Pigeon Forge, TN, USA (May, 2017) – Dollywood has dubbed 2017 the “year of the family”. The park’s goal was to appeal to every type of rider through different attractions. For the thrill seeker in each family their addition was a 200-foot Skyfall drop ride from Funtime of Austria.
The ride experience offers two distinct segments, sightseeing and thrill. After they board the 24 passengers are secured via a lap bar restraint. The lifting rig pulls the ring of seats skyward and the seats rotate around the tower twice. As riders go higher they receive an unparalleled view of the Smoky Mountains. The tower peaks above the valley so that guests get a sweeping view of Dollywood and the tree-covered region and it is a vista unlike anywhere else in Tennessee.
“Drop Line is the perfect new attraction for Dollywood,” said the park’s General Manager Gene Scherrer. “We have a number of unique rides, but this one is unlike anything else here. Our guests will have a chance to enjoy the beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery as they rise up the tower, but once they get to the top, the anticipation of the drop will certainly create memories they’ll remember for quite some time,” he added with a laugh.
The tower is set in the Timber Canyon area of the park and has become a new icon for the property. The first challenge Funtime overcame was re-purposing the existing foundation. The ride stands where the former Timber Tower attraction ran, and that ride required large amounts of concrete. Funtime engineered a custom embed and bottom tower section that extended about 15 feet below grade and tied into Dollywood’s existing foundation. By allowing the park to re-use the existing foundation Funtime saved Dollywood a significant amount of money in the process.
The final ride experience has been a hit for the park and offers park-goers a new way to enjoy the world-famous theme park. “We were thrilled that Dollywood chose to work with Funtime,” said Hannes Lackner, Funtime’s company’s General Manager. “To have our first U.S. Skyfall drop ride in such a beautiful park is special for us,” he noted.
The ride was also installed by Ride Entertainment’s Installation Division. You can ride Drop Line at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which is open every day.
Snap Stats.
Tower Height 200 feet (61 meters)
Instant Capacity: 24
Hourly Capacity: 600 pph
Theme: Drop Line, a 200-foot tall free fall over the wooded rustic landscape.