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03-25-2007, 04:24 PM
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/silence/archives/2007/03/first_rides_on.shtml
Curve appeal
Dollywood's auction draws bidders eager to be first on coaster
By ANDREW EDER, edera@knews.com
March 22, 2007
Bidders with at least $500 can be first in line to unlock the mysteries of the new roller coaster at Dollywood.
The Pigeon Forge amusement park is holding an online auction on eBay for the first 56 official rides on the $17.5 million Mystery Mine.
The auction ends 11 a.m. March 30, and winning bidders will take their rides at the grand opening April 13.
The steel roller coaster will carry individual cars of eight passengers straight up 85 feet, drop them at a beyond-vertical angle and hit a top speed of 60 miles per hour along its 1,811 feet of track.
The theme of the two-minute, 30-second ride is an abandoned coal mine. Dollywood's public relations manager Pete Owens said the ride is centered on mining superstitions - never whistle in a mine, for example.
Owens said Mystery Mine is the country's first "Euro-fighter" ride, a German-made roller coaster distinguished by its vertical lift and vertical drop.
"It's the most elaborate ride we've ever put in," Owens said. "It's got some really awesome roller coaster elements to it, but it's also a really good dark ride."
Mystery Mine will be open when Dollywood opens March 31, Owens said, but it might not be operating the first few weeks as the park puts the finishing touches on the ride.
Winning bidders will get a seat on one of the first seven cars at the grand opening, admission tickets for two for April 13 and 14, and a framed commemorative print featuring a personal photo with Dolly Parton. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there were 27 bids that met the $500 minimum.
The proceeds from the auction will benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a nonprofit that provides books to preschool-age children in participating communities.
One person mulling a bid is Matthew Lambert of Knoxville, a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Lambert, 30, rode his first roller coaster at age 5 and joined ACE at age 10. The city planner said there's a lot of anticipation among the coaster enthusiast community about Mystery Mine.
"We're just all wanting to get up there and ride it as soon as possible," Lambert said.
Lambert was confident that between roller-coaster enthusiasts and Dolly Parton fans, the 56 seats would be filled. "There's quite a few fanatics out there who love to ride the first official ride," he said
Curve appeal
Dollywood's auction draws bidders eager to be first on coaster
By ANDREW EDER, edera@knews.com
March 22, 2007
Bidders with at least $500 can be first in line to unlock the mysteries of the new roller coaster at Dollywood.
The Pigeon Forge amusement park is holding an online auction on eBay for the first 56 official rides on the $17.5 million Mystery Mine.
The auction ends 11 a.m. March 30, and winning bidders will take their rides at the grand opening April 13.
The steel roller coaster will carry individual cars of eight passengers straight up 85 feet, drop them at a beyond-vertical angle and hit a top speed of 60 miles per hour along its 1,811 feet of track.
The theme of the two-minute, 30-second ride is an abandoned coal mine. Dollywood's public relations manager Pete Owens said the ride is centered on mining superstitions - never whistle in a mine, for example.
Owens said Mystery Mine is the country's first "Euro-fighter" ride, a German-made roller coaster distinguished by its vertical lift and vertical drop.
"It's the most elaborate ride we've ever put in," Owens said. "It's got some really awesome roller coaster elements to it, but it's also a really good dark ride."
Mystery Mine will be open when Dollywood opens March 31, Owens said, but it might not be operating the first few weeks as the park puts the finishing touches on the ride.
Winning bidders will get a seat on one of the first seven cars at the grand opening, admission tickets for two for April 13 and 14, and a framed commemorative print featuring a personal photo with Dolly Parton. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, there were 27 bids that met the $500 minimum.
The proceeds from the auction will benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a nonprofit that provides books to preschool-age children in participating communities.
One person mulling a bid is Matthew Lambert of Knoxville, a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Lambert, 30, rode his first roller coaster at age 5 and joined ACE at age 10. The city planner said there's a lot of anticipation among the coaster enthusiast community about Mystery Mine.
"We're just all wanting to get up there and ride it as soon as possible," Lambert said.
Lambert was confident that between roller-coaster enthusiasts and Dolly Parton fans, the 56 seats would be filled. "There's quite a few fanatics out there who love to ride the first official ride," he said