Silver Dollar City - Project 2026 Construction

 

PROJECT 2026

Time to check back in on what is happening at SDC.  Looks like they are building up that area right behind the falls - or at least making it an access road

They are still working on the tunnel expansion for American Plunge

Looks like they have been bringing in some fill

Or at least it looks like the mound is bigger than last time

Let's take a look at the tunnel progress

The roof looks complete.  There's also a "not fall in" board at the entrance to the tunnel

There's the entrance to the now extended tunnel.  Not sure why they didn't go all the way to the bridge, but who knows.

This little wall thing on either side of the entrance does make it look like they are done expanding it for now

The clearing beyond the coasters continues to get larger

Some marker flags have appeared

It is crazy how much area has been cleared beyond the coasters

The new BOH access road continues to get built up

Fully expecting Hobo Junction to be completely gone the next time we visit.

Lost Mine Mountain Coaster

 

Welcome to the Lost Mine Mountain Coaster

This has quickly become one of favorites in the area

Load station

Up the first lift

This rider is on the last section

Still climbing

Time for the second lift

Heading into the mine

We will be on that section as soon as we climb this lift

Through the mine we go

Climbing to the highest point of the layout

Through the Old West village we go

This is probably the best section of the layout after the Old West village

Up the third lift

The final lift which takes you into the helix and back to the station

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

 

Time for the area's most popular mountain coaster - Rocky Top

Loading station

The final portion of the ride

Zoom!

Heading up the first hill

Second hill - we'll be on that track to the right very soon

Third hill and the longest

Going through the tunnel

Coming back down from the highest point of the ride

The final lift of the layout

There's the track from the first section to our left

Almost to the top

There's the final helix into the station.  

A great ride

Dollywood

 

 

Welcome to Dollywood, which is celebrating 40 seasons this year

We started off the day with Lightning Rod

Other than a couple of pot holes the ride is running great this season

County Fair received some attention this off season - really like the new entrance arch

One member of our group loves swings, so we had to ride them for her

Another in the group is a huge Scrambler fan so we rode that for him

After some pizza for lunch, we hopped on board the Dollywood Express

Cinderella was doing the heavy lifting today, and she did a great job

While riding the train you get a good look at the construction for Project 2026

This will be another expansion to Wildwood Grove

The famous Grist Mill, home to the second best cinnamon bread in the country

Barnstormer

The park's church

Tennessee Tornado received a new paint job on most of the track this off season.  Here you can see where it stopped - the lift hill and the final brake run into the station

It is most noticeable on the huge first loop

Wild Eagle was running great today.  We decided that we liked the right side (go left at the stairs) the best between the two

Firechaser Express is probably our group's guilty pleasure.  We rode it more times than we probably should have as grown adults

Poor Mystery Mine has not aged well at all.  If it wasn't for the amazing themeing this would be a skip for us

Not sure why it has aged so poorly but it is what it is

Dropline is always a fun ride

Thunderhead is still running great this season

Another coaster we ride way too much as adults is Dragonflier.  Just a really fun coaster

Big Bear Mountain still ranks as our group's favorite at the park

The unlimited QuickQueue this season really is a nice perk.