Cory Butcher

As Robbie said the shows at Dollywood were truly amazing! They had about 5 more offerings of Christmas shows, but we passed them up in favor of enjoying the atmosphere, riding some rides, and seeing the shows we were sure we would like. We passed up mainly the shows that were 20 minutes long, however If you like Gospel Christmas songs The Kingdom Heirs had a 45 minute show that looked packed as all of the rest! Every show had a packed house. One of the coolest things about Dollywood is their coal steam train, which rumbles through the mountain pass above the Village at Dollywood. The train took a 5 mile journey through the hills above, and the forrest and cliffs were breathtaking even at night! I have always been a little fascinated with cars and Trains. Both engines that Dollywood uses are 2-8-2 Baldwin Steam Locamotives. The two engines at Dollywood are "Klondike Katie" number 192 (as seen above) and number 70 coined "Cinder-Ella". Both engines served in the US Army in Alaska and were used on the White Pass Railroad during WWII to haul troops and supplies. Every day it is estimated that they burn 5 tons of coal and use about 5000 gallons of water. Dollywood provides a great look into the heart of Appalachia, the people, the craftsmanship and the humble nature of the older men and women who help run the show! If you have not been to Dollywood be sure to try and get down there soon, if not for the rides, to experience this treasure of a park, you will not regret it, the coasters are right fine, the service is top notch and the hospitality is genuine!

why should he be? That Canadian currency converts into nickles well enough!

If I really needed to attend a Holiday Celebration, I would try to do what I could to make the 6ish hour trip to Gatlinburg and Dollywood for "Christmas in the Smokies"! Must see shows and lights abound! But for closeness Columbus Zoo puts on an absolutely grand display of lights! And of course the children love the animals.

I was always told that if I didn't have anything special to add to a conversation then not to add anything at all! Cory, Trying to stay nice, but the whole "Trying to avoid a one word post" shtick is getting really old. For all intents and purposes you are creating one word posts and getting by on mere technicalities, and that, is getting even older. Railrider, your last statement in your post just made me LOL.

Just felt like venting a little eh? lol

The smoothest Coaster, I have ever, ever ridden! Mind Bender is great! Mine actually was Mystery Mine at Dollywood and Thunderhead. Mystery Mine was a large let-down, and Thunderhead was amazing, it just flat out attacks you! Now, I am looking forward to Voyage and Fahrenheit.

aw what ever happened to free-market? I was looking to make a buck Ha, just kidding!

Very true! Dollywood is great, I got to go with Robbie (CoastersRZ) this past Sunday and Monday. I hadn't been in a while, but they still have a truly beautiful park with great shows and even some good rides. A treasure of Appalachia to be sure! And coaster credit x4! Thunderhead is just awesome! My season pass will certainly get some use!

I had a great encounter with a snake this year...remember that Windshawne?

Just bought my ticket...I will be there... Boddah1994 gigacoaster2k Gordon Bombay Mr. 3000 beastfan26 flightoffear4thtrain Raptor66 CoastersRZ violakat03 cincyboy79 Brian5475E +3 Mabye skaterboy22101 Longlivethesmurfride Cory Butcher

Ha, and you all think that Flight Deck needs painted...

And it wasn't just "A little off the top!" Cory, who HAD to follow up

Sounds like a cash grab. Haha, I am just playing of course, these events are awesome and I will certainly be there myself! Hope to see you all there!

The park has since removed any evidence pointing to April 17th as a pass holder preview day on the visit Kings Island website....

Actually the layout around a center, is thought to be more organized and easier to navigate for park guests. I personally hope that Kings Island continues the hub-spoke design as they expand in the future. And, really, Diamondback is very much off of the Rivertown spoke.

^Now if only you insist that the person you give a ride to cut their hair, and show up in a white panel van with no windows! cough....Avatar...cough, haha

AHAHAHA, I just fell off of my chair, no joke!! Kind of like a bridge troll? lmao (usually when you say no offense, there at least is some) Interpreter is certainly no bridge troll.

Yeah but barriers to entry are tough. The Amusement Park Industry, is very much an oligopoly.

Hang around enough, and it will just come to you...

It's a classic. Often classics do not mean as much to consumers as they have offered to history. We here, know that all too well. Although I have never ridden the Big Dipper, and will not pass judgment on it, Many people who I know say it was really not that fun of a ride, so I didn't include it.

Easy now, I should have stated who I felt "total disarray" was referring to. What I was referring to is the idea of the people who created Hard Rock Park, those who tried to operate it, and now the process to give the park to a new buyer falling through. Up until the newest court preceding, The whole instances surrounding Hard Rock Park exhibited a lack of order. The whole story behind Hard Rock Park was a mangled, orderless mess. So yes, I would say that aside from your court preceding the whole thing has been in disarray, and Bankruptcies typically are messy for everyone involved. Not to mention, supposedly many people who thought about evaluating a decision on whether or not to buy Hard Rock Park filed complaints saying they were not given adequate time to make a decision, a decision that very well could have given the creditors more of what they were due than an all out liquidation. Or it could have yielded less. A lot remains to be seen, lets just hope that the court doesn't put together the same type of executive board that was put together multiple times to salvage Conneaut Lake Park. Obligation does not always match up with Duty. Let's hope it does here.

Wow, total disarray. It sounds like they will keep the park intact if it is too expensive to remove the rides than to leave them sit. Obviously PARC is interested they just don't have the funds is how it sounds.

The markets that you mentioned have deteriorated heavily in recent years. Also as was said by Railrider the park was too large, worse than that I have heard many complain that even with a good number of roller coasters, only two were really good, Dominator and X-flight. Two really good rides doesn't get you much play unless you do everything right (Dollywood) or have one of the truly greatest rides and do many things right (Holiday World). They could have very well competed with Cedar Point, It would just take way to many resources, so in essence, it couldn't. Had the animals been kept things may have been better, if only slightly! Kentucky Kingdom has a similar issue, They have a solid number of coasters, no more than a typical Busch Gardens park, but they aren't the same quality, nor is the service as I have heard the same quality. Sometimes, the markets matter the least. Read: Walt Disney World (1971).

If the school doesn't mind pulling kids out for something like sports, what's so different about riding Diamondback? Sports teach life lessons, how to suceed, how to fail, how to embrace competition, how to push yourself to the brink, how to build teamwork. How to recognize something bigger than yourself. Sports teach you oh so many more things than riding Diamondback ever will.

Ohio just got a new governor not to long ago. Things take a while to change.