Dollywood Cades Cove Expansion Breaks Ground
Dollywood Cades Cove Expansion Breaks Ground. Smoky Mountain officials announced today the expansion of the popular theme park has begun. The project has not been without controversy. Locals and visitors have expressed outrage but the lack of support for the protest movement and the recent park closure due to the COVID-19 virus cleared the way for the work to begin.
The new addition to the Smokies will include the longest and fastest roller coaster in North America. Dubbed the “Grand Parton,” the coaster will exceed 325 miles per hour. Three tunnels will be constructed for the coaster to pass through the mountains. Abrams Creek will be rerouted to the newer and taller Abrams Falls. The new falls will accommodate the new “River Wild Rampage” ride plunging visitors over six hundred feet into a large holding pond.
“We knew parking would be a big problem in Cades Cove for the millions of new visitors but after serious thought we were able to solve that issue,” said park official O. Howie Lyes. “We gained the rights to 700 acres of park land to log. Once the trees were gone we were ready to park cars. We were even able to use the lumber we harvested to help construct the new roller coaster! Everything worked out great.“
This expansion will not be the first time a national park has also doubled as a theme park. Who will forget the short-lived Niagra Falls tubing extravaganza or the Grand Canyon chutes and ladders park. Visitors will no doubt have strong opinions about the theme park but we can’t wait to ride the new rollercoaster!
