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Dollywood!

We were recently at Dollywood for the 2nd day of Smoky Mtn Christmas. I now see why it beats out every other park for "Best Christmas Event" every year. Lights everywhere, great (albeit VERY Jesus-y) shows, everything but the water rides open, and treats spread out throughout the park. Lightning Rod was open! We decided to ride it at night in the front, and it's still proving why it's on the top of my wooden coaster list. It was at a two train operation and only went down once during the course of the day.
 
Lightning Rod was absolutely insane. It's hard to understand from the POV how intense it really is.

I would easily rate Dollywood as having the best Christmas event. There was more to do than is possible in a day considering the volume of entertainment.
 
Lightning Rod was absolutely insane. It's hard to understand from the POV how intense it really is.

I would easily rate Dollywood as having the best Christmas event. There was more to do than is possible in a day considering the volume of entertainment.


You haven't been on Outlaw Run have you? And... I think Silver Dollar City outdoes DW on Christmas having been to both several times.
 
So I'm sure everyone could imagine at this point, but Dollywood was unharmed in the fires and Tennessee is doing better than it was. I went on vacation in the area a couple weeks ago and had a great time.

Lightning Rod is up there next to Verbolten as one of my favorite rides I've ridden at any kind of theme/amusement park so far. The other coasters are all just as great in their own ways. One of the standouts for me is Dollywood's attempt at a family coaster with Firechaser Express. Among other rides sharing that 'family coaster' title such as Woody Woodpecker or Goofy's Barnstormer, the ride is the only one I'd actually aim to ride. It's really fun and really unique.

There's also a new drop ride that just opened up a few weeks ago. (A couple weeks after we were in town :doh:) Whenever I head back though, I'll be looking forward to it!
 
So Lightning Rod is operating regularly now? I thought I read recently that it wasn't.
 
I can't say for sure whether or not it is, it might've just been the day I was there. I read somewhere recently that it has been doing better recently though!
 
My favorite part of that ride is that final burst of airtime hills near the end of the ride as you scale down the hill before the final inversion. That part got me everytime I went on it lol.
 
Lightning Rod has been operating pretty much daily for several weeks now. There are hiccups from time to time where it goes down for a short time. They are only running one train currently so wait times are long. At least it's operational.

My favorite part of that ride is that final burst of airtime hills near the end of the ride as you scale down the hill before the final inversion. That part got me everytime I went on it lol.
That's not an actual inversion at the end. It's a non-inverting half loop.
 
Reports are that Lightening Rod has reduced the launch time making it so the ride crests the first hill at less speed. Apparently the slight loss in speed doesn't change the back half of the right but the front half is slightly less intense.
 
Reports are that Lightening Rod has reduced the launch time making it so the ride crests the first hill at less speed. Apparently the slight loss in speed doesn't change the back half of the right but the front half is slightly less intense.
This has already been debunked, it is not true.
 
I saw recent comments on reddit that it was true, but I haven't seen an official statement either way.
Well I rode it right when it reopened for the summer (when the rumors started), so I guess you could count that as an official statement in some way
 
It has been confirmed that the launch was NOT slowed down by Screamscape. I know they are a rumor site, however they contacted Dollywood directly to get the correct answer. Using Reddit is like asking the Dippin Dots guy what's going on, especially in this instance. I just read several comments about the ride and who said this and they heard this from them, etc. and could do nothing but laugh.

Dollywood
(6/21/17) Just a quick note regarding the status of Lightning Rod. Since the coaster reopened last week, some rumors have started claiming that somehow it had been slowed down. Screamscape went right to the source on this one and contacted Dollywood who assured us that while the maintenance performed on Lightning Rod involved many systems, including the launch system, the coaster is still launching out within the same speed window as before, no trim brakes were added anywhere, and that the trains are still achieving the same 73+ mph top speed as before.
 
Dollywood 2018 :
Dolly Parton unveils new Dollywood venue, entertainment for 2018

"PIGEON FORGE — Dolly Parton came to Dollywood on Friday and revealed a host of new entertainment experiences and a new venue coming to the theme park in 2018.

An investment that's "$1 million greater than any season-long entertainment schedule in the park’s history" will fund these new additions to the park, according to a Dollywood press release.

The venue, the Plaza at Wilderness Pass, will occupy the spot where the park's River Battle Ride was and sit in between roller coasters Mystery Mine and FireChaser Express.

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The venue will house different events that correlate with the park's many festivals, according to Dollywood Public Relations Manager Wes Ramey.

"So what will happen is throughout the year we'll be able to take the programming for each of the festivals and theme that area so that guests have an immersive experience they can sit down, take a break and just enjoy the atmosphere for whatever festival we're in," said Ramey.

In addition to the venue, several musicians and entertainers will make the trip to Pigeon Forge in 2018 to perform at the park. A new three-week-long festival, the Spring Mix music series, will take place from April 11-29 and feature a week of classic country music, a week of inspirational music and a week of classic rock and folk music.

The event will have performances from Pam Tillis, Connie Smith, Shenandoah, Amy Grant, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Larnelle Harris, David Phelps, Chonda Pierce, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Drifters, Debby, Firefall, Al Stewart and others. Individual concert dates and show times will be announced later, according to the press release.

Dollywood’s Rock the Smokies event on Aug. 25 will feature Christian music artists TobyMac and Crowder serving as headliners.

"Well it's good 'cause a lot of them are the oldies from my time and a lot of them I know personally ... but I think that it's good," said Parton. "It gives people a variety, too. We have, of course, our country week, our inspirational groups that come in and Amy Grant and a lot of people ... the young Christian singers, and I think that's wonderful, so we've got a variety, and we've had our bluegrass and gospel music through the years every fall, so I love the whole idea. The more music the better for me."

Other new additions include adding another week to the park's Barbecue and Bluegrass event in the summer (May 25-June 10), an expansion of the park's Great Pumpkin LumiNights in the fall and new summer entertainment from DRUMline Live!, which was inspired by the 2002 movie "Drumline," and "America's Got Talent's" iLuminate, who combine dance moves and glow-in-the-dark costumes.

Parton did her part in brainstorming the new entertainment options. She and others on the Dollywood team meet throughout the year and talk about what they plan for the park.

"I am involved in all of it, but we have people that are smarter than us like I've always said ... 'Nobody can do everything.' But they listen to me openly, and I listen to them. We always go out to find the best people. You know smart people always find people that are smarter than them to do the real work," she said."
 
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