Dollywood

Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, this park started in 1961 as Rebel Railroad. In 1970, the Cleveland Browns football team purchased it and renamed it Goldrush Junction. The park was bought by Herschend Enterprises and became Silver Dollar City-Tennessee in 1977. Dolly Parton became a co-owner of the park in 1986, and the name was changed to reflect her involvement.

For 2016, Dollywood is building Lightning Rod, the world's first launched wooden roller coaster. Built by Rocky Mountain Construction, it will have a 165-foot drop and is expected to be the fastest wood coaster in the world.

In 1971, the River King Mine Train, which was actually a pair of nearly identical Arrow mine trains, opened at Six Flags St. Louis. One track was relocated and ran here as Thunder Express from 1989 to 1998. It was moved to Arkansas and opened in 2002 at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls as Big Bad John.

Blazing Fury

FireChaser Express

Mystery Mine

Sideshow Spin (formerly VeggieTales Sideshow Spin)

Tennessee Tornado

Thunderhead

Wild Eagle