Dollywood
Fun and adventure for kids
By Megan Dolan
| June
14
, 2007
 |
| The Mystery Mine at Dollywood. (Photo: Courtesy The Dollywood Companies) |
Mystery Mine is a steel roller coaster and the first ride of its kind in the U.S. It cost a whopping $17.5 million and brings a one-acre expansion to Dollywood.
“I’ve had to keep my big mouth shut about the Mystery Mine, but I can tell you, it’s the most exciting thing to come out of these hills in a long, long time,” Dolly Parton said at a press conference for the opening day of the park. Parton first opened Dollywood in 1986. The original park, called Rebel Railroad, first opened in 1961.
I had a chance to visit Dollywood and try the Mystery Mine myself. During Mystery Mine’s two and half minute journey, I experienced an amazing thrill! Passengers encounter a 95-degree, 85-foot vertical drop in addition to a weightless inversion known as a “heart-line roll” and a “rollover loop.” You can check it out at home through a ride simulation video online.
Dollywood’s 2007 season also includes the Irish entertainment extravaganza Celebrate Ireland, which is the centerpiece of the park’s annual Festival of Nations (March 31-May 7).
Summertime brings Kidsfest from June 15-August 5. The event is led by award-winning magicians, a motion simulator ride, and live shows just for kids. Dollywood also has a lot of good food, homemade candy and neat toys and souvenirs.
Next to Dollywood's theme park is Dollywood’s water adventure park, Splash Country. Splash Country is a 30-acre water park and loads of fun. New for this year is The Cascades, a lagoon-style pool with a beach entry.
“The Cascades takes me back to my childhood when me and my brothers and sisters were lucky enough to discover a little mountain cove where we could cool off from the summer time heat,” Parton said.
I highly recommend Dollywood. So come out and enjoy the fun in Tennessee at Dollywood.
Megan Dolan is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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