remind everyone that without that railroad nothing else would have come into existence. I think the top of the park would make an excellent area called "Shadow Ridge" that could take a little darker tone. The flagship attraction there would be Shadow Ridge Mansion (as Plantation seems to choke people though it is a noun that means large farm, such as a large abandoned tobacco farm in honor of Lee Parton's cash crop - and please no political arguments for or against the word as it is only a suggestion). The Mansion could be the bellwether to gauge Dollywood's true potential in the southeast formerly ruled completely by WDW. Dollywood is still fifteen years younger than WDW but Dolly was only 40 when she opened Dollywood (stop and think about that statement for a hot second -- left home at 18 with $300 and Piggly Wiggly luggage-paper bags of clothes-and in a mere 22 years opened her own theme park, it makes me never want to talk about my career). In addition, I see major parking changes coming (more than likely garages that most despise). Lastly, I see a snow park (open mid-October to March) on Dollywood Resorts Boulevard adjacent to Splash Country to close that January to mid-March gap and finally make Dollywood a year round destination. Maybe I can get a sack of bones and predict a' la the clairvoyant in Dolly's composition "These Old Bones." Again, these are speculations of a long time Dolly and Dollywood fan with no better insight than anyone else not on the Dollywood expansions team. I have seen many changes since the Silver Dollar City days, some good, some not so much but all necessary to meet the long term vision Dolly Parton had when she envisioned "Dollywood USA" on a 1982 Barbara Walters TV Special. I might have to picket though if they ever plan to remove Blazing Fury, even though they ruined it years ago when they removed the water (for many valid reasons I am sure) but I would rather it become some type of behind the scenes historical walk through of an antique one day rather than destroyed for something manufactured by the standard ride makers. Jack and Pete Herschend hit on something special with that and Flooded Mine (though I prefer Daredevil Falls). I never want them to add any lasers to it (as if lasers would have been around for a volunteer Fire Department in East Tennessee in the 19th century. I respect all opinions on here and will not edit or criticize anyone's post. I know you are free to do so here but why would anyone, it is not like I am the engineer in charge of making these ideas above a reality. Just food for thought! Enjoy!