Splash time is almost over
While most people love having a three day weekend at Labor Day, it's also a bit sad. It means the clock is running out on making a trip to Dollywood's Splash Country. There hasn't been a summer in recent years, where my family and I haven't at least visited the water park in Pigeon Forge, at least once. (Luckily we found time in our busy schedule to go last weekend.) In Dollywood terminology, "it's a memory worth repeating."
Your @knoxdaytripper (2nd from the right) with other members of local media at a special event back in May at Tailspin Racer at Splash Country.
This year, I was fortunate to be one of the first people to try out the new Tailspin Racer, the park's new family racing experience. Back in May, I "competed" with other members of local media at a special event introducing Tailspin to everyone. As a former TV News Producer, it was great talking shop with some folks I had worked with before, or who at least knew a lot of the same people I knew.
Tailspin Racer was actually a bit intimidating to me, as I don't like the slides with tubes. However, just seconds "out of the gate" I knew this was going to be different. The time inside those tubes was short and it was the long stretch down to the finish line that was the really fun part, especially when you're racing other people. On the other end of Splash Country, Slick Rock Racer provides some of the same fun, without the tubes. And being a little out of shape, both slides require walking up a long incline and lots of steps, but it's all worth it!
Labor Day weekend is the last time of the year to splash at this Smoky Mountain waterpark.
Dollywood's Splash Country is open on Saturday, and Sunday, with Monday being the last day for the season. If you don't have a season pass, you can find some specials online, including $40 adult admission or park combination tickets for $99. If rain becomes a factor, if there is no lightning in the area, then you're going to be getting wet anyway, so why not soak it all in. However, if thunderstorms become an issue, the park is good at offering "rain checks" and if that happens on the last day, the tickets are usually good for the next season.
Of course you can make a real weekend of it and go to Splash Country, Dollywood and spend the nights at the DreamMore Resort.