One of my favorite things about the theme park season is all of the speculation for the next theme park season’s roller coasters. Sure I enjoy trying out this year’s latest and greatest, but there’s just something exciting about the unknown and Dollywood’s 2012 roller coaster is a perfect example.
I’d seen notes from ScreamScape about some land clearing for a while, but I hadn’t come across anything that had said “roller coaster” until recently. If you’ve been following this closer feel free to fill me in on the latest in the comments section.
In true coaster enthusiast detective fashion coaster fan SmarterThanNot encountered a truck hauling, you know the typical payload, B&M track(!). She asked the truck driver where he was headed. He said he was taking the track to Dollywood.
From reading through the message boards on ThemeParkReview, more dark blue track and tan colored supports have been spotted at Dollywood. So, at this point it appears to be clear that Dollywood is not only getting a roller coaster, but a B&M roller coaster.
The park has dropped a few hints via an interview last month. In a ThrillNetwork article, Dollywood’s Pete Owens confirms that the park will announce the name of the 2012 ride at the Knoxville Boomsday event on September 4th. More specifically he shared that the name will be announced: “in the sky over Knoxville.” He also stated that the ride will be a: “first for the United States” and “one element should set a world record.” Aside from these nuggets we also have the teaser message on a wall surrounding the construction area that reads: “The Sky Is Not the Limit.”
Could Dollywood Be Getting a B&M Wing Walker Coaster?
With these hints, signs would appear to point to a B&M wing coaster or wing walker like Gardaland’s 2011 ride, Raptor. Clearly, we’ve seen B&M’s other designs in the U.S. already. But just in case, Mr. Owens meant an element of the ride would be the first in the U.S. this could be some other type of B&M coaster. If we find out that Dollywood’s new roller coaster will be a terrain hyper (like Apollo’s Chariot) then it will probably be my pick for most anticipated 2012 coaster. Of course, we still don’t know exactly what Hersheypark’s getting, but I’m a sucker for terrain coasters and Dollywood’s only about 4 hours away from me.
UPDATE – Dollywood has announced Wild Eagle for 2012. As the rumors suggested, it will be a wing coaster. Wild Eagle will the park’s largest single ride investment with a price tag of $20 million. Read more: Dollywood’s Wild Eagle Wing Roller Coaster to Soar in 2012
August 16, 2011 at 12:26
They are building a new coaster AND a sky lift to take you to the top of the hill to get onto the coaster next to the slidewinder. A little bird told me!
August 19, 2011 at 21:00
I think its hilarious that noone has caught on in the past few years. I worked for the park from 2005-2009 and it was already in the plans then, it is going to be a wing coaster, just like the one in switzerland, but thats all we know, but thats why theyve had cheap, but fun rides the past few years, this rides taking a chunk out of an already hurting budget. Lets just say dont think this is the last coaster in the future either…
August 19, 2011 at 23:51
Stop it, you guys! All of these creative and imaginative speculations now have me drooling. I'm willing to bet that, knowing Dollywood, whatever it turns out to be it's going to be fun and unusaual!
August 20, 2011 at 11:07
All that I can say, I CANT wait until they have the big anouncement at boomsday. Look at this page—-> http://www.dollywood2012.com <———- for the OFFICIAL webpage of the new ride. Take some clues from the photo on there. I would guess that they will make this site a construction photos site when the big anouncement has been freed on September 4 at the Boomsday event in Knoxville, TN!!!
August 21, 2011 at 23:31
x raptor italy youtube it
August 28, 2011 at 09:11
Hm…it wont be a giga or even a hyper im almost positive. They said it wuold have inversions. My guess is that it will be a terrain wing rider style coaster with some crazy inversion (or maybe more than 10
) Either way this is a GOOD look for Dollywood. Ive been there all its roller coasters are great fun. Cant wait to head back some day!
August 29, 2011 at 09:36
i've heard that six flags great america is getting a B&M WingRider
September 2, 2011 at 13:00
Well, The main photo is up, and it is definitely a wing rider. the picture is blurred, but you can tell. only 2 more days until the big anouncement!!!
September 4, 2011 at 11:05
It's a wing rider, but what could be the element that breaks a world record?
Largest vertical loop, 200 Ft?
September 4, 2011 at 19:31
Dolly also stated this will be the biggest coaster park has ever had. Name does hint as a wingrider. Possible design speculations. Coaster could actually go under train tracks. Since the parks trains are coal fired, I doubt it would go over them due to smoke. Still, maybe it will loop the train tracks.
90 degree drop on a wingrider.
Still think a launch coaster or non-chain lift is possible.
As far a land area is concerned, I have talked to some of the old timers there. The park has plenty of land that they still haven't touched.
September 4, 2011 at 21:34
It will be called…. Wild Eagle!
September 4, 2011 at 21:49
Just announced at Boomsday.. the name of the ride will be called “Wild Eagle”.
September 4, 2011 at 19:10
Thanks Scott. I just finished putting a post up here: Dollywood's Wild Eagle to Soar in 2012
December 17, 2011 at 09:15
I'm ready for this right now!!!!!!!!!!!!