The Troubled Civil War Theme Park: Rebel Railroad & The Creation of Dollywood | Expedition Dollywood

Join us on the very first Expedition Dollywood looking at the creation of the Dollywood Park. A place that evolved through the decades starting as a small train-based park known as Rebel Railroad, before becoming Goldrush Junction (owned by the Cleveland Browns). It would later be turned into Silver Dollar City Tennessee before forming a new partnership with Dolly Parton. On this brand new Expedition we look at the creation of the park from the early 1960s through to becoming Dollywood.
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Credits -
Journey Back In Time Productions - • East Tennessee & Weste...
Willie Vance - • ET&WNC (Tweetsie) - Th...
Cindy Goff - • Tweetsie Railroad-Gran...
Blu Azure - • Tweetsie Railroad- Sum...
Gregor Vacketta - • Pigeon Forge, Rock Cit...
oldnintyseven - • rebel railroad
19King14 - • 1962 - Rebel Railroad ...
Randy Wolf - • Goldrush Junction, Pig...
Southern Gentleman - • Rebel Railroad Theme P...
Chris Corner - • Rebel Railroad Train O...
Andrew Calcagno - • Extremely rare footage...
Musicom - • (2/6) RARE 1964 NBC CO...
tennesseeconcerts - • The old Silver Dollar ...
amusement420 - • Cedar Point 1964 Rides...
Just Out N About - • Dollywood Sunday Churc...
Maranda Vandergriff - • Dr. Robert F. Thomas- ...
Dirty D - • Silver Dollar City in ...
Erick Nordlund - • Silver Dollar City's '...
Argyle302 - • Fire In The Hole, Silv...
Attractions Magazine - • Blazing Fury Roller Co...
#dollywood #dollyparton #tennessee

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

What ride would you like to see covered next on Expedition Dollywood? Let me know! Check out our store to pick up your own Expedition T-Shirt, Use Code HHN30 to get 10 percent off any design. expeditionthemepark.creator-spring.com/

[@damnfellas8637]

Thunder head

[@hayleywaalen2612]

Barney's Day at the Park at Universal

[@TheRobbieb72]

Slidewinder or daredevil falls. Or doing a whole episode on splash country would be awesome.

[@ClarkPaytonCrozer]

How about the amazing Conan show at Universal Hollywood with that amazing water curtain? Or the Spider Man Rocks show that used that same theater years later?

[@seppeh5572]

Many just an expedition Phantasialand. It might be worth watching to

[@MrPeteykins]

Dolly Parton: one of the greatest Americans ever, I'm convinced.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Agreed

[@shannond7437]

10000%

[@Pantheragem]

It would be difficult to think of someone more positively emblematic. She's great.

[@jamiec4478]

If she didn’t tell everyone to get jabbed I’d agree

[@lachrymarum_]

@@jamiec4478 gotta push that agenda! it's every public figure's job, first and foremost. she's also super into gays. it's all just part of the plan...

[@haxploitationpeople]

There's an irony of having a Confederate-themed amusement park in East Tennessee, since East Tennessee was actually quite the stronghold of Unionist sentiment during the Civil War. Many in East Tennessee were rebels--against the Confederacy!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yeah.... not ideal

[@overlookers]

@@ExpeditionThemePark It came to the point that, during The Civil War, East Tennessee and Northern Alabama attempted to join together to succeed from The Confederacy. Wishing to became a new Union State to be called Nickajack. Likewise rejection of The Confederacy continued with the short establishment of The Free State of Wilson in Alabama and The Free State of Jones in Mississippi.

[@CourtneyHammett]

Yeah my great great grandparents were union soldiers in East TN

[@rickyjustice6812]

The great state of Franklin and east Tenn has always been interesting to me for some strange reason

[@sketchytwin113]

Thank goodness. My ancestor didn't get hanged for releasing a horse to the north for nothing

[@Malebrignon]

I'm impressed with what Dollywood has become. I never thought it would last, let alone become one of the best parks in the USA. That said, I've seen tons and tons of stuff from this park. I'm eagerly awaiting Expedition Phantasialand.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I’m working on it. Thanks

[@FigmentForever]

I’d love to visit. My parents went to Silver Dollar City before I was born & we live 4 hours away. Been to WDW 38 times but never gotten to visit Dollywood. We dearly miss Opryland

[@realestateunplugged6129]

@@FigmentForever We were just talking about Chaos and fright nights.

[@FigmentForever]

@@realestateunplugged6129 Chaos was wonderful!

[@IsurvivedAntiochCA]

Dollywood was my first job. Re-stocking all the shops in craftsman’s valley. Little insider secret, not a valley, massive steep hill when you have five cases of soda on a dolly (heh, I was a Dollywood dolly man). What was really cool though, if not a little bit noisy, one of the employee break areas in the valley was directly under the Tennessee tornado. Got to see all the mechanics that ran the station.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thats awesome!!

[@halifaxdarkrecords1548]

After working there for years I can say they’re a great company and dolly while not owning as much as most think, has a hold on that park and whole county that’s beautiful and loved. Such a genuine beautiful woman.

[@ashleydavall]

One of the smartest businesswomen in America & an incredibly talented singer songwriter, Dolly really is incredible.

[@JamesChessman]

Yes she is incredible but also she is considered very attractive by a lot of men and that is very perverted

[@staszewaM]

@@JamesChessman Finding someone attractive is perverted? huh?

[@skyes7369]

@@JamesChessmanhuh? How? She’s a grown woman. What is perverted about a grown man finding a grown woman attractive?

[@hitokiriizo]

10 year old me would of loved that train ride, adult me is impressed at how dedicated the actors were to the point of getting injured.

[@AwkwardKidAdventures]

On-topic: that guy talking about the log flume ride was so serious that when he mentioned "the great fiberglass forests," for just a moment I thought he meant it. "How foolish they were in the old days!" I scoffed. Yet in the end, 'twas I who was foolish.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

that guy cracked me up

[@mikerocks56]

@@ExpeditionThemePark I think that was Edwin Newman from NBC News

[@quinnzykir]

@@mikerocks56 Newman….. -.-

[@medea27]

When the script is delivered so dry & bitterly sarcastic that it actually comes full circle, and makes you stop & think "...... hang on a minute!?!" 🤣

[@JordyValentine]

The people on the log ride did not look like they were enjoying it haha

[@reptilerestaurant6168]

Awesome to finally see expedition dollywood, it's my local home town theme park and I've been watching the park grow and change for the better part of twenty years. I remember when the log flume closed, and the installation of most of the current rides. I even live on the path of the tweetsie now, its a thriving bike trail

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That’s amazing! Such a beautiful area

[@cassieearle9196]

her hotel is beautiful too

[@bug5258]

I just love the fact that the guest had on suits and dresses to go to the park... Man it had to be rough to walk around wet all day... Just think about the smells.... Great content as always keep it up

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Right?!

[@HunterWoodlawn]

As a native of Bristol, thanks for making this video!

[@startedtech]

I love how the guy in the log flume film was wearing a full suit and tie!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Barely need a pressing

[@danporter2345]

Dollywood is my home park, and it's absolutely one of the most-beautiful and well-kept parks with great employees who really go the extra mile to make sure every guest has a wonderful time. I got 18 rides on Lightning Rod last weekend. The ride ops got quite familiar with me as the guy who kept lapping their world-class RMC. Lol. Row 11, right side is the magic seat if you haven't been on it yet.

[@birdofillomen7826]

This is my home park. Every time I do there is feels like stepping back to my childhood. There are parts that have not changed in twenties years!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

So many classics in there!

[@comettamer]

I used to visit Dollywood quite often as a child and it was ever so fun. Getting to go to Shoney's for breakfast, riding the go karts with my grandpa and so many more lovely memories.

[@dcstone]

With the coverage of Tweetsie, this is by far the most comprehensive history of the park I've seen. Tweetsie is the part many often forget.

[@carathacker210]

As an Appalachian gal who loves the channel and Dolly I loved this video so much!!!! So proud of her representing us and making employment opportunities for us mountain people!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thank you so much!!

[@TheRobbieb72]

I've been going to dollywood as a kid since 1992. It's crazy to see how much the park has grown and changed. I will say though the festivals were always great each year. Festival of nations is my personal fav

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Can’t wait to be back there in a couple weeks

[@TheJL103]

@@ExpeditionThemePark the entire area has grown over the years. My mother, step-father, and myself worked for Dollywood.

[@jrios29]

Dude, how do you get me excited in visiting things I never thought I would have an interest in?! First Halloween Horror Nights, now Dollywood! Keep the train rolling on Expedition Dollywood!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeassss

[@HELLBOY-ur4st]

As a longtime fan of this channel and a Sevierville resident I've never clicked so fast

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you enjoyed

[@rama30]

I went as a child when it was Silver Dollar City. I grew up at Tweetsie. My favorite ride was the Mouse Mine and I met Cowboy Fred Kirbie many times.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I love Tweetsie!

[@HandsomeFrankenstein]

I’m so glad this series is starting! I’d love to hear more about the early days of Dollywood.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yay!

[@audreyconfer7678]

This has to be one of my favorite theme parks ever, such a happy place

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Agreed!

[@Bumpinthenight]

You should definitely start with Blazing Fury! It's my favorite ride in the park. Eventually, please do a deep dive into the incredibly strange moving theater attraction. I believe the theme (when I rode it at least) was dolly and her uncle(?) built a special vehicle that could explore the smoky mountains on land, water, and in the air. It was truly bizarre.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It’s on my list for sure!

[@reagan2782]

I miss that moving theater so much! During Christmas they showed Polar Express. Back when I was younger I didn’t ride any coasters and that was my favorite ride by far. Probably still would be tbh…

[@Mr-Trox]

The theater was amazing! When I was a kid, it was at first, Thunder Road, and you rode along in a police chase after a shine runner that ended when the shine runner crashed. The version you're thinking of came after, The Smokey Mountain Adventure Tour, where you ride along with Dolly and her friend, not uncle, Clovis, an eccentric inventor that created the USS Dolly, capable of flying, floating and driving. The whole thing was a madcap adventure, from nearly missing bikers and atv riders, to crashing through a tent and getting face to face with an angry bear, followed by falling into the river to float into rapids towards a waterfall, where you took flight and flew off into the wild blue yonder. Only to bring it back to Clovis's barn, crash into it, and set off an explosion. It was amazing. I loved it so much that one of my Halloween costumes was actually as Clovis when I was in like 3rd grade.

[@CD-ht6dk]

We were just at Dollywood for the first time this summer. It was great seeing the history of the train we rode and the park. Keep up the great videos.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@RedHotMessResell]

So many memories at Dollywood and on Blazing Fury. I haven’t been back to Silver Dollar City in Branson in like 20 years, but I want to go back.

[@paulrippcord506]

I’ve been to Dollywood a few times and it’s extremely fun. It’s like if you made Disney’s Frontierland half of an entire theme park and the other half a county fair with people doing blacksmithing and old timey soap making and stuff. You can ride one of the largest roller coasters in the world and then see someone make cheese the old fashioned way.

[@oliviapadgett6621]

I grew up going to Dollywood. The shows are amazing and they aren’t overshadowed by the rides. The Christmas season is absolutely beautiful and the cinnamon bread is iconic.

[@Mr-Trox]

That was always the first stop for me, my sister and my Mom when I was little. We'd go to the mill near Craftman's Valley, get some cinnamon bread and a drink before my sister and I broke off and headed straight up to the Tennessee Tornado to start our days.

[@cleverbyhalfproductions3004]

And Expedition Extinct on The Flooded Mine would be amazing! And if you need any original footage captured, let us know. We have season passes.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@jdinhuntsvilleal4514]

That ad for the flume ride is hilarious. Can you imagine wearing a SUIT to an amusement park?

[@ThemeParkVisionTPV]

We were thinking the same thing! Can't imagine wearing your Sunday best to a theme park. lol Just seems so odd nowadays.

[@sketchytwin113]

Thank you for the history lesson about a family favorite. Gatlinburg is literally a family favorite to the point that we visit at least once a year. Heck, I even have 300 years of East Tennessee blood with family right outside of the Smokies.

[@GamingMuchTerry]

Loved learning the history running up to Dollywood. As always, a well-researched and presented video :)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@MrMrMrprofessor]

Gotta be my boy Mystery Mine, though you could also start with an older one like Blazing Fury or Tennessee Tornado

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

All good suggestions

[@MrLurker906]

I would like to see you talk about The Inventors Mansion/ The Rags to Riches museum. It opened up originally with SDC as a sister to the Crooked House in Branson, but after the park was converted into Dollywood it was turned into a walkthrough museum about Dolly Parton's life and career. The old facade is still in the park, and the tunnel that runs underneath the facade has references to SDC, and at one point a coaster car on display of the old Thunder Express coaster cars.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

i will for sure

[@cerealheroes]

Is this the same attraction SDC calls Grandfather's Mansion? I've noticed the building in DW myself and wondered why they didn't keep it at DW after going through the one in SDC as I think it's a charming attraction.

[@danielalvarado9019]

The inventors mansion facade was torn down either two years ago or before, i’ve been going every fall since I was 9, last year I noticed that it had been completely demolished, the inventors mansion.

[@SilverScaleMA]

@@danielalvarado9019 It hasn't been there for at least 2.5-3 years, it was gone before I started going there. Where was it in the park? It might have been one of the attractions taken down to make room for either Time Traveler or Mystic Falls.

[@maryannbrooks4775]

When it was Silver Dollar City I rode that log flume every time I went. I also remember thinking that it was a rickety looking structure each time and wondered how it was still standing! I still go every year to Dollywood and miss that old ride, along with the ferris wheel.

[@ThemeParkVisionTPV]

Absolutely love learning more about the history of Dollywood!! It's such an amazing place to be and is always so much fun! The family atmosphere here is just incredible. I'm super psyched for your new series!! I would love to learn more information about all of their older attractions.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you! More to come

[@jaycorbin5361]

Thanks for doing Dollywood! My grandparents and family would take trips down to Dollywood all the time, it's a really nice park and I live in Indiana, so it's only a few hours drive away.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That’s amazing!

[@PillsandSoap26]

Ufda...The Rebel Railroad sure was something else... Great video as always!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@DocZFlux]

That’s a nice way to put it…yeesh!

[@PillsandSoap26]

@@DocZFlux Right!?!?

[@Boom12]

Wow, Dolly sure did good to the park, she gave back not just to her home, but to the doctor who helped deliver her to this world.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yepppp

[@michikip45]

I just went to Dollywood for my first time with my wife and now we have season passes! It’s such a wonderful theme park and I had no idea the park was so many things before! Bless Dolly she’s one of the only good ones I swear

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you had the best time

[@michikip45]

Honestly as someone who grew up living by Disney world and going often, a small park with a lot of local charm and originality was so refreshing! As much as I love both, it’s nice to experience a smaller more relaxed park

[@shellyrogers5609]

So happy with this episode! Between this one and Opryland (my home town theme park) I am over the moon. Great job!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thank you so much!!

[@daveotuwa5596]

I've been to Dollywood before. My oldest brother lives near the park. This year he's moving to Houston, most likely near a defunct amusement park, abandoned ballpark and football stadium.

[@knightloveslesbians]

never expected to see tweetsie railroad in an expedition theme park video. LOVED going there as a kid with all of the rides + train show and never knew it was tangentially connected to dollywood!! the more you know!

[@tennjen18]

I rode that log flume ride a million times and I never knew it was from the NY Worlds Fair! I even worked in that section of Dollywood for two summers during high school. In the late 80's it was the carnival ride section called "Fun Country". I also worked in the Old Town with the train depot.

[@streetstylez96]

It's all gone now unfortunately. All the original rides in the country fair have been replaced. I probably rode that flue 400 times as a kid. Was a favorite. They took out the ferris wheel a few years ago. Super sad.

[@thundercat8601]

I’ve been planning my first trip to Dollywood since long before COVID and still haven’t nailed down a date. This video increases my interest in the park and makes me want to go even more.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

hope you get to go soon

[@winterdash409]

I definitely recommend going during a festival that the park stayed open into the night for the lights!! I first went in 2008 and the best times I’ve gone is when they’ve had a Festival of Lights like the summer one they used to have, the luminights like they did this year or even the Christmas festival. It’s beautiful!! And the coasters and rides are even better at night. Especially when you can see how beautiful the lights are

[@AutMouseLabs]

I visited Dollywood when I was 7 or so. It was my first theme park experience. I also went to one of those restaurants where they did the jousting and medieval themed entertainment while you ate that same trip. It was a long time ago but I remember having fun as a kid.

[@ckilbarger01]

Love the Expedition Dollywood icon 🦋 Dolly is a true treasure. I've only been once but loved every bit of it

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yes!

[@theworstisover1323]

Yesss! Expedition Dollywood I knew this day would come! I love this park and it's history. I'd love to see an episode for Tennessee Tornado. It really makes you think what Arrow was capable of and what it would have become.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yess!

[@tyrannoyoshi]

That MCU reference at the end with “Expedition Dollywood will return” was amazing. You NEED to do this “will return” thing more often.

[@nunyablahhh]

Very smart business-sense for the owners to reach out to Dolly instead of waiting for her to become a competitor. Everyone ended up winning with that partnership.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Dolly is a saint! Also I hope Australia's Wonderland/Wonderland Sydney is still somewhere on your list.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It is!

[@strongsadventures]

Awesome Job on the history of Dollywood. This has to be the best most informative video I have seen on the history of the park. Can't wait to see the next episode.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you !

[@Wound3rd]

I remember visiting the Rebel Railroad in the early 60's but I had no idea it was connected to Tweetsie and Dollywood. This filled in the gaps of long distant memories.

[@kawaiitrash3604]

We used to go to tweetie rail rd as a kid! We loved it. Do something about Carowinds next and you will have covered just about every parknI have been to.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

i will!

[@parakeetpo]

@@ExpeditionThemePark carowinds used to have a big wooden roller coaster called Thunder Road which was my favorite. It sat part on NC and part on SC border and used to let you ride backwards and forwards. Western theme and was fun to know you were going back and forth on the state line. That would be cool to have covered.

[@landonvail7025]

Finally an expedition Dollywood!! Been waiting forever! Thank you so much for doing some Dollywood videos! I love near the park and absolutely love it! Can't wait to hear all about the park! I've already listened to this one a few times!

[@rgs8970]

I live in California, and Disneyland is my childhood theme park. But I know I'm not the only one here who dreams of vacationing at Dollywood. Dolly Parton is a living treasure. So glad you're covering this!

[@sketchytwin113]

You would be in for a great trip! That whole area is beautiful.

[@Lantana1]

Well Done! What a thoroughly researched and thoughtfully presented history of this lovely family park. As Per Usual!

[@Grand_Master_Skywalker]

Dollywood and SilverDollar City are badass theme parks with awesome rides.

[@ChristysCorner]

I grew up in the area with passes to "Dollywood" every year. I remember the log flume, the train rides, Blazing Furry, the Davy Crocket show and so many others. The park has changed so much over the years.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It has!

[@haleighreads8566]

Ahhhhhhh! Thank you for finally doing Dollywood! This is awesome! Loving seeing the history behind my childhood park!

[@Zednenem56]

The Dr. Thomas /Dolly Parton connection blew my mind.

[@Agent_Grean]

I love it! It fills my heart with joy to see you covered Dollywood! I live less than 20 minutes away and I’ve grown up at Dollywood. It’s such a wonderful place. Thank you for doing a video on it! I had no idea that log flume ride was for the 1964 worlds fair. I wrote that so many times as a kid and had no idea. And I have a soft spot in my heart for blazin fury! Can’t wait for your video on that attraction.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I can't wait to be back there later this year!

[@anythingbutmyrealnamegoogl9615]

Wow. I grew up right behind Milligan college and the railroad being so close on the map threw me off. The percs of modern maps, but I never thought I’d see anyone on any platform ever cover anywhere close to my area. There was old track up there forever before the city made it into a bike path, but I never knew it was that old. Thanks for including that bit.

[@MitchMoneyBags]

Please do more episodes about Dollywood!

[@DisneyFan-eg3oz]

Hello Sam David here from Sebring Florida USA 🇺🇸 I been a Disneyland fan and collector of Disneyland for over fifty years. I have been a fan of Jackie for many years after seeing one of your videos I am a fan of yours! I injoy seeing the history of them parks, keep up the great work! 😎

[@Sailorella]

wild to see someone talk about Dollywood. I'm from in East Tennessee and I've been to Dollywood a lot. often we would go to Dollywood for field trips when I was in school. And a some of the business around here will give out free tickets to their employees. I have been on all of the rides you mentioned are still in the park today. Can't wait to see you cover more about it

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

such a great park.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Hey, Expedition Theme Park! Please do the History of Disaster Transport at Cedar Point!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I will

[@villek3722]

There already are few good videos about it. Go watch them

[@SeanMcGuire92]

I have very fond childhood memories of Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC. My mom even named our current cairn terrier rescue Boone in honor of the good memories we have there, since she has family in the area! I never knew of its troubled sister park, though, nor how Dollywood (a truly and surprisingly fantastic park I visited once as a child) came to be! I still remember seeing that doctor's medicine bag, so seeing it here definitely unlocked childhood memories I didn't even know I had lost. What a great episode!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I love Tweetsie. Thank you!

[@HilaryKearns]

Well done with this video. I have lived in North Carolina my whole life (since 1990) and Tweetsie Railroad, along with Carowinds, were popular summer vacation spots for my family. I also went to college in Boone, NC, so Tweetsie was a popular summer job location for many of my friends and classmates. Amazing job finding music for this one, it really brought me back to the Smoky Mountains!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@CJWJR]

10:03 It's hilarious seeing people dressed up to ride the log flume. 😂

[@Ash6777]

This is really cool to see the history of the park that later became Dollywood. I went to Dollywood for the first time just last month. And the church on the property? It looked beautiful. Didn't get to ride the train though because the weekend I went, it was real windy.

[@NatYourAverageNerd]

I had hardly ever heard about Dollywood until seeing this, and I'm shocked at how much success and history is behind it! I should see it sometime when I have the chance.

[@dwitefry4157]

So i got the notification for this video on the bus home and genuinely said aloud 'yes, my son'. This is why people avoid me, but it is also the correct response to the fact that Expedition Theme Park is covering Dollywood.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

hope you enjoy it!

[@dwitefry4157]

@@ExpeditionThemePark yes, yes i did

[@lydiapurple]

Wow this maybe my favorite video yet! Super interesting!!

[@MitchMoneyBags]

So glad to see someone do this! Do the history year by year!

[@shaylasosa9892]

I live in East Tennessee pretty close to dollywood and grew up going there a lot. It's pretty fun and the food tastes really good!

[@SummerAlleriaWindrunner]

Going here as a kid was the best

[@Cinnamon_Rolls_In_Pantry]

Glad to see one of my favorite theme parks being covered, I can’t wait to see you cover wildwood grove and wild eagle

[@makanimckenzie]

Currently working at Dollywood entertainment! It’s a truly beautiful park, especially the new area, Wildwood Grove.

[@coloradostrong]

Beautiful voice.

[@hopejordan2997]

Absolutely loved this. Had no idea Dollywood and Tweetsie were connected. I used to go to Tweetsie at least once every summer when I was a kid. Thanks for sharing such great history

[@pablofiasco2]

hay hay! Finally a place ive been to! Tweetsie Railroad, man, its been....2 decades and change

[@travisasselta9140]

Thank you for taking about Dollywood because I’m from Tennessee.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thank you for watching!

[@CowlesRyan]

Ahhhh! I am SO excited for this next chapter of expeditions. 🦋💜😝

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

me too!

[@katherinenorton8536]

My parents, big brother and I went to Dollywood every summer when I was growing up ❤️

[@LetsJgandy]

This is crazy, I just began planning a trip to Dollywood last night! This will be useful.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hope you have the best time!

[@gmanandhislady]

I grew up going to Tweetsie Railroad every year for my birthday when I was a child. We live 30 minutes away. I have got a chance to go Dollywood, once, but I've always wanted to go back!

[@TracyA123]

The drive through Maryville south of Pigeon Forge is just as beautiful if not more than Gatlinburg. I enjoy that more than anything. Pigeon Forge is now WAY too touristy to be charming anymore. The Christmas place used to be on the very edge of town. Now it is almost exactly in the center. Gatlinburg has changed, in my opinion, for the worse as well. There's no longer a southern feel to either city. The chair lift briefly shown at the beginning of the video is still there but now it is yellow. I miss how small both places were in the early 1990's. If you do visit you absolutely MUST eat at The Mill restaurant in Pigeon Forge. It's one of the few original dining experiences that hasn't changed and the window seats over the river have gorgeous views.

[@themeparktours3889]

Dollywood is a beautiful success story… I can’t wait for more Expedition Dollywood. 🦋

[@jg_in_hd]

Great job. One of your best videos

[@austinlawler3739]

Rebel Railroad looked so much fun, and I would have loved it as a kid, even if I am a Yankee. Reminds me of this Wild West amusement type park I went to in the 80's as a kid, in Union, IL.

[@Cooe.]

... Yeah no. Let's not glorify the Confederacy, thanks. Would you enjoy a "play-pretend as a Nazi" train ride too? -_-

[@austinlawler3739]

@@Cooe. Oh for pete sakes, this was the South in the 60's and 70's, that was par for the course. You not only completely missed my point, but you also can not view this in the eyes of 2021.

[@NTNatJPN]

Very well done. Good job in this.

[@edvaira6891]

Thank you for this, Sam! I only got to visit once, on a long family road trip back East in 2011 (which extended up to the Virginia theme parks and ended at Hershey park as well as two other Pennsylvania parks) and this was actually my kids favorite park of the entire three week trip! It (as well as the entire area of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg) was just so charming and unassuming and the park it reminded all of us so much of was our home park of Knotts Berry Farm…Would most be interested in a small feature on Tennessee Tornado (which was one last great ride from the late, great Arrow Dynamics!)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much as always!

[@kangstrom]

That bored newscaster is the best amusement park footage I have ever seen. "32 cents a minute."

[@CapybaraMMA]

I used to go to Tweetsie every year what an awesome place to be a kid.

[@strictlyaesthetic9202]

Thank You....... Tweetsie Railroad was a special place for me..... Boone, N.C.

[@CaptainLuckyDuck]

I am SO happy that you were finally able to get to do one of my favorite parks (especially since Dolly took it from it's messed up past to the AMAZING park it is, today- that woman is a freaking gift to this earth)! I was the one that asked if you were going to be doing a video on it a few months back.^-^ You just keep knocking out bangers!^^

[@C0ZMIK5K1TTL35]

Actually headed to Gatlinburg in May with my BF. Heard a lot of good things about Dollywood. Back from my trip and Yeah Dollywood is pretty nice. I recommend Pigeon forge.

[@HamiltonMechanical]

hey wow, you did one close to home for me this time :) I'm a little less than an hour away from this park! Have been there many times in my life! Blazing Fury is THE BEST! Now we just need someone to do a video on the former Magic World that was right down the street! So glad I went to that one before they tore it down!

[@PupRiku]

I had absolutely no idea what existed before Dollywood. I've just ordered a channel logo hoody, thank you for having decently priced merch!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much! I am just happy that people enjoy and want to wear it.

[@PupRiku]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Can't wait to wear it to my next theme park adventure! I've been a fan a while now and you put so much time and effort into these videos it's only right.