I am so looking forward to my Branson trip this weekend. I will be going to SDC and can't wait to ride Thunderation, Wildfire, and Powder Keg. I was doing some research and was quite impressed to find Wildfire was a B&M coaster and Powderkeg was a Premier Rides coaster. The youtube videos seem great and the rides seem exciting. I am a huge Dollywood fan but am almost afraid I will like the SDC coasters better. I was just curious which ones any of you well travelled park goers preferred.

Keg is an S&S power coaster.. That uses about 40 feet of the old Premier water coaster (just like.. the lifthill and drop after it) The rest is S&S track and trains.

Anyways.. I've been to both parks and I think I like SDC better, although I was at Dolly in December and it was raining.. So I didnt get the best-of experiences at the park.

Why are you afraid? So what if you like them better -- there are lots of coasters out there to try and chances are the one you like the best probably won't be at your homepark. It would be a 5 out of hundreds chance that would be the case.

I give the edge to SDC because they have a launched coaster and a B&M. If OzCat had been built at SDC (like we ACErs wanted) SDC would hands down be the winner.

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SWOOSH - MidwestInfoGuide.COM

-Hears can of worms opening-

Both sides are going to argue for their side, just like to get it out there.

Dollywood's major coasters are Tennessee Tornado, Thunderhead, and Mystery Mine.
Silver Dollar City's major coasters are Wildfire, PowderKeg, and Thunderation.

While I give SDC the nod for having the B&M (hopefully DW will join them in this soon), Thunderhead is one of the best woodies on Earth, and Mystery Mine was ranked Best New Attraction in 2007 and is renowned as one of the best examples of a themed experience outside of Orlando... not to mention, many consider TN Tornado one of Arrow's best works.

I am biased, of course...

Well I just got back from my SDC visit. I loved it, the Christmas lights were awesome! I got to ride Wildfire and Thunderation three times and Powder Keg twice. Anyway, I guess I shouldn't have said I was "afraid" I would like SDC coasters better than Dollywood, I agree with DHollon, it doesn't matter if I did or didn't. I suppose Holiday World is my home park as it is the closest. Dollywood and SDC are both six hours away in opposite directions. I will say however after riding the SDC coasters that this is how my pea brain compared them:

Wildfire vs Tennessee Tornado - I thought Wildfire was awesome. It was so smooth and to think it was a B&M was so impressive. I loved the loops. However, to me it was not as thrilling as Tennessee Tornado. I can't put my finger on why but I give this one to Tornado.

Mystery Mine vs Powder Keg - I paired these in my mind I suppose because they are both so unique. I love on Powder Keg how you are elevated by a lift up to the start of the track as well as the countdown and hurling of the train up the first hill without a chain. I also got lots of airtime and the ride was sort of like a mini hypercoaster! I love Mystery Mine's heavy themeing and its two straight up vertical lifts and the 95 degree drop. I just can't make a choice. For me this is an out and out tie. I can't pick one over the other!

That Leaves:

Thunderhead vs Thunderation - This just can't be a valid comparison, they are just the two left. They are apples and oranges. I am hoping so bad they move OzCat to SDC. I saw it from the road as i drove by Celebration City and thought it looked so cool. It belongs at SDC. At any rate, I will have to compare Thunderation to what in my mind a comparison would be on a ride I have ridden. Which is:

Thunderation vs Whizzer (at Six Flags Great America) - Whizzer spirals up and Thunderation spirals down although not as much as Whizzer spirals up. Thunderation just reminded me so much of Whizzer for some reason. Thunderation is 15 years old and I think Whizzer is over 30. I love them both. They both surprised the heck out of me so I can't pick. I call it a tie.

I just love all the parks I've been to and the coasters I've ridden. Kudos to SDC and Dollywood!!!!!!