Dollywood Discussion Thread

[Shavethewhales]

No way! That's ridiculously fast. I seem to remember steel coasters taking so much longer to construct back in the old days, I guess they've gotten it down to a minimal number of pieces these days that go together as quick as possible. Neat to see how these rides are improving in so many different ways over the years.

 

I find it strange everyone is calling this a "terrain" coaster though. Other than the hillside it scales for the lift, the ride is up and above the ground for the majority of the layout. When I think of terrain coasters I think of Balderdash, the last half of the Ultimate, Mountain Flyer, and such. It's more of a "scenic" coaster... or something.

[tntornadox]

It's actually a bit more terra-forming than the renders show, IMO. The first drop into the vertical loop follow the contour of the land pretty nicely...

[RyanGsatMCO]

No way! That's ridiculously fast. I seem to remember steel coasters taking so much longer to construct back in the old days, I guess they've gotten it down to a minimal number of pieces these days that go together as quick as possible. Neat to see how these rides are improving in so many different ways over the years.

 

I find it strange everyone is calling this a "terrain" coaster though. Other than the hillside it scales for the lift, the ride is up and above the ground for the majority of the layout. When I think of terrain coasters I think of Balderdash, the last half of the Ultimate, Mountain Flyer, and such. It's more of a "scenic" coaster... or something.

 

 

Time has indeed changed. Many early steel coasters were welded together. This as you can imagine made it a much longer process and also made relocation a pain. I am not sure who or when the tend went to nuts and bolts, but it has made the process a lot quicker and saved a number of rides for relocation. Intresting enough I know of one coaster build in 1999 that is welded together and that is Steel Eel at SWSA. The track segments are bolted, but they are welded to their supports.

 

As far as this being a terrain. There is no HARD way to say what is and is not terrain. Just because something rises high above the grade or not. I my mind a terrain coaster is one that makes that land around it a major part of the ride vs the ride being a part of the land. SKC and Ratttler are two examples that come to mind for me.

[dragonskeep]

I also don't really consider it a terrain coaster. The term Scenic coaster is more accurate to me, not that it matters but for the sake of conversation. Wils Eagle will be very pretty and weeeeeee fun, that's pretty certain.

[coasterfreaky]

If you’re going by the definition of terrain then that might apply to almost every coaster built outside of a parking lot….that’s why the land is surveyed, measured and supports are custom built. Some coasters make better use of their terrain than others, that is for sure, but “technically” there doesn’t seem to be a right or wrong answer to this. RCDB classifies Tatsu as terrain, as well as Iron Dragon at CP…not sure what to make of that….sort of arbitrary really.

[tntornadox]

From DW's FB:

[ernierocker]

We just got some photos from Dollywood showing the vertical loop being completed! Construction is flying by! (pun intended)

Crane is in place to put in the final piece of track! Nice view of the first drop going into the loop.

There's the final piece of track being hoisted into place!

Almost got it.

Voila! The loop is finished!

[thrillerman1]

Was the aerial photo shot from one of the cabins above Dollywood? Impressive view!

[ernierocker]

Was the aerial photo shot from one of the cabins above Dollywood? Impressive view!

 

Yes, it was taken from the Dollywood Vacations cabin that you can see clearly from the lift hill on Tennessee Tornado.

[QueerRudie]

Mother of G-D SLOW DOWN!!!!!

 

At the rate steel is going up on this thing, they'll be boarding the train NEXT WEEK! Right now, they're opening the queue up, as by the time I post this, the ride will be finished and testing.

 

(I've NEVER seen a coaster go up this fast... it's insane.)

 

R.D.

[tntornadox]

Mother of G-D SLOW DOWN!!!!!

 

At the rate steel is going up on this thing, they'll be boarding the train NEXT WEEK! Right now, they're opening the queue up, as by the time I post this, the ride will be finished and testing.

 

(I've NEVER seen a coaster go up this fast... it's insane.)

 

R.D.

 

Ensuring you are America's first wing rider? Priceless.

[DBru]

I can't wait to see pictures of the loop from the front. I wonder how far apart the entrance/exit are...

[Bryce232]

Some roller coasters are beautiful because of their support structure, others because of custom theming, but nothing is gonna be as impressive as this coaster.

Wild Eagle is really gonna bring a new experience to its riders. Even with only the first two elements in place I can already say that this will be the best coaster coming in 2012. If only I didn't live four states away from Dollywood :'(

[SoCalCoasters]

Are they working 24/7? I mean WOW! The whole thing went up faster than any construction I've ever seen!

[BaMiTsPaT]

^^Although it is quite impressive, I don't think that Wild Eagle will be far and away the best coaster of 2012. There is some huge competition for best of 2012.

[Bryce232]

Good point considering Skyrush, Leviathan, X-Flight, and the Swarm. But I do think this will definitely be the most unique of them all

[krazekiddd]

Wow that looks awesome and kudos to them for going so fast!

[sammmmmy]

lol it takes me longer than this to build a ride in no limits

[gisco]

Nice, it is going up quick!

[CpBluestreakCp]

Wow, that was quick. Some parks should take some lessons. It looks great.

[IanKgtr]

That view is going to be absolutely spectacular.

[coasterfreaky]

From DW's FB:

 

That is a work of art I'm not sure, but the building with the roof looks like it might be the storage barn...maybe room for two side-by-side tracks in there?

[TBEAR]

WILD EAGLE TRACK ALMOST COMPLETED

Edited October 28, 2011 by TBEAR

[TBEAR]

This is a view from the back of Mystery Mine.

Wild Eagle from the Mystery Mine

Edited October 15, 2011 by TBEAR

[TBEAR]

Was the aerial photo shot from one of the cabins above Dollywood? Impressive view!

WILD EAGLE LOOP COMING TOGETHER

WILD EAGLE LOOP COMING TOGETHER

WILD EAGLE LOOP COMING TOGETHER

WILD EAGLE LOOP COMING TOGETHER

WILD EAGLE LOOP COMING TOGETHER