The Wandering Disciple

  The piercing shriek of an alarm cuts through the air, not the cry of a genuine emergency, but the simulated warning that signals the imminent departure of the FireChaser Express coaster at Dollywood. With a sudden lurch and a rumble that vibrates through the platform, the coaster's engines awaken, preparing for their thrilling mission to "protect Wilderness Pass" – a dramatic narrative woven into the very fabric of this unique dual-launch family coaster. This isn't a drill; it's the real experience of a ride that combines the excitement of a traditional roller coaster with the storytelling and theming that Dollywood is renowned for.  Dollywood, a renowned theme park nestled in the picturesque foothills of the majestic Smoky Mountains, offers a captivating escape for visitors of all ages. This sprawling entertainment destination, co-owned by country music legend Dolly Parton, seamlessly blends thrilling rides and attractions with the rich cultural heritage of the...

The sounds of excitement fill the air as the wildest ride in the woods speeds through the Smokies. Opened in 2004, Thunderhead is a heart-pounding wooden rollercoaster featuring a 100-foot drop and 22 turns while reaching 54 mph. Named after nearby Thunderhead Mountain in the Smokies, the coaster was named the top wooden coaster in the country in 2005 and 2006 while maintaining a top 10 spot almost every year since its opening.  Thunderhead is one of ten coasters at Dollywood. The 150 acre park brings over fifty rides and attractions into the Smoky Mountains drawing over 3 million visitors annually.  You can see more photos from Dollywood here .  Taken: June 7, 2016 at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN)

After a busy day of thrills at Dollywood or an adventurous day exploring the Smoky Mountains, the colorful fountain of the DreamMore Resort welcomes you home to you home away from home. The DreamMore Resort is Dolly Parton's signature hotel next to Dollywood and Splash Country at the base of the Smoky Mountains. Featuring great amenities and comfortable accommodations, it is the perfect companion for your trip to Pigeon Forge. (Photo: June 7, 2016)

Hop aboard the fire engine to help Chief Ember and Volunteer Station 7 to save the town from Crazy Charlie Cherribaum and his Gas Station and Fireworks Emporium. That is the story behind the FireChaser Express family coast at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. This wild adventure takes volunteer firefighters on a 2 minute coaster ride featuring launches and even a portion of backwards track. The coaster opened in 2014 and is one of the featured attractions in the Wilderness Pass portion of the park. (Photo: June 6, 2016)

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: For decades Dolly Parton has entertained millions with her music. From growing up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennesse through stardom in Nashville, there hasn’t been a country star more recognizable as Dolly Parton. Her legacy and career are idolized through a theme park in the Foothills of the Smoky Mountains called Dollywood. This vision of Dollywood really took off in 1986 when Dolly bought into Silver Dollar City Tennesse, a small theme park in Pigeon Forge. At the time the park had been open since 1961 as several different parks ranging from a Civil War park (Rebel Railroad) through Silver Dollar City and even a stint under ownership of Cleveland Browns owner Art Model. Under Dolly’s leadership, the park doubled in size and became the biggest ticketed attraction in Tennessee, entertaining over 3 million visitors each season. In addition to attractions dedicated to Dolly’s life and career, the park is packed with thrills around every corner. ...

A steep banking curve rises above the Earth at the Lightning Rod coaster at Dollywood.  The Lightning Rod is the newest edition to the park and is the first wooded launch coaster as well as the fastest wooden coaster in the world, reaching speeds of 73 miles per hour.  Lightning Rod was scheduled to open in March 2016 however design issues delayed the opening until June 13, 2016.  (Photo: June 7, 2016)

The fireman aboard the Dollywood Express greets the awaiting passengers as the train pulls into the station.  The Dollywood Express is an authentic steam locomotive and it is the responsibility of the fireman to maintain the fire, giving the train its source of power.  (Photo: June 6, 2016)

The comforts of home can be found throughout the DreamMore Resort at Dollywood.  It may be a major theme park resort, but its places like the living room here that make the DreamMore feel like home.  (Photo: June 6, 2016)

A larger than life King Kong scales a replica of the Empire State Building in the heart of downtown Pigeon Forge.  This recreated scene from the Hollywood blockbuster film adorns the Hollywood Wax Museum.  The two story museum is the only wax museum in the country dedicated to only celebrity figures.  (Photo: June 7, 2016)

Join Chief Embers of the Wilderness Pass VFD as he helps protect the forest from fire at the hands of Crazy Charlie Cherribaum.  As a member of the volunteer fire department, riders climb aboard their Fire Train to embark on a fun filled journey on the FireChaser Express at Dollywood.  Opened in 2014, the Fire Chaser Express is a family roller coaster that takes riders on a forward and backwards ride reaching speeds of almost 35 miles per hour. (Photo: June 6, 2016)

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee:  Rise and shine from the land of the never-ending sun, or at least it seemed.   I don't know if it was the elevation or the fact that we were farther west then our home in Florida, but it seemed to stay daylight forever.  But nonetheless, the combination of a busy day yesterday and extremely comfortable accommodations at the DreamMore Resort resulted in an amazing nights sleep. This was our final day at Dollywood, so we packed up the room before going for breakfast and heading to the park.  After the car was packed, we headed downstairs to the Song & Hearth restaurant in the hotel.  I figured it would be easier to eat at the hotel than head into town.  What a great decision, the breakfast buffet was delicious and very reasonable in price for a resort. After breakfast, we boarded the trolley and headed to the park.  Having the trolley has been a great benefit at staying at the hotel.  Not having to mess with the...

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee:   Today we continued our trek to the mountains of Tennessee as we checked-out of our hotel in Atlanta and hit the road for our four hour trip to Tennessee.  This section of the trip would cross two more states off our list as we passed through North Carolina on the way to Tennessee. This section of the drive was one of the most scenic I have been on.  Just a short drive north of Atlanta and we were in the mountains where amazing view were to be seen around every corner. Our drive was delayed a bit as we made two pit stops along the way.  The first of which was at Tallulah Gorge.  It was here where high-wire artist Karl Wallenda crossed the gorge on a tightrope.  Our second stop was the town of Cherokee where we took a brief walk along the river to stretch our legs and take some pictures. Then it was back on the road and into the Great Smoky Mountains.  This was by far the best drive I have ever been on.  I have nev...