This runaway mine train’s story is an interesting insight into theme park operations. With Daredevil Falls and Mountain Slidewinder, the Country Fair Falls outlived its usefulness. Reportedly, when the log flume ride came down, it made way for six other kiddie rides in the Country Fair section. It was a lot of suspense for one quick thrill, the drop and a cooling splash of water. It was pretty basic, bang around in a water-filled half-pipe until being carried up the incline by chain. The ride was born for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York and found its way to Pigeon Forge when the park was still Gold Rush Junction in the late 60s. This oldie was a holdover from the pre-Dollywood days, but it was showing its age by its 2004 removal. Read Also: These 5 ‘twin’ rides at Dollywood’s sister park will make you look twice The Log Flume at Silver Dollar City became part of Dollywood, but no longer exists today (photo contributed by Richard Melton) 4. Still, it was a fun way to cool off on a hot day. Then, you’d be forced to follow the young jerks around the park, hypothetically of course, plotting a chance to take sweet, sweet revenge. It was fun – unless you ran across some young jerks in another boat determined to blast your 3-year-old and make them cry even after you asked them nicely to stop. River BattleĪnother ride that didn’t have a terribly long life was the River Battle – an interactive watercraft ride that allowed riders to shoot targets and each other with streams of water. The River Battle had a fairly short run, but it was a good way to cool off (archived Dollywood media photo) 5. The ride lasted another 4 seasons, but you have to think it was doomed by a failed safety sensor. The Timber Tower had an incident roughly a year after opening that resulted in some guests being stuck up in the air for as much as six hours. The Timber Tower opened to much fanfare in 2006.Ī gigantic tower with a massive 40-person gondola that lifted to the top 60 feet in the air, the Timber Tower looked much like its eventual replacement, Drop Line.īut instead of a slow ride up and a quick drop down, the Tower spun its gondola and rocked back and forth, giving the riders the sensation of falling to the ground like a tree felled by a lumberjack’s ax. The Timber Tower debuted in 2006 (archived Dollywood media photo) 6. The trek up to the Slidewinder was significant. The debut of Wildwood Grove proved that Dollywood’s planners are giving more thought to comfort, accessibility and practical movements. Rumors are that the upkeep costs outweighed the ride’s value, but I think it was the long hike up the queue. It was retired in 2019 after 32 years of service.
The Slidewinder was essentially a long water slide with multi-seat toboggans. The Mountain Slidewinder is a water-based thrill ride that served its purpose until Dollywood developed more (and better) thrill rides.
So let’s take some time and remember our top 7 gone, but not forgotten rides at Dollywood that no longer exist. Other times, they sneak up on us and we only realize something is gone when we’re staring its replacement in the face.īut that doesn’t mean that dearly departed rides are gone from our memories. Read More: The history of Dollywood: How Dolly saved a once-kitschy theme park
If you don’t follow theme park news, it can be shocking to discover that in the course of an off season, a favorite ride has been shuttered in the pursuit of bigger and better things. There is, in the inexorable march of time, inevitably things that have to be jettisoned in the name of progress.
#FIRST LOG FLUME RIDE TRIAL#
8 theme park in the world, according to Trip Advisor, is a remarkable testament to strategic planning and execution.īut with that remarkable progress, there is some element of trial and error. The 36-year journey from niche theme park to being named the No. Dollywood’s master plan is a thing of wonder.
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