PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—Dollywood launches its 2008 season with the new River Battle family adventure ride, which anchors the park’s new Wilderness Pass area, while the popular Kratt Brothers headline the park’s summertime KidsFest extravaganza.
“Folks are gonna love the sneaky Smoky Mountain critters I’ve rounded up for my new River Battle ride,” Dolly Parton said. “And come summer, the Kratt Brothers are bringing their own furry friends to star in our newest show. Families better get ready for a wild and wooly year at Dollywood!”
Located in Dollywood’s newest area, Wilderness Pass, the $5 million River Battle is a themed water raft ride equipped with powerful soaker guns. Nine eight-passenger rafts navigate the waters of a 500-foot channel in a battle that begins as passengers, each armed with a soaker gun, take aim at each other and more than 100 fun targets along the way. Large-scale “talking animals”—beavers, skunks, otters, bears and more greet passengers throughout the journey.
Some targets shoot back while others display a variety of special effects, creating surprises at every turn and ensuring that no two rides are ever exactly the same. River Battle also engages unsuspecting park guests along the ride’s banks, creating a highly interactive experience for everyone. While rafters are soaking each other in raft-to-raft sparring, they also can “shoot” observers along the way in “raft-to-shore” fun. In the park’s ongoing effort to provide opportunities to bring families closer, River Battle is yet another ride that allows parents and children to ride together.
With an hourly ride capacity of 800 passengers, River Battle is located just beyond Dollywood’s award-winning Mystery Mine steel coaster, which was named 2007 Best New Attraction by
www.themeparkinsider.com. The project also includes a new 750-foot walkway that provides a direct route to the park’s Craftsman’s Valley area from Timber Canyon, connecting the park’s two popular valleys.
This summer, Dollywood goes wild during its annual KidsFest celebration (June 13-Aug. 3) as the Kratt Brothers, stars of the popular PBS Zoboomafoo children’s television series, headline the all-new show Creature Adventures featuring the Kratt Brothers. The original creature adventurers Chris and Martin Kratt introduce a fascinating cast of their amazing animal friends in a show created for animal lovers of all ages. VeggieTales LIVE! and Dolly’s Imagination Playhouse featuring the Penguin Players also return for the seven-week festival.
“I’m so excited about bringing the Kratt Brothers to Dollywood this summer with their amazing animal show,” Parton said. “They do such an incredible job on PBS and the National Geographic channel, entertaining and teaching kids about animals and nature! Their Dollywood show will be lots of fun for the whole family.”
Dollywood hosts four additional festivals throughout the 2008 season. Dollywood’s Festival of Nations (March 21-May 5) launches the season, shining the spotlight on the world’s most celebrated dances, including Irish step dancing in the popular Rhythm of the Dance spectacular. More than 250 performers from Russia, Mexico, the Philippines, Zambia, Ecuador, Germany and Ireland create a seven-week celebration of music, artistry, foods and crafts from around the globe.
Fall marks the return of Dollywood’s BBQ & Bluegrass (Sept. 5–28) festival, highlighted by more than 500 free concerts featuring award-winning artists Ricky Skaggs (Sept. 5 & 6), the Del McCoury Band (Sept. 7 & 8), Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (Sept. 14 & 15), Riders in the Sky (Sept. 19 & 20), J.D. Crowe & the New South (Sept. 22 & 23), Rhonda Vincent & the Rage (Sept. 27 & 28) and many more.
National Gospel & Harvest Celebration (Oct. 3– Nov. 1) brings the Smoky Mountain’s largest Southern gospel event with more than 250 FREE concerts by the genre’s most celebrated artists, including The Isaacs (Oct. 5-6); The McKameys (Oct. 10-11), Brian Free & Assurance (Oct. 17-18), Legacy Five (Oct. 24-25), The Greenes (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) and many more. In a showcase of one-of-a-kind artistry, visiting crafters from across the country visit the park, displaying their talents with up-close demonstrations daily.
Extending the park’s operating season into January for the first time ever, Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 8–Jan. 3, 2009) brings four million lights to illuminate the largest light display in the park’s 23-year history. The holiday splendor continues on stage with Dollywood’s award-winning Christmas shows, including the International Association of Amusement Park’s and Attractions (IAAPA) 2007 Heartbeat Award winner Christmas in the Smokies and Dollywood’s Babes in Toyland, recipient of IAAPA’s 2007 Honorable Mention for Best Overall Production.
Dollywood is a 130-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions, including Thunderhead, twice named the world’s No. 1 wooden coaster, and Mystery Mine coaster, Theme Park Insider’s 2007 Best New Attraction; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Operating days and hours vary. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com.