One of the things Dollywood needs most is a solid dark ride. According to one site’s sources, that’s exactly what is coming after a roller coaster.
Recently, Dollywood announced a huge expansion called Big Bear Mountain — a six-acre multi-million dollar roller coaster surrounding Wildwood Grove. Despite the new family attraction and its mammoth size (more than 4,000 feet of track), our editor-in-chief of That Park Place has said before that Dollywood is most in-need of dark rides. Now, it seems that may be on the horizon.
Dollywood is known for its music and its rollercoasters but if you’re looking for dark rides, this is one of the worst theme parks around. The place only has Blazing Fury as a true, indoor dark ride. And to say that ride is dated is an understatement! I recommend that Dollywood invest in two or three new dark rides over the next five years and update majorly the Blazing Fury attraction. When it’s cold, hot, rainy, or snowing outside, all your guests will thank you for it!
— Rick Frazier, That Park Place
According to a site with connections to park management, Dollywood may be looking at a dark ride expansion that would be themed around the concept of fireflies. It’s a fantastic way to go considering how important fireflies (or lighting bugs as they’re sometimes known in Tennessee) are to the Smoky Mountains.
Could Dollywood be planning to highlight the synchronous fireflies that draw so many visitors to the nation’s most visited national park?
We have long believed a dark ride – possibly one based on fireflies – is the final piece to phase II of the Wildwood Grove puzzle. For decades now, Dollywood has been playing catch-up in the roller coaster department. But now the park boasts an impressively deep roster of thrill rides.
Dollywood competes with most of the best amusement parks in the industry. The park, however, has fallen behind somewhat in dark rides – themed rides that take place inside in the dark. Dark rides can be anything from Small World at Disney to the Transformers Ride at Universal.
They are utilitarian and good for families and kids and frequently people of size.
Dark rides are also air-conditioned for hot days and heated on cold days.
They’re a way the park can keep operating even when the weather is bad. I feel a dark ride in Wildwood Grove is almost a sure thing.
— Johh Gullion, TheSmokies.com
Frankly, we’re completely behind this new ride if Dollywood can make it great. Hopefully it’s only the start of a series of dark rides coming to the park in the near future. After all, when you’re Trip Advisor’s top rated theme park in the country, there’s no room to slow down for even a season.
For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below and let us know your thoughts!
