A Hot but Fun Day at Dollywood

Tues., July 14, we had our first DW visit since the Christmas.  They reopened mid-June with lots of Covid-19 changes - masks are required, temp. check was done before you boarded the shuttle in the parking lot, no indoor venue shows, reservations in advance were needed to visit the park, hand sanitizer was required before getting on any ride, seating on all rides and at shows was spread out for social distancing, etc. etc.  The shuttle driver was very willing to call out people onboard who weren't covering their nose and mouth with their masks!

Ryan and family came from over by the VA Creeper trail where they'd biked and camped over the weekend.  Claire loves the Scrambler - and I enjoyed it with her.  No pictures, but she also drove the bumper car for her first time.

Riding the bear in Wildwood Cove

Randy and Ryan each rode in a teacup by themselves, and didn't make it spin at all.  It was strange watching them hooting and hollering with their hands in the air, like they were on a wild ride. . . 

while on the other hand, Claire had our teacup spinning non-stop.  We were the only four on the ride.

One of my favorite rides - the Dizzy Disc. Another is the Wild Eagle that Carrie, Ryan and I rode towards the end of the day.  We loved the short to non-existent lines. We rode the Dragonflier for our first time and all loved it - in Wildwood Cove, but no pictures unfortunately.

It was really spinning fast

The Kindgom Heirs sang in the Valley Theater.  We learned that this theater was built in 1991 for them to perform in.  They did for 9 years, and then were "promoted" to an indoor venue.  Dennis, their humorous drummer, said that now they've been demoted to the outdoors once again, and probably next it will be the parking lot!

They had a lot of these cute topiaries - see the baby turtle on the back of the mama?

These were real umbrellas strung up over main street.  So colorful and cool almost in the shade.  The park had very low attendance, as this picture helps you realize.

The Smoky Mtn. String Band performance - the front four rows were roped off and the audience was in every other row beyond these.