| Thoughts

Deep in the Smokey Mountains Dollywood is more of a unique theme park, in that the rides aren't really the main draw, for the majority of the guests are there to make the Parton Pilgrimage

Country craft displays, shopping and shows cater well for a more mature demographic of theme park visitor, yet the ride collection is very impressive, basket weaving and glass blowing sit strangely comfortably next to river rapids and topple towers

Legitimate yee-haw country flavours and landscape make for a more authentic and pleasant backdrop, the terrain is genuinely mountainous, so steep in places that the already overworked mobility scooter motors were positively smoking

Dolly is obviously famous for her cracking pair, Thunderhead and Tennessee Tornado are indeed a pair of beauts and what a cracking ride they give. Rising out of the valley terrain the wooden wonder Thunderhead is rooted beautifully, buckle up for the typical GCI fast paced wild rush through those silky smooth swoops twists and dips

Tennessee Tornado is unique Arrow looping coaster with huge unusual elements that smoothly rampage through the trees although the course is a little small the coaster is nothing short of impressive

Blazing Fury qualifies as unusual too, this quirky enclosed coaster meanders through dark ride sections which ends in a chutes style water splash down . . "fire in the hole!"

Staying wet, rafting down Mountain Slidewinder racing toboggan flume through the sharp banking and drenching swashing waves and the immersive themed Daredevil Falls log flume is another gem, a playful wave at birdhouse disguised CCTV camera prompted a "howdy there folks!" right back at me over the public address

One of the highlights was the five mile journey on the Dollywood Express 110-ton coal-fired steam engine up the mountain. I visited Dollywood as part of an organised whistle-stop-tour of America so sadly only got to spend a morning at the park, which really wasn't nearly enough time to do this park justice, I hope to return one day.