I almost Fell Over when I herd this.

The Vice President and General Manager, Barbara Joines has announced her retirement at the end of the 2011 season with the theme park. She will keep her title with Emeritus for this season; the company has promoted Craig Ross to the position. He was the Vice President of Retail within the Herschend Family Entertainment Company.

Source http://www.thrillnetwork.com/news/4215/dollywood-vpgm-retires-replacement-announced.html

It should be noted that Craig Ross is a former General Manager from Kings Island. He was one several executives that "left" once Cedar Fair took control of the parks, although I believe Mr. Ross actually was around a little bit longer than most of the former Paramount people.

Yes He was around for a bit longer. He was around for the 2007 season.

And notice how important overlap is to Herschend...they actually value experience and diversity of experiences...Mr. Ross did NOT spend his entire career with Herschend. He has been there less than four years. Yet he is the new GM, and he gets to spend this season with Ms. Jones this year, who will be available as mentor/assistant/advisor. How differently that company is run than some in this industry. Why, even Jane Cooper, who was once Chairman and CEO of Paramount Parks is also on staff as an advisor/consultant/leader/pontificator, and she is valued and listened to. At Herschend, the CEO does not dictate. Rather, diversity of experiences and opinions are treasured, not merely tolerated (and sometimes not even that, right Jack?).

Congratulations are in order to a fine man, too. They don't come much smarter, nicer, abler or more appropriate for this position than Craig Ross. Given my life's circumstances, I wasn't sure I was going to renew my Dollywood pass this year. Now I know I MUST. And I will. I also bet they let me in!

Hey ur nickels will be used for a better cause at Dollywood Terp Just sayin........ I wonder what Mr. Webber thinks of this news . I wonder if he still drives his BMW.

I still think one of the best things that can be said of Al Weber, Jr. is that he is a fisher of tim...and I am surprised he hasn't done that again....yet.

I've heard rumblings from a few different sources that 2012 especially will be a good year to have a Dollywood pass. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

I've heard rumblings from a few different sources that 2012 especially will be a good year to have a Dollywood pass. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

So will Kings Island and Maple Grove. Its called a Platinum Pass .

I've heard rumblings from a few different sources that 2012 especially will be a good year to have a Dollywood pass. Hopefully that will continue to be the case.

So will Kings Island and Maple Grove. Its called a Platinum Pass .

You assume:

a. there will be such a thing as a Platinum Pass in 2012.

b. Such a pass will entitle the holder to admission at both Maple Grove and Kings Island, which

c. You assume will still be under common ownership.

January 3, 2012 and/or January 24, 2011 and/or some day(s) in between....put another way, a lot could change between now and the opening of Ohio seasonal parks for the 2012 season.

Terp, just sayin'

you have a POINT Terp.

Kind of like assuming your Six Flags pass season parking pass will be good at another park in, say, Georgia...if it was purchased in NJ. Supposedly not, and supposedly more details are forthcoming (Platinum Parking Passes?)