Menu
What's new
By:
Filters

Dollywood building a new indoor coaster in Wildwood Grove for 2025?

Matt N

Matt N

CF Legend
Hi guys. Even though Big Bear Mountain has only just opened, there are suggestions that Dollywood could be building another new roller coaster. According to Screamscape, Dollywood put out a guest survey recently talking about another new coaster in Wildwood Grove that will invite guests to "explore the greater mysteries of this hidden land, no matter the weather":
Screamscape said:
Elsewhere [the survey] hints that Wildwood Grove isn’t finished yet, as another ‘new coaster’ will invite guests to “explore the greater mysteries of this hidden land, no matter the weather.” That last bit seems to indicate that Dollywood could be planning some kind of new indoor roller coaster experience.
Click to expand...
Lance seems to think that the synopsis could be hinting towards an indoor coaster, and I'd agree with that assertion; indoor coasters are quite a surefire way of providing an all-weather draw.

A few days later, Screamscape sources also apparently received word that Dollywood has greenlighted a new coaster for the 2025 season, which Lance has suggested could be the indoor coaster project hinted at in the survey:
Screamscape said:
2025 - New Rumored Roller Coaster - (7/27/2023) Screamscape sources tell us that Dollywood is indeed working on a new roller coaster for the 2025 season. Based on the survey that was just sent out from the park last week, I do have to wonder if this is that indoor coaster project that was hinted at that would depart from Wildwood Grove.
Click to expand...

I know this isn't much to go off of, but I trust Lance as a source, and if the park has asked about it in a survey, then I wouldn't be surprised if they did eventually plan to build it. From memory, I think Dollywood has asked about an indoor coaster in guest surveys before, so maybe they're finally bringing one to fruition?

It's an interesting development if true; maybe an Intamin Multi-Dimensional Coaster or similar would be a cool fit?
EDIT: Here's the link to Screamscape's Dollywood page: https://screamscape.com/html/dollywood.htm#2025-Coaster
 
I wouldn't bet my life on Screamscape's accuracy (as some pure trolljob "rumors" have slipped past him & been reported on before), but I definitely remember an indoor coaster idea being tossed around in surveys in the past, so I won't be shocked if one comes here. A tad sooner for a new coaster than I would've expected, but expected nonetheless.

Wonder if they'd go entirely indoors like Uncharted or more of a Studio Tour style. Either way, could be cool for an MDC!
 
I would like to think hopefully in my opinion it could be a indoor wild mouse or something similar to scooby doo spooky coaster original version with heavy theming and animatronics
 
Not happening...they have been teasing 2026 since Lightningrod opened. They won't give up on that. Maybe Blazing Fury RMC redo much like FITH. My gut says Vekoma or B&M hyper. Hershend loves both, and GP love Dollywood. Definatly going in country fair area when it happens. Possibly stretching out into the woods behind the train barn, or up Lightningrod's hill. Lots of room owned by Herschend, and they have the money. No markings at the park or anything drastict. Also 3 family coasters in a row since Lrod. Only other park to do that is Knott's, and they got Hangtime a few years later. 26 would be 10 years since Lrod. They could be back in the headlines, and redeem themselfs maybe with Lrod 2.0 for 24 or 25?
 
If you look at Big Bear, they're clearly planning ahead to use the land next to/behind it.

There's a section of Big Bear that dives under the path. That path/bridge currently goes nowhere, so serves no purpose than other for a future pathway.
 
I'd honestly rather see Dolly get the proposed black bear dark ride they teased at in their survey a few years back. The park needs more indoor attractions considering they've clear cut the surrounding forest for new rides. It would help in poor weather and provide a place with AC in hot weather.

That and add a bit more landscaping to Wildwood Grove. Its a shame the forest themed area of the park has virtually no forest.
 
Planning commission has just approved a 43,000-square-foot building for Dollywood's 2026 attraction, able to hold 1,000 people and sit on 3.5 acres in Wildwood Grove. No further information is known about the coaster that it will house; https://www.paxtonmedia.com/news/th...cle_db7751ef-7d2d-5e09-9a82-b297c62c115d.html

A building of that size would look something along the lines of this;
Screen Shot 2024-09-27 at 11.06.29 AM.png

For comparison, DarKoaster's building is around 35,000 square feet, while Uncharted's is 47,000 square feet.

Europa Park meanwhile uses close to 41,000 square feet to house Arthur's indoor section and a plaza, in case anyone was looking that direction (which you definitely should).
 
Last edited:
I know a lot of parks seem to be building them at the moment, but I reckon something like an Intamin Multidimensional Coaster might be a nice fit, personally. The trick tracks and potential for dark ride scenes would differentiate it somewhat from FireChaser Express and Big Bear Mountain even if it had launches.

Alternatively, could an RMC powered coaster similar to Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City be a possibility? Or are we thinking that that was likely a one-off project to meet Silver Dollar City's very specific brief (building a "revival" of an old classic)?
 
Matt N said:
I know a lot of parks seem to be building them at the moment, but I reckon something like an Intamin Multidimensional Coaster might be a nice fit, personally. The trick tracks and potential for dark ride scenes would differentiate it somewhat from FireChaser Express and Big Bear Mountain even if it had launches.

Alternatively, could an RMC powered coaster similar to Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City be a possibility? Or are we thinking that that was likely a one-off project to meet Silver Dollar City's very specific brief (building a "revival" of an old classic)?
Click to expand...
If Dollywood can pull this off, this would be a stroke of genius 💡
 
Matt N said:
Alternatively, could an RMC powered coaster similar to Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City be a possibility? Or are we thinking that that was likely a one-off project to meet Silver Dollar City's very specific brief (building a "revival" of an old classic)?
Click to expand...
I don't believe that would be the "$50M" attraction mentioned in the above video, but they did also mention "refurbishing a legacy attraction" which I assumed meant Blazing Fury.
 
Fiender said:
I don't believe that would be the "$50M" attraction mentioned in the above video, but they did also mention "refurbishing a legacy attraction" which I assumed meant Blazing Fury.
Click to expand...
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought Fire in the Hole 2.0 was a huge project?

Maybe not $50m huge, admittedly, but I seem to remember it being pretty big and being built for a very long time, anyhow.
 
I know that it doesn't really matter, but I was hoping we'd see something in another corner of the park. This will be three coasters right on top of each other back to back to back. I thought we'd see the next coaster over by Lightning Rod and the rapids.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top