Dollywood 05/27/2004 - Thunderhead!

**Wes** · #1 05-28-2004, 03:13 PM

I missed the ACE event at Dollywood this year, so I had to wait until later to ride Thunderhead.

I left Charlotte around 6:00 am and headed for Pigeon Forge, TN and my first ride on Thunderhead!

After checking into my hotel, I headed over the park and arrived about 11:00.

The park was closing at 6:00pm, so I thought I’d head over to Thunderhead first just in case it was really crowded that day.

I arrived at the que for Thunderhead to find a line all the way out of the que and spilling all the way back to the “bubble game”. I thought, oh no. This is a bad sign.

But surprisingly the line moved very fast, and I was on the ride in like 30 minutes.

Before I continue, I’d like to say I hope Dollywood puts some type of covering over the que line; otherwise people are going to bake in the Sun!!!

Ok back to the ride…I got to the station and I ended up getting on the 2nd row.

After we got the “all clear” (one of the ops is hilarious, he’s always saying “Let’s get it done ladies!”) You roll out to your right, out of the station, into a quick little helix and then head up the lift.

The lift is very quick, and you’re at the top in no time.

As we were cresting over the top, I was like where in the world is the track at??? Or at least it looks that way.

The track drops what seems like a vertical drop, and twists to the right, and you’re gone!

I have to say honestly, this coaster is the most consistently fast coaster I can ever remember riding!!! You are flying the whole time! the only exception may be MF.

After several drops and turns, you head over by the station, then a fan turn, going right into the station for the fly-through! That thing is LOUD!!! Especially when you are waiting to board below it!

After the fly-through you start to get lower and lower to the ground as you twist and turn through the structure of the ride even more.

The really cool thing is that when they designed this ride, they used gravity to the max! You will notice after the fly-through that you get closer and closer to the ground, and keep up your speed or even accelerate your speed!

I loved the millennium flyer trains as well. I’ve heard negative things about these, but I love them!

The ride is very smooth, much more than I expected. Dollywood has made an awesome installment with Thunderhead!!!

Unfortunately, the coaster is built almost totally behind the station, so there was no way to get pictures of it. Just go ride it!

I have a new #2 wooden coaster now! (#1 is The Beast).

5 star coaster all the way!

Next I headed to the back of the park and rode Tennessee Tornado. I don’t know if I just have a short memory (very likely) or what, but it seems to beat you up more than it did in 2002. Maybe I just didn’t remember. lol

I also rode the following rides over the course of the day: rapids ride, Dollywood train, Blazing Fury, oh and 10 rides on Thunderhead! I think that’s all I rode, I can’t remember much after driving back. lol

This was my 2nd trip to Dollywood, and I had another great time at the park. If you’ve never been to Dollywood I highly recommend it.

Be advised though, this is a very hilly park, so bring some comfortable shoes!

Carowinds 73-03 · #2 05-28-2004, 03:24 PM

30 min wait and the line was spilling out. How long is the line like 50ft? How many trains do they have 2 or 3?

WildMouse · #3 05-28-2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgwfreak

I arrived at the que for Thunderhead to find a line all the way out of the que and spilling all the way back to the “bubble game”. I thought, oh no. This is a bad sign.

But surprisingly the line moved very fast, and I was on the ride in like 30 minutes.

I was there last Saturday and Sunday. We arrived around 4pm Sat. and thought we'd be smart and start with Tennessee Tornado, Slidewinder, etc., and work our way to Thunderhead. Kind of a "build up the anticipation" strategy.

Well, around 6pm lightning started flashing. Needless to say, all rides were closed and remained closed the rest of the day. No TH rides for Sat. No problem, we would be back first thing Sunday morning at 9:45am. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as we hit the turnstile going in to the park, LIGHTNING & THUNDER again! The storm eventually passed and Thunderhead opened around noon. When we left the hotel, it was clear. Funny how fast the storms crop up.

When we got to Thunderhead Gap, the line was not only out the queing area, it was wrapped all the way around to the bathrooms. That is practically the entire circumference of that area.

Surprisingly though, we were in the back seat in 40 minutes. The crew works very hard and efficient to get people in and out in a safe manner. Very impressive I may add. With each ride, the line got shorter and shorter and eventually, you could walk all the way to the stairs that lead up to the station.

Moral of the story is: If the skies are clear when you get to Dollywood, you better go straight to Thunderhead. These mountain storms crop up in no time, especially in the Spring & Summer.

Thunderhead is an awesome ride. I have a season pass and plan on going many more times this year.

Carowinds 73-03 · #4 05-28-2004, 03:40 PM

I can't wait. This coaster sounds way to awsome.

**Wes** · #5 05-28-2004, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carowinds 73-03

30 min wait and the line was spilling out. How long is the line like 50ft? How many trains do they have 2 or 3?

The que is not very long. Just one section where it goes back and forth, then you head of the stairs to the loading station.

2 trains only. But they work really fast, and the line is quick.

Carowinds 73-03 · #6 05-28-2004, 03:45 PM

I wonder why they diden't build the que long. Not enough room? Man i can't wait until july. I might have to plan an earlier trip but i doubt it. July is pretty concrete now.

**Wes** · #7 05-28-2004, 04:00 PM

Oh they have plenty of room up there, they could have done it if they wanted to.

The only thing I can think of, is they built that huge que for Tenn. Tornado, and now it's not even used.

Maybe they are just looking a few years down the road and not wanting to waste a bunch of space/money.

Carowinds 73-03 · #8 05-28-2004, 05:13 PM

That makes sence. The park is not that popular to be building outragous que's.

WildMouse · #9 05-28-2004, 09:45 PM

I usually take rumors with a grain of salt but I'll tell ya what Walt told me. Walt is the senior Thunderhead operator. Anyway, I got to know him pretty good last weekend while we were standing around waiting for the storm to pass. He said, and mind you, he admitted it was a rumor, he said that the park was planning to extend Thunderhead for the 2005 or 2006 season. I couldn't help but laugh but anyone that's ridden it, knows that when it hits the brakes at 40mph, it still has plenty of speed to spare.

tntornadox · #10 05-28-2004, 10:18 PM

So does Tennessee Tornado....But since Arrow is gone-almost all chances of it being extended is zero.

I dont see how they could extend TH with it being as tight as it is already, unless they go through the lift hill at the brakes and up that hill. Im hoping they do this...but if this happens the B&M coaster will be shoved back even MORE....(it's already 3 years late)...

Carowinds 73-03 · #11 05-29-2004, 01:54 AM

Now there's a rumor about extending TH. Is the ride not long enough?

**Wes** · #12 05-29-2004, 05:39 AM

The ride is fine, but it would be nice to be even longer. I can't remember this being done to a woody ever.

Plus, it wouldn't make any sense to me. You'd have to wait till next year at the soonest, and by then all the buzz has worn off of the coaster being new. I don't think 1000 feet of extra track are really going to bring in that many more people.

The length is 3230ft according to rcdb.com It's got plenty of speed to spare at the end of the ride, but I doubt they will extend it.

Carowinds 73-03 · #13 05-29-2004, 09:30 AM

Just wondering because i know of a park extending a wooden coaster. Well not really extending the ride but changing the ending. I hate to bring up Carowinds here but i have to because Scooby-Doo was the coaster they changed the ending. I know SD is a much smaller coaster so it might not have been that big of a deal. I don't know.

Dukeis#1 · #14 05-29-2004, 10:43 AM

It would be interesting, but I doubt they'd extend the ride because of the terrain of that area. I agree with Tntornadox, it would be a nightmare to try to get construction equipment back in there. I'm sure that if Dollywood wanted a longer coaster, they would have had GCI redesign the ride before it was built.

I'm glad you had a great time Bgwfreak! I've heard the RideOp your talking about as well. He kept saying "Get'er Done" over the PA system. The Thunderhead crew as a whole is very friendly. (and funny!)

Sorry the bad weather messed with your trip WildMouse. Dollywood has a very strict lightning policy compared to other parks, guess it's because of Mountain weather.

Wishing Carowinds 73-03 a great trip on July 17th!

NYnehalem · #15 06-12-2004, 12:29 AM

Im going to dollywood as soon as possible, I actually have a weird thing for dolly anyway, but this coaster makes it not just a guilty pleasure but a must see. Im really excited.