Now, lots of folks won't bother visiting a theme park in the rain. Which is why I say... all the more reason to go. Folks not visiting means shorter lines for the rest of us.
So Natalie and I walked right on to Thunderhead...
...and Mystery Mine.
Perhaps I would have enjoyed Thunderhead more if I hadn't ridden substantially the same ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain earlier this spring. And if I hadn't been spoiled on wooden coasters by Holiday World's world-class trio. But after riding those, Thunderhead just didn't wow me the way it had so many other riders in the first few years after its 2004 debut.
And Mystery Mine? I hadn't been on a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter before, despite the fact that Mystery Mine had won our Theme Park Insider Award for best new attraction in 2007. The best way I can describe this unique coaster is as if a wickedly talented designer had pulled apart a Wild Mouse and rebuilt it for extreme moves. You've got two 90-degree lifts, a heartline roll and dive loop, as well as a couple of jaw-rattling sudden dips.
I mean that last part literally. The position of the over-the-shoulder rests just under my jaw about near knocked my teeth out on one of the early dips. Mystery Mine is to roller coasters what the 12-tone scale is to music - a radical design that engages students of the genre but just doesn't feel like much fun.
We had a much better time on Lumberjack Lifts, a 25-ft. pull-up tower.
Frankly, the rides at Dollywood just didn't do much for me. We had started our day on the Journey to the Center of the Earth 4D ride, which was little more than a clip job from the Brendan Fraser movie. While the Tennessee Tornado offered a smooth triple loop in a lovely mountain setting, Blazing Fury served up three small drops within a crudely animated dark ride. And while River Battle could have been a hoot on a hot, crowded day, on a rainy morning with no one else on the ride, it felt kinda pathetic. Who are we gonna get wet?
Our day picked up with lunch, though, as we took Theme Park Insider readers' advice and opted for the all-you-can-eat chicken buffet at Miss Lillian's Chicken House.
At $13 for adults and $6 for kids (11 and under), this is a steal of an all-you-can eat deal. The salad wasn't worth filling a plate with, but the fried chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, pepper gravy and chocolate cake all earned thumbs up from the family. The biscuits were especially tender and tasty, though we missed not having jelly to smear all over them.
Okay, the food was good, but that wasn't enough to earn the praise I'd hear from so many readers over the years about this park. If it wasn't the rides, what could it be?
Well, duh, Robert, this is Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park. What makes this park impressive became apparent as soon as I walked into a musical show.
Dollywood's top show this summer is Sha-Kon-O-Hey!, a tribute to the people and spirit of the Smoky Mountains. A phonetic transcription of the Cherokee shaconage, the title means "Land of Blue Smoke." The 45-minute show features singing, acrobatics and a live bluegrass band accompaniment, with eight original songs composed by Parton herself.
The story opens with a Depression-era Smoky Mountain family packing up to move west, in pursuit of work.
But the family's young boy doesn't want to go, and retreats to an old tree, where he wishes to the spirits to stay.
The boy's wish reveals an enchanted valley, where the spirits of generations past dwell. (And sing and dance, of course.) He's joined there by his sister and grandmother, who'd come looking for him.
Grandmother is the kids' bridge to the past, teaching them the "old ways" and the stories of her youth, but the kids can't run away from their father. The boy returns to the tree to amend his wish.
The kids reunite with their father for the trip west, while grandmother will remain home, with the people and spirits of the Smokies.
By the time we exited the theater, the skies outside had cleared and the sun shone brightly. So let's let the symbolism beat us over the head, shall we? You want to find the real attraction at Dollywood? Just listen for the music.
Update: Laurie wrote her take on Dollywood over at Violinist.com.
Next stop on the roadtrip: Orlando
Previously on the Summer Roadtrip:
Tweet
Nevertheless, it sounds like you had a good day despite the weather and the inflated expectations. Thanks for the report and the pictures, Dollywood looks as beautiful as I remember it!
One thing: Lumberjack Lifts?! Robert, please! ;)
Anyway, onto the big dogs in Orlando!
And although Mystery Mine is a bit jolty in that outside section - the rest of it is amazing. Ride it at night and that last drop and heartline roll is terrifying. And Thunderhead is my #1 wooden coaster - but I haven't ridden The Voyage or Terminator yet.
Yes, Dollywood is not Disney and it's not Great America or Busch - but it does offer incredible food, amazing crafts, wonderful music and breath-taking scenery. They're getting better and better with the rides.
Don't count it out!
From that interaction, I would bet that this is an older style park. They really need to address their customer service. I won't forget that email...
It seems that they have a lot of older style rides that you don't see anymore..and that is a good thing. I think that theming is sadly overlooked by the metal parks of today. I am very glad to see this blog post because of that! :D I think it would be really interesting to see what they do when Dolly is in town. I find that parks tend to reflect the local culture (like my beloved Kennywood) and they all have something good to be experienced. Yay for theming and atmosphere!!! :)
Folks who love shows and shopping will love Dollywood more than just about any other theme park in the country. But ride and immersive attraction fans, who aren't that into shows, will probably scratch their heads and wonder what the fuss is about.
When I write about theme parks, I'm judging them on this: Would I want to travel across the country to see this again? Every park we list on the site (and some we don't) are well worth doing for locals and regional tourists. If they weren't, we wouldn't list them, or talk about them.
But not every park is worth traveling across the country to see. If you love music and shows, Dollywood is. If you don't, Dollywood isn't.
I hope that this clarifies things.
All that said, I see in the Timber Canyon and Wilderness Passage leg of the park the potential for a great destination theme park. There's not enough back there yet, but everything that Dollywood's put in that area has been solid (even if MM wasn't my cup of tea).
Rides: No it's not Busch Gardens and does not have ten coasters but not everyone in the family wants coasters. And NO IT IS NOT DISNEY it actually HAS three large coasters. It has the perfect mix three large coasters, one family style coaster and plenty of other rides to suit ALL AGES and are not all themed around characters that we liked when we were eight years old.
Attractinos: Dollywood is home to three national organization including, The American Eagle Foundation, Chestnut Tree Foundation, and the Southern Gospel Music Hallf of Fame. All three you will not find at other parks. And because of Dollywood's efforts they are giving back to the comunity and educating park guest on important facts. Did you know because of the work of the American Eagle Foundation (Housed at Dollywood) the American Bald Eagle the symbol of our great nation was taken of the endangered species list last year?
Shows: While Dollywood may not have multi-million dollar productions they do have spectacular shows. Dollywood has won more Big E Entertainment Awards from the IAAPA than any other theme/amusement park in the WORLD. Winning the largest award (The International Heartbeat Award) three years running.
Crafts and Shops: Outside of it's sister park, Silver Dolalr City, in Branson Missouri Dollywood has the largest array of unique crafts and shops featured at a theme park. Dollywood is all about preserving a long forgotten heritage that they now bring to life every day for new generations.
Sorry for the long post but I want to make it clear that if you truly enjoy parks that go behind concreate and steel and have the ENTIRE package Dollywood is definitely worth a visit.
I was floored when you panned Thunderhead. I agree it is not as out of control as the Voyage, but Thunderhead's re-ridability and use of terrain and the twister format make it one of my favorite woodies anywhere.
You mention little about "one and only rides" Dollywood offers like the Slidewinder, Blazing Fury, Dare Devil Falls etc. Almost wherever you go on the park there is something you have to be at Dollywood to ride, it does not exist anywhere else or anywhere close.
I agree on the shows. Dollywood currently has the best in the industry. Sha-Kon-O-Hey is musically an increible show. My favorite at the park is Dreamland Drive-in.
The food is also the best anywhere. It is a bit pricey but the portion size is rediculous.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
