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
June 17, 2011 at 23:01
This is exciting especially since I didn't even know about it. Looks like next years trip planning is taking care of itself. Dollywood, Hersheypark and BGE for some new coasters.
June 18, 2011 at 00:48
Great tease, man! A B&M at Dollywood? A wing coaster sounds great, but the thought of a terrain hyper is just as exciting. Apollo's Chariot is a phenomenal ride, and I can never figure if I like it or Nitro better. I love the speed as well as the smooth, graceful hills and turns of both. But another wing coaster here in the U.S.? And relatively nearby? Awesome!
Either way, any B&M coaster would be an incredible addition to Dollywood's repetoire.
June 18, 2011 at 02:38
What about a B&M Giga/Strata Coaster? We know that this things going to be tall, so maybe It'll be a Launching B&M strata. A normal B&M Giga coaster would be awsome as well, though I don't know how it would break any records other than "Tallest B&M", and I don't think that would atttract much attention from the General Public.
June 18, 2011 at 22:58
I don't think that will happen. B&M doesn't do launches, and they haven't done anything over 240 feet.
June 19, 2011 at 05:22
"The sky is not the limit."
It's going to be tall. I was just throwing around some Ideas, but I think a B&M Giga is actualy probable.
August 25, 2011 at 07:34
well there is a 300 plus Beemer in canada's wonderland coming in 2012 dolly might be getting the same thing. Quotes like “The Sky Is Not the Limit.” and “first for the United States” it's screaming giga coaster
June 18, 2011 at 14:09
I want to see another B&M launched coaster, being there only one in the world.
June 19, 2011 at 23:03
what's it called?
June 21, 2011 at 13:16
The Incredibe Hulk at Universal's Islands of Adventure
June 23, 2011 at 12:03
holy crap, forgot about that
June 18, 2011 at 16:33
It is a B&M Wing Walker. I talked to one of the employees at the park and she said it's a type of coaster that only has one of it's type in the world and she said it's in Italy. And when I asked her if it was Raptor she replied yes. She mentioned some names in the running were Soarin' Eagle and Eagle's Flight. She also mentioned it was going to be the tallest and fastest coaster at Dollywood and will have inversions and fly along the side of the hill.
June 19, 2011 at 05:33
I'm not sure if that's true, but if it is, I think that would be prettey awsome.
June 19, 2011 at 17:23
Well it was an older employee and she might not have known any better, but there is nothing to say otherwise so far. She also mentioned you would be sitting in barrel shaped seats on the side of the track instead on top of the track. I do have to say that I don't think they are going to try to keep it as big of a secret as say Hersheypark since they do have track lying everywhere in the park.
June 19, 2011 at 06:48
You'll have to forgive me if I don't entirely believe you. I highly doubt that Dollywood lets their employees reveal their secret plans to park guests. A wingrider isn't a bad guess though.
August 1, 2011 at 05:45
One of the employees I talked to said that he could reveal any of the little that he knew. The employees don't know much about it either.
August 19, 2011 at 21:06
the only employees that do are the ones building it, thank god for some of them having big mouths, but they have been threatened with losing their jobs over giving details before the sept 4th reveal
June 19, 2011 at 09:41
I think a wing walker is a pretty safe bet with all the clues so far, but any B&M showing up at Dollywood and I'm there. I can't think of a U.S. park that could do this type of ride better, though I don't want to get my expectations TOO high.
June 19, 2011 at 11:04
The world record element might be biggest loop. That's all i can think of because when i think of coaster records, i think intamin. Intamin has tallest, fastest, most inversions, and more. B&M doesn't usually go for records.
June 19, 2011 at 11:53
I don't think it'll be "most inversions" as he says "one element should break a world record"
I keep thinking about a tallest inversion. This rollercoaster could be a dive rollercoaster, and it could be "The longest vertical drop on a dive coaster"
June 19, 2011 at 23:05
ever thought the world record will be the fact that it will be the first of it's kind?
June 23, 2011 at 00:54
Could be, but didn't he say "one element" ?
June 23, 2011 at 12:04
now they are saying it will be the loop but idk
June 25, 2011 at 12:20
if its a wing walker could be some wiered record that no one else would have thought of breaking like longest (most stretched out) barroll roll since wing walkers trains sits on outside of track it manuevers barroll rolls beatifully. So far i think the longest ones are on Volcanoe the blast coaster and Furious Bacco
June 24, 2011 at 15:10
Sorry I haven't commented in a while. I was on vacation for a week. But a wing-rider looks likely. But I'd have thought it would go at a more known park. I believe I have a timeshare out in Pigeon Forge.
June 25, 2011 at 10:53
Dang. I wanted dollywood to make a regular danglefeet rollercoaster. Hope they make a nice theme. I hope its a giga coaster or a danglefeet. But by seeing the track type its probably not a danglefeet.
July 5, 2011 at 15:12
I actually talked to an employee over the July 4th holida and she stated that from the pictures she saw that it would be inverted. Not sure if she completely knew or was just talking, but it's funny because she would not give me any other details. I actually have family that is very connected in Pigeon Forge so I will attempt to gain more details and holla back soon.
F.Y.I. If you visit the park you can actually see the track laying on the hill via the Dollywood Express Train Ride or atop the first hill of Thunderhead.
July 5, 2011 at 17:52
1 more fact that I failed to mention was that she was very knowledgable with regards to coasters and she did state that it was not a launch coaster. We live roughly 3 1/2 hours from Pigeon Forge and will most likely be back down there in a month or so. I'm going to get a picture of Raptor and take it with me to see if I can get at least 3 employees to mention it. I have family there like I said so i'm still working on that.
July 17, 2011 at 14:47
Nolan is correct. My friend helps with the building preparation at Dollywood and heard the same thing.
July 24, 2011 at 15:09
i think its the going to be the sky rocket!! its at kennywood amusement park in PA….check it out on kennywoods website!!
July 26, 2011 at 13:37
I seen the Tracks of the New 2012 project in Dollywood Yesterday. It is Mysterious…. But you have to guess about what it may be like. First, they are probably gonna be making a new coaster that Dollywood doesnt have. Second, They said the "Sky is NOT the limit…" at dollywood. They could be referring to a possible coaster that uses all kinds of different things. (Land, Water, Going in tunnels…. ect.) Lets Think about it: It is near the eagle sanctuary, so there is a idea that would fit into the Craftsman Valley Landscape. (Flying coaster maybe?) and the quote "one element should set a world record" means there will be either a speed, height, length (highly unlikely, since the area of the ride isnt large enough..), depth, or another factor, that has not been done before. This is the most CONFUSING new addition to Dollywood Thus far. They are being very vague and secretive…
August 1, 2011 at 05:43
I was there yesterday. It was tough to tell if it was inverted or flying or maybe even a Wing-Walker. It is ABSOLUTELY B&M track, and there's quite a bit of it, so I'm hoping it will be a nice length. I was srom the Thunderhead lift, I didn't even get to enjoy it lol.
August 12, 2011 at 19:00
Well, I seen the view of the blue tracks and grey support columns from the Dollywood Express, and it was very hard to see them there, at that! I can only hypothesize about what the coaster may be. It could be a indoor coaster for all we know (unlikely) ! All we can do is wait and see what they say and what it will be called in the near future! And By the way… I am not as familiar to what B&M tracks are and how to identify them as most of you are!
August 13, 2011 at 07:58
I was at dollywood yesterday and me and my dad was walking up the hill of the Slide winder ride and right beside of the line was land cleared out and there was metal stands in the ground and there were tracks being built there so that might be where the new ride will be located. Also I would not think that the sign that says `the sky is not the limit` that area is not big enough for a coaster like that. I am almost positive that the sign is for adventure mountain and sky zip.
August 14, 2011 at 13:05
mfp123 they've been clearing that land behind the skyzip booth (across from adventure mountain). That company is actually suing them because it impeded on their business. That sign said, "The sky is the limit," or something like that up until earlier this Summer. They later changed it to "The sky is NOT the limit."
Who knows… that's a long way from slidewinder really.
August 14, 2011 at 16:55
Well, If you look on up toward Skyzip, you will see the continuation of the sign which states "Take off in 2012!!!" then underneath, it states "www.dollywood2012.com" So, this sign IS for the new ride that they are building in 2012….. but what ride…. that is the mystery…