Delirium_Guy Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I was reading a few topics over at Coasterbuzz last week and stumbled upon a Mystery Mine thread. It briefly mentioned that the ride would be open for season pass holders during the Season Pass Preview Days. I had already been considering a Dollywood pass, considering how frequently I head down there. The price was great, $69, so I purchased my pass online. Wednesday night I headed down with a few friends, who also purchased Dollywood passes as well. We knew the Park opened at 10, so we had planned to arrive earlier to get the passes processed. Done and done. We were soon headed back to the Timber Canyon area and getting in line for Mystery Mine. Pictures just do not do this ride justice at all. Its absolutely spectacular. The Park did an outstanding job with the placement. The building itself looks exactly as the animation showed. No details spared. The area is complimented with a custom soundtrack for the ride, in fact the station has its own catchy little tune as well. The queue itself winds its way to the back side of the mine, returns for several switchbacks, then eventually leads to a large set of stairs that take you up to the loading station. The station itself is very well done. Flickering lanterns line the ceilings, mining gear hangs from the walls, even an old timeclock and timecards are present. The station is capable of loading two cars at a time, however today they were only loading one at a time. 5 cars were running on the track at once. Speaking of the cars, much more comfortable than I thought they would be. They are also incredibly easy to board and very roomy. It was at this point that I realized that I didn't know everything this ride was going to do. The Park left out a lot of details about the ride. There was also no complete POV animation. Just bits and pieces. Odd. now I know why. *********************** S P O I L E R S **************************** If you would rather be surpised, I suggest skipping to the end. We boarded the car in the back row for the first ride. After an all clear, we were dispatched. Without warning, the car takes a quick and STEEP dip IMMEDIATELY out of the station.....plunging you down into the mine itself. A quick brake brings the car to a slow crawl and begins an very unexpected dark ride portion. Its just wierd. The track banks in odd directions, you dump to the side of your seat as the car meanders around a few curves in the cave. You soon start to pick up speed a bit and round a curve where you encounter The Crusher from the animations. It looms over head, meanwhile the room is filled with mist and glowing red lights. The car once again takes a quick and steep dip and once again hits a brake before rounding another curve. At this point, you stop. You are staring ahead and the first lift hill, which takes you outside the mine. To the left a large set of gears sit silent with two crows that are sitting on the lever to switch them on. As you would predict, the lever moves to the on position and the chain starts to slowly turn. The car is advanced forward and you begin your vertical lift from the mine. This is really just the strangest sensation as you are just laying on your back and facing straight up to the sky. This first lift is relatively short. You are soon outside the mine and traversing across The Tressel. Its a few short dips and quick turns across the top of it before you encounter a blocking area. Then, without warning, BAM. The car takes its first vertical plunge off the side of the tressel itself. Its a short drop, honestly not more than 30 feet if that.....but darn is it EVIL. We rode 10 times that day and everytime it was just as unsettling as the first :-) A near vertical hairpin turn is next followed by a quick turn up into the block brake. Without slowing much, the train traverses a quick helix before dropping back underneath the tressel above. The most unique thing about this section is that most of it hugs the terrain....its been carved specifically for this ride. A quick bunny hops takes place underneath the tressel followed by a few quick turns from side to side. At this point the car re-enters the mine for the final sequence. The car is brought to a stop. Its dark. You see flashes of light from above that illuminate a very ominous lift hill. Again, the chain slowly starts to turn before kicking into full speed as the car is advanced forward. Once again on your back and climbing vertically out of the mine, a large projection screen is above you. Its meant to show the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, its your way out. However, you see lightning strike the top of the mine and the roof then collapses on top of you. The lights go out. It is completely dark as you crest the top of the lift. At this point, I was expecting the big drop.....but we stopped. A string of red, fiber optic lights chase along what you find out to be a fuse. They meet in the middle and the entire room lights up and you see that its fillwed with explosives. Suddenly a HUGE explosion takes place with a large ball of fire that erupts unbelievably close to you. Then you drop. Just like the other Eurofighters, this was the trademark 95 degree drop. darn was it good. For only 85 feet, it packs a hell of a bunch. Air time in abundance. the train rips its way out of the mine and heads into what may possibly be my favorite element ever. You fly through a barrel roll, very smoothly may i add, then roll over again and are hung upside down for a few seconds before dropping out and hitting the brakes. Holy cow does Dollywood have a hit on their hands. I can't even begin to explain how taken back I was with this ride. It was full of surprises and was just a BLAST. It was a sad reminder of what Italian Job should have been. No details were left out. It was very well planned and thought out. The story is easily followed and flows very well. I'm so impressed with it. They really did a bang up job on it. It honestly looks like it was transported from a disney park. yes, its THAT good. The ride is a blast, too. The beyond vertical drops were way more effective than I thought, which gives me high hopes for Maverick at CP. The ride itself was glass smooth and the OTSRs were very comfortable with no head banging to be found. Its going to be a huge hit this season. Like I said, we got about 10 rides in on it. Later in the day, the wait was less than 5 minutes, so life was good :-) The front row is the best place to seat. Wouldn't think that in a car with two rows that being up one row would make a difference in the ride experience.....but it does. A few other highlights from the day........ * 8 rides on Thunderhead. She's FLYING this season. Never had rides on it like I did on Thursday. Its non-stop from the lift to the brakes.....and still smooth as glass. * Tennessee Tornado was down * Park was gorgeous as usual and ran without a hitch.....impressive since it was a preview day. * I highly recommend Mystery Mine first, its gonna pull the lines. I'm putting up some of my pics tomrrow and will post a link once they are up. - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikewhy Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Thanks for the great trip report! I love Dollywood and really can not wait to ride this. I agree with your comments about Italian Job by the way. I love IJST, but it sounds like the Mystery Mine ride is truly amazing in quality and excitement. I look forward to my Dollywood visit this summer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Thanks for the great trip report! I love Dollywood and really can not wait to ride this. I agree with your comments about Italian Job by the way. I love IJST, but it sounds like the Mystery Mine ride is truly amazing in quality and excitement. I look forward to my Dollywood visit this summer! Its really amazing at how the park has developed. It very much reminds me of Holiday World. They are definitely doing things right down there. You will enjoy Mystery Mine tremedously, its just a total blast! - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubaman Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 It's great to hear that the ride is awesome. Do you have any pictures of the themeing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 It's great to hear that the ride is awesome. Do you have any pictures of the themeing? I am going to try to put some if my pics online tonight, but in the mean time a short video has appeared on YouTube. The music that plays in the first part of the video is the actual sound track for the ride area and queue. Seriously, can't express enough how FUN this ride actually is. The theming absolutely blew away what I was expecting. Hands down one of the best themed attractions outside of Disney....even giving Curse of DarKastle a run for its money. Here is the link to the video - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Now THAT, says volumes...best outside of Disney. I will certainly check it out this summer! 400th post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Now THAT, says volumes...best outside of Disney. I will certainly check it out this summer! 400th post Well Disney did help make the ride at Dollywood. To think we could have that sitting where IJSC is at right now. Wow did Paramount Parks drop the ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Butcher Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Well Disney did help make the ride at Dollywood. To think we could have that sitting where IJSC is at right now. IJSC?? Italian Job: Stunt Crap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubaman Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Wow, that looks amazing. It also appears to be going faster than I would expect to see it go in teh video. I hope I make it to dollywood withing the next couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium_Guy Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Wow, that looks amazing. It also appears to be going faster than I would expect to see it go in teh video. I hope I make it to dollywood withing the next couple of years. The ride's pacing is very bizarre. After cresting the first vertical lift, its quick dips and tight turns kinda like a mouse. It lulls you into a sense that its somewhat gentle.....then the first vertical drop occurs. darn. As I said in my trip report, we rode 10 times and everytime that drop STILL took us by surprise. Its potent :-) The tight turns are taken quickly, then the car slows, then picks up quickly, then slows. The ending actually surprised me with the intensity.....especially the amount of hang time during the last inversion. I'm planning on another trip down very soon, perhaps on its Grand Opening. Anyone who wants to tag along, feel free to hit me up, LOL, we are always looking to expand our traveling entourage :-) And yes, best outside of Disney. Gotta love that music! - Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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