Photo TR: Dollywood

[Marko]

As with all our trips this one had been in the planning stages for months. It usually starts around November when various plans are proposed, probably went through eight different scenarios before settling on this one and it turned out to be a great time. I wanted to include at least a couple of events so starting the trip off early with Rip Roarin' Rampage and ending with Coastermania seemed like as good a plan as any. Plus it would get us to parks we've been dying to visit for years now.

 

I was hoping to post this as one big TR but with over 100 pictures I broke it up into eight posts. I'll do my best to keep things brief and let the pictures do the talking, so here goes!

 

Dollywood - Ok, first off the parking lot is a ride/journey onto itself. You see a parking entrance and you drive, and you drive some more, and more, and it twists and winds and it just keeps going with no sign of the park. Finally you get a glimpse of the front gates but the first half mile of parking spaces are handicapped! But once you figure out the tram system all is well. Still I've never spent so much time in a parking lot wondering when or if we'd ever find the park. But the search and parking hassles were more than worth it - DW is a beautiful place and and was surprisingly busy for a weekday in May.

 

We liked Thunderhead but didn't love it. Aside from Gwazi I've been on all the state-side GCI's and imho the company needs to reinvent themselves to compete with the likes of El Toro and The Voyage. Absolute fave of the park was of course Mystery Mine. Very innovative and just a blast to ride with a true defining "oh sh*t!" moment which fortunately is when they snap the onride photo - had to buy it! Tennessee Tornado was awesome as well, must sheepishly admit we prefer it over Thunderhead. Then the cinnamon bread at the Grist Mill, cheesesteak sandwiches - it was a great 1.5 days at Dollywood. Only bummer was Timber Tower was down both days.

 

Kudos also to the Holiday Inn Express in Pigeon Forge. Very friendly staff, clean rooms, and they sell two days for the price of one tickets. Definiteltly would stay there again on our next visit.

 

Next stops, Lake Winnie and Alabama Adventure.

...so little time. That's it for Dollywood.

So many Sonics...

One thing I did not mind saying goodbye to was Pigeon Forge. It's just not tacky enough for me .

Loved TT! Best looping Arrow ever, by several million miles.

Mmm, gross...

Thunderhead and beavers.

This is all you get to see of Mystery Mine. You just need to get to DW and ride it!

Crazy talking dynamite vulture.

The amazing Mystery Mine - it was very hazy/smoky from the fires in Georgia.

But onto the real reasons we were here.

It's true, every last one of the employees are super friendly.

It's easy to see before you're even in the park why Dollywood is so popular.

"Dollywood ho!" (no not that kind)

"Let's just keep walking, we're bound to find the park!"

"Turn here for crazy Dollywood Parking Lot"

Welcome to Tennesse, our first visit to the state.