We visited Dollywood in Tennessee on June 15. Dolly Parton’s theme park is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and features rides and shows along with traditional crafts and even a Dolly Parton Museum. Here's our review of the day:

We didn't ride Lightning Rod until the afternoon as technical problems kept the ride closed all morning, but when we did, the world's first launched wooden roller coaster didn't disappoint. It is also the world's fastest wooden roller coaster, reaching a whopping 73mph, and really felt it. With nearly all of the ride located in the hills beyond the park, riders wait with anticipation as each train themed as a hot rod car zooms off into the distance only to return a short time after at incredible speed into the final huge overbanked turn. The highlight of the ride, which majors on intense tight turns and steep drops is an exciting quadruple-down. The ride's entrance, queue, station are all really well done, sitting perfectly in the 50s themed Jukebox Junction area.

Our first ride of the day was the dark ride / indoor roller coaster Blazing Fury, it's a classic ride from the pre-Dollywood days in 1978, and whilst the sets certainly look their age and not all the original elements are now there, it's still a fun experience and the roller coaster elements are quite thrilling.

Wild Eagle is a 135ft B&M wing coaster, the first in the US, that's cleverly built atop a hill above the park giving it added height and keeping much of the layout a unknown to riders before the ride. Not our favorite wing coaster but it's a solid ride with some enjoyable inversions and the Eagle themed trains do look brilliant.

The huge Mystery Mine looms over Timber Canyon, an unusual indoor and outdoor roller coaster themed around haunted mine, which features various sets and special effects. There is a lot to take in during this frantic ride, the indoor sections are really effective with a few scares but the outdoor sections are quite rough.

The family-friendly launched coaster FireChaser Express was again impressively themed, launching riders out of a fire station to respond to an emergency at a fireworks factory. It's a long ride with multiple sections including a backwards part, and there are special effects too, so it's a great ride for families.

Thunderhead is the park's traditional wooden roller coaster, with an impressive 22 turns and 32 crossovers making it one of the best in the world. Thanks to the articulated and cushioned trains it delivers a smoother ride than most.

Not to be missed, the Dollywood Express offers a lovely 5 mile train ride with views across the park and of the Great Smoky Mountains, pulled by a genuine 1930s steam locomotive.

During our visit we also rode classic looping coaster Tennessee Tornado, charming log fume Daredevil Falls and thrill ride Barnstormer which is by far the best themed Screamin' Swing ride we've seen.

There are a huge array of live shows at Dollywood, with no less than 8 theaters on site a choice of 11 performances on the date of our visit, and we enjoyed the live illusionist show Brad Ross' Unbelievable. There was however a long gap with no entertainment in the late afternoon until the fireworks at the end of the night, so with all the riding done and many of the shops and eateries closing the majority of guests were leaving before the fireworks display.

What's so wonderful about Dollywood is the beautiful setting and the special features like the Chasing Rainbows Museum, the replica of Dolly Parton's childhood home, Dolly's Home on Wheels, the Craftsman's Valley with blacksmith, foundry, pottery, glassworks, water mill and and even a chapel!


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