Mystery Mine (Dollywood)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Mystery Mine
Dollywood
Location Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA
Status Operating since April 13, 2007
Cost $17,500,000 USD[1]
Rider height 48 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Gerstlauer
Product Euro-Fighter Custom
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel
Riders per train 8
Hourly capacity 1,000
Propulsion 2 vertical chain lift hills
Height 85.3 feet
Drop 85 feet
Top speed 43.5 mph
Length 1804.5 feet
Inversions 2
Drop angle 95°
Duration 2:30
HELP

Mystery Mine is a steel roller coaster located at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA. The theme of the ride is based on a haunted mine. Opened on April 13, 2007, it is a custom Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model, the first installed in the United States.

History

Mystery Mine was officially announced on July 7, 2006.[1] The ride opened on April 13, 2007.

For the 2021 season, Mystery Mine received some changes to its track layout. The 95° drop was modified and the over-banked curve was removed. This meant that the ride vehicle would turn left and drop into half of the first helix.[2] Dollywood cited the reason for this as "making the ride experience smoother". The layout was reduced from 1,811 feet to 1,804.5 feet.

Design

Elements

Mystery Mine has two outdoor sections, one in the middle of the ride and another at the end of the ride.

Ride experience

After leaving the station, the car makes a small drop as a Miner's laugh can be heard. While making a left turn and a right turn, music can be heard as crows and a canary in a cage can be seen. The car comes across a grinder, which leads into a small drop, followed by a left turn. When passing by cogs and graffiti, riders approach an 80 foot tall vertical chain lift hill. At the top, the car slows down before dropping. Prior to 2021, riders went through an over-banked curve and a right turn. Following the block brake, the car passes through a helix and some dips. After an s-curve over the extended queue area, riders go back into the building and reach the grand climax. On the left side is a canary in a cage and a sign that says "Do Not Enter". Riders then climb an 85.3 foot tall vertical chain lift hill as they watch a video on the screens. Once the car reaches the top, an explosion is heard as fire bursts in front of riders. Soon afterwards, riders plunge 85 feet at a 95° angle. The car then flips into a heartline roll, followed by a dive loop. After the inversions, riders hit the final brake run and return to the station.

Trains

7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows, for a total of 8 riders per car.

Images

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Dollywood announces Mystery Mine". Coaster101. July 7, 2006. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. "Mystery Mine 2021 Layout and Track Changes at Dollywood". Coaster101. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.

External links


Articles on Dollywood