Soaring Like an Eagle at Dollywood

When you live in Tennessee, you just have to go to Dollywood.  So we did, for three days in a row.  We're pretty spoiled by Disneyland, where we spent lots of time as kids and teens before we knew each other, and then later as a couple.  But, we enjoyed Dollywood, and it definitely has its own charm and character. 

Most of the big rides are roller coaster rides.  I'm not a big fan of roller coasters and amusement parks in general.  I'm especially terrified after my hand therapist told me many horror stories, the worst being the one about the young woman who had both of her feet severed by a malfunctioning ride in Kentucky.  True story.

Anyway, I made myself go on most of them for research sake.  Howard and his brother are working on a game app and we were collecting data on the rides.  Above is a shot of the Thunderhead roller coaster.  It's very rickety and throws you all around at speeds of up to 55 mph.  I really didn't like this one.  But I like this shot because it gives you a feel for how picturesque Dollywood is, nestled in the Smoky Mountains.  There are lots of wooded shady areas throughout the entire park.

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We were pretty close to getting on the Tennessee Tornado after about a 30-minute wait, when they informed us that the ride was closed due to lightning in the area.  I think it was a tender mercy.  I later learned that this thing goes up to 70 mph with a 128-foot drop and that it throws you all over the place.  After learning that, this ride went on my 'um, no thanks' list.

The Mystery Mine was my first-ever upside-down roller coaster ride.  I told you, I don't really like roller coasters.  But, I gathered up my courage and went for it.  It wasn't too bad.  It looks more upside down than it feels.  We even went on it twice - better for data gathering.

Here I am celebrating a successful landing after riding the Wild Eagle.  My heart was racing and my palms were sweating while waiting in the line for this 61-mph ride with four inversions.  It added to my stress that you have to store all your loose items, including shoes that might fly off during the ride.

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The very cool 'trains' are eagles and you get to sit on their wings.  Notice the dangling feet.  The worst part for me on this ride, and all rides like this, is the first drop after you climb slowly to the top of the sky!

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I can't believe that the very cautious, chicken-me rode this ride.  Twice.  You wouldn't have recognized me in line the second time.  I was telling all the petrified crying children (who were being forced by their parents to ride it so they could conquer their fears) that it wasn't so bad, that it was actually fun. 

Here's our failed attempt at making it look like I'm dangling from the claws of this very cool metal eagle sculpture near the Wild Eagle ride.

One of the calmer and more relaxing rides of the three days was the steam engine train ride up into the nearby Smoky Mountains.

Okay, it was relaxing for us, but not for our fireman.  He was shoveling coal during the entire 20-minute ride.  Of course I had to ask him important questions like:

1. How much coal does it take for one trip? (200 pounds)
2. Who does your laundry? (He does, but he has a second washer for coal-covered clothes only.)

There's a lot of focus on food at Dollywood, but we didn't eat there very often.  It's not very tempting to eat a big meal before riding a bunch of vomit-inducing rides.  They serve up 12-pound 30" pizzas and 25-pound apple pies.  If you don't feel like eating the whole pie, you can buy a single slice that weighs only a little over 3 pounds!  

They have a bakery in an old mill where they grind their own grain and sell delicious smelling cinnamon rolls.  I'm proud to say that although we were tempted, we even passed those up.

There are also a lot of shows, similar to Branson, MO.  We went to a few of them.  We saw the Kingdom Heirs, a southern gospel quartet.  It wasn't the kind of gospel music we were hoping for, but we enjoyed it and we heard the lowest bass we've ever heard in our lives.  Howard said his lowest note was lower than the lowest note on a piano.  Now that is stinkin' low!

The quartet has changed over the years, but these are the four guys we heard.  Listen for the jaw-dropping low notes of the bass on the right.  Make sure you hear the last chord.  Remarkable!