Mystery Mine Review, Dollywood Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter | Better After the Modification?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 28 мар 2022
- Mystery Mine at Dollywood was America's first Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter. This coaster features a few indoor sections with creepy mine theming, a few steep plunges, and two inversions. The ride opened back in 2007, but the first half was modified in 2021. I rode both versions and in this video, I explain if the coaster is better or worse after the modification.
Video Credits
Mystery Mine B-Roll (Dollywood)- • Mystery Mine
Mystery Mine Off-Ride (AmusementInsider)- • Mystery Mine Roller Co...
Mystery Mine POV (coastercrutchfield)- • Mystery Mine Front Row...
Vild-Svinet Off-Ride (Northern Rides)- • Vild-Svinet | Off-Ride...
Background Music
Mystery Mine Soundtrack (Dollywood)
I fell like you were a bit harsh to this ride. I’ve rode it twice last summer and I love it. I feel like the jeirky elements benefit the ride becuase it’s supposed to be a weird mine so it works. The 1st outdoor section was not really thrilling, the drop was fun and I always liked waving at people walking by. The last effect worked both times for me when I rode it, but I can see that it may not work all the time and I got lucky
I've never seen it not work, only visited a total of 5 days over 2 visits... now the fireworks on firechaser express.. that was broken half the time.
With different restraints, the jerkiness wouldn't have been an issue.
@@CanobieCoaster I can see why having lap bars can greatly improve the ride.
I agree. I rode just recently in December of 2023 in the cold, and I didn't think it was that rough at all. I don't think it was the smoothest coaster in the park, but definitely better than other coasters that I have ridden.
I loved this ride in its original form. Actually my second favorite coaster in the park, and for some unknown reason I never had an issue with roughness.
Lucky!
This was actually my favourite Roller Coaster when I visited in 2018 (Lightning Rod was down). I was already very used to eurofighter headbanging due to numerous rides on Rock Bottom Plunge, so I never factored that into my enjoyment. I never really thought of the first section being dull because I guess I looked at this ride through themed lenses where the track served not for thrills, but for story buildup for the finale. Yes that Finale is good, but the part of the ride I weirdly looked forward to the most was the beginning before the first lift. Something about the first drop, steam, the way the track banks just a bit too much, the atmosphere, and most of all, the great but creepy acapella vocal track that plays while you navigate the mines.
I definitely can see the redeeming qualities in this ride.
I love that twisted final drop it’s so bizarre and so cool
Yes
Thank you for mentioning the spoilers ahead of time. I’m going to Dollywood for the first time in may and I’ve surprisingly avoided seeing the indoor parts
You'll be in for a treat.
That finale is INSANE.
Yes
I'm a little torn. It's my favorite coaster in the park because Lightning Rod was down all three times I visited. I agree with you that the original track layout was jerky and head-bangy, but for some reason, I still enjoyed it, probably because it was a nice surprise that you don't see coming, which is rare on a coaster. I'll miss the original layout.
I'm sorry you've missed out on Lightning Rod so many times. It happens to a lot of us!
I love Mystery Mine, favorite ride in the park due to it's theming, sounds and smells! I think the roughness makes it more fun myself, it is an "unsafe mine" after all.... But I would love to see it without over the shoulder restraints.
Makes sense.
The oddest, best, most surprising ride on our road trip that year pre mods, what a great time!!! Awesomely themed, and the hang time!!!!
Glad you liked it!
Have you noticed the canary before the 2nd lift hill? Miners would take a canary into the mine, because if it died, they would know that there are dangerous gases that they haven't sensed yet, and they need to leave immediately. Just before Mystery Mine's 2nd lift, there is a canary on a perch in a cage. I can't remember if it's off to the left or right. As you pull up to it, the canary "dies", turning upsidedown, so that means we need to get out immediately.
I've always missed that!
This was such a great ride. I rode the old version and it was quite jerky. I LOVE the soundtrack though...I was singing it to myself quite a bit.
It's a nice soundtrack.
I’ve only been on this, Hydrus and Shellraiser and Shellraiser is my favorite
Shellraiser has a great layout.
This is my number 1 favorite ride no other ride will replace it
Glad you like it.
This is the first coaster I was unable to fit inside the restraints. The overhead bars are more like a cage that goes around your entire upper torso. The other Gerstlauer in the park (Firechaser Express) was also remarkably confined for legroom.
These restraints are definitely snug.
It's a really well themed ride! Just hope all the effects are working
True!
Interesting ride. Like the theming on the ride. Does look like fun. 👍
The theming is sweet.
i rode this for the first time a few days ago and it was wild imo. that 95° drop somehow gave me crazy ejector
That indoor drop is amazing.
I love to be able that I can say that I've gotten to experience this before the 2021 change and my ride before the change was a zen ride. Honestly the horseshoe turn was probably the most memorable part of it before the change other than the hang time on the second inversion
The entire finale is the best part for me.
I definitely agree with what you said I think they should’ve just kept the first half the same and just have replaced the trains because now the first half while not as jarring is a lot tamer and still can be jerky
Others have said clearances would be an issue with lap bars, but maybe vest restraints would be a compromise.
I used to be very scared of roller coasters, like yesterday morning, but my school had a band competition and we got to go to Dollywood after! I have been to Dollywood many times in my life, like many, all the way back in 2014 or so. I would never ride the bigger rides because I was always to scared of that gut feeling during drops and the scariness of the coaster itself falling apart. I then watched videos about how to get over that fear and they didn’t really help, so I had to eventually and gradually get over my fear. I went to Dollywood last summer and rode Big Bear Mountain and Dragonflier, along with every other ride in Wildwood Grove yesterday too. I felt like I had fun but was still a bit scared to ride Big Bear Mountain again for the start. I didn’t go on Mystery Mine the first time, but I did the second time because I felt Bad for leaving the chaperone having to watch me and wait on me. During the ride I was having the time of my life and was scared in the waiting line for no reason! I wish I could still see my grandmother because she lived Dollywood and always took me to the part of Country Fair, not that she died, but that part of the family is bad and a bunch of things that has nothing to do with roller coasters. I love Mystery Mine and even though it is only the third ride I have ridden alongside Big Bear Mountain and Dragonflier, it was by far my favorite, by a lot. If you read this whole thing, thank you.
That's smart to work up to the bigger ones.
Canobie, The Canna-Beast!! My main man from Southern New Ham
Hello!
Great review. Have you ridden Colossus (Heide Park) and Balder? If so I am looking forward to a review as those and Twisted Timbers and Lighting Run are my top anticipated reviews from you. Thank you for saying that you will review Lighting Run soon and Twisted Timbers this summer during that great livestream!
Twisted Timbers is my most anticipated review as well! It's my number one coaster, and I just got four rides on it this weekend. I can't wait till it warms up more this summer.
I have ridden those 2 pre-fabs. Those two rides have been tricky to find footage I can use in the past.
@@CanobieCoaster no way!! Can we please get a review from those soon?
I really like the theatrics, and the finale looks cool, but a lot of the ride looks kind of uncomfortable with the vertical lifts in the dark and the rough sections.
I agree.
The first half is very uncomfortable, especially in the front row. Personally I think it’s really funny, but my party was not so amused. The second half is just straight up amazing though.
@@kylebetz9684 agreed. I've rode this since it came out, and I remember feeling lots of discomfort as a kid. I always warned people riding with me to ride defensively in the first half. The change last year really helped the ride. The only thing I feel needs to be fixed is how the restraints crush your thighs in the weirdest way, especially if you're muscular or have thick thighs
@@xomxrixh if the restraints are fixed, the whole ride is fixed. They just need lap bars the properly contour your thighs and they are golden
I love Eurofighters.
They're solid.
My home park! Rode this when it first came out, I was a small kiddo haha. I would love those lap bars, but with that barrel roll at the end, I feel like it would be too much of a risk. Dollywood prioritizes guest safety above all, and they're always making tweaks and changes to keep us safe. Proud to call Dollywood my home park 🧡🦋
Lap bar only restraints can be safe, but as others said, the indoor clearances were designed for the over the shoulder harnesses.
@@CanobieCoaster What do you mean by "indoor clearances"?
I had the luck of being on this ride when yellow jackets were swarming around that first drop.
Oh no!
Rode it in November 2021. I absolutely loved it! Lots of surprises, fun theming, genuinely good drops and inversions. I had a total blast!
Glad you loved it!
Rode it last year. Great concept but head banging experience.
Same.
I’m 5 6 so that harness is at my head.
Just rode it today for the second time ever. Rode it the first time in like 2014 then today. It is a jerky ride but for me that’s what made it scary and exciting. This ride fr is a thrill. The only coaster that’s ever truly scared me yet I enjoyed.
I love the finale.
It reminds me of a less intense and American version of Flucht von Novgorod; an odd, well-themed and very custom Euro-Fighter
True.
im a anti lap bar person for coasters that shhould have over the sholder restraints like gurslower and rmc. the ots restraunts make the ride feel more safe and i love the head banging. for some coasters it fits the theme.
I feel safe with the lap bars, so I'll take the extra comfort myself.
I have to ride this defensively also. I have always felt that I should like this more than I do, for the theming and the good elements it has, but the headbanging is annoying (although not really painful because of the padding). I could manage that previous outdoor section, so I was disappointed in that change.
Yes, the stacking is so annoying here! There's no need to run that many trains, causing us to sit on the brake run for so long. My last ride, I was at the back of 5 trains in the station. I think it took over 15 minutes to get off.
They ran far less trains in my most recent visit and used the dual load platform.
If I had to guess why lapbar trains were not considered, I'd bet they would require a major rework of the clearances of the indoor sections. Because OTSRs keep rider's upper bodies in place, they probably shrink the clearances on each side of the train by several inches that would be required if guest could "lean" out of the car.
Ah that's a good reason why. Even vest restraints would be an upgrade if they were an option.
One thing I usually do on euro fighters with over the should restraints is I fold my arms into the the seat for extra cushion on the ride though I haven’t been on one in 2 years so idk if I could still be able to do it
I lean forwards to prevent headbanging.
cool.
Yes
I’m going to dollywood in a few weeks, should i be concerned about the vertical drop or is it mostly tame?
It's wild, but fun. The first half is bumpier.
Apparently Mystery Mine can't be retrofitted with lapbars due to clearance reasons.
Dang, that stinks.
This looks like a smaller version of Flucht von Novgorod. I'm not a huge fan of that ride either so I don't think I'd rate this ride very high. Would you rate this higher than Typhoon at Bobbejaanland? I am just asking because the track is quite similar to the one on Mystery mine and it also has OTSR.
Typhoon was fine. I leaned forwards on that one.
It's alright, it still doesn't hold a candle to LROD, Thunderhead (this seriously surprised me), and Tennessee Tornado.
Agreed.
Cool effect with HEAT?!!!? Priceless! Yep! Six Flags could take lessons form Dolly. A few extra bucks on effects go a Lonnnng way.
True!
I can’t be the only one who had no idea that the layout was modified.
It wasn't very publicized.
It’s a shame Shellraiser doesn’t have lap bars only the giant ones should also the hang time and the first drop airtime would be great
Same with that one.
My first coaster with an inversion
Nice!
This was my second favorite coaster at the park during my lone visit in 2019 simply because of the drop that is now removed. So I'm not sure how I'd like it now
The new drop is still good.
Yes you bang your ears a bit on this ride if you are under I'd say 5'8. It's not bad, but first time riding it for me it hurt and annoying. The 2nd time, I braced for the areas I knew I'd hit my ears. I still LOVED it though!
I lean forwards.
I’ve been on this once when it was the old design and it was intense my first euro fighter though
It's quite the one to start with.
Felt smooth on the old design for the opinion on the new one way to rough I couldn’t take it
Did you like everything on Mystery Mine at Dollywood or did you dread something on the ride? What do you think?
There are some questionable transitions in the first half.
The ride just looks fun im taking ny 7 yr old sis on it i bet she will love it
Enjoy!
I had mild banging on the back of my head. Overall wasn't terrible, and the ride was enjoyable. However, coming out of that last inverted loop is bad. The track angles up and drops slightly. It's just enough to jerk your head vertically up. I felt a pop and got an instant headache.
I find the first half the shakiest part.
Question: what, in your experience, has been the smoothest Gerstlauer coaster? So many gerstlauers are known for not being smooth. I guess now that I think about it, it’s most likely one of their family models.
They're random. Their outdoor spinners tend to be smooth.
@@CanobieCoaster Gerstlauer has a very weird track record with smoothness. Some can be very rough, while others can be glass smooth. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern to it or any rhyme nor reason. Some infinity coasters and euro fighters can be shaky and cause head banging; ie. untamed, while some can be smooth.
@@CanobieCoaster I also was wondering one more thing. Did you ever get to make it out to Six Flags New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina? That is my home park (unfortunately) and I’ve always wondered how some of the rides were, mainly Mega Zyph. I was three when it was destroyed, so I have no memories. It always bums me out to know that the only major park in the state is gone, as I know I would’ve had a season pass and went whenever I could. Some of the only history of that park is located elsewhere. Goliath at SFFT and roadrunner express at SFMM are bucket list coasters for me, basically only for the connection to SFNO.
The outdoor part just doesn't seem necessary without that crazy u-turn.
It's very slow and weird.
The entire coaster is weird
I remember how much I hated this ride. The themeing and story telling is fantastic but it's weight to rough for me to enjoy. I only rode it before it's modification so I hope it's smoother. Although 1 downside is that drop doesn't look anywhere near as intense as that vertical drop it had before. But if one of the roughest spots got smoothed, I'm happy.
The new drop is still good at least.
Fun Fact Fact Mystery Mine Opened In April 13 2007
Was it a Friday?
Yes
i surprisingly didnt have any headbanging, but the restraints did cut off circulation in my legs😭😭
I can see how that could happen.
Theming on the ride is fantastic, but I did not enjoy this ride. I dislike over the shoulder restraints in general because of my height but they were more painful than usual on this ride in addition to all the head banging. I enjoyed firechaser express alot more than I did mystery mine despite firechaser being a family coaster.
The restraints aren't my favorite.
I wasn't a fan of the first half of the ride was a bit mediocre, and there were a few rough spots in areas where you'd least expect it. The reason why I would still ride it again is because of the theming and the two inversions at the end of the ride.
The finale and theming are excellent, but there are a lot of weird and rough elements.
Rode this for the first time today I found out if you keep your head back and brace I barley hit my head. I thank Tennessee tornado is now rougher then this one. I loved I had nothing to complain about
I have better luck leaning forwards on rough rides.
@@CanobieCoaster well I guess it just depends on the persons hight. I’m shorter there for on Tennessee tornado my head is the Same hight and the shoulder bar. On mystery mine I’m a bit taller and was able to keep my self steady more.
@@CanobieCoaster same here, I tried keeping my head back, well it was worse
0:41 chain park???
Corporate park
Lost my wallet in 2010 on the lift hill of this ride. Felt it fall from my pocket on my cargo shorts and asked them to retrieve it after hours. The park refused to even LOOK for it and I met with and called their guest relations for days afterwards to no avail. I was stranded in Pigeon Forge with no money until a friend could wire me some funds. 😠
That sounds like an awful experience, sorry!
I feel like saw is the closest thing to this in terms of theme and style
True
They should have adjusted the last bump into the final break run. It’s a literal 🥜 crusher. 😭
Yes
I love this coaster for its theming, but the OTSR really dampen the ride experience
True
When I rode mystery mine, the fire was not present.
Dang that's unfortunate.
@@CanobieCoaster The fire doesn’t always show up. Maybe next time, it will be present.
It has character
Yes
Sour cream coaster
Nope
@@CanobieCoaster ahh man
A 7 is quite generous, the first half of this ride is just so bad. I do like the finale and the theming, which saves this from being a completely horrible attraction.
The ability to lean forwards and somewhat brace for the 1st half prevents it from being lower.
There is a bizarre segment of the general population of park goers who believe that if a coaster goes upside-down that it must have OTS restraint bars or it isn't safe. Sadly, that demographic makes up the majority of Dollywood's customers. For this reason I think HFE will never switch to "modern" Gerstlauer cars with lap bars...which really is a shame.
I also heard clearance is the big issue after making this.
I hate the *new Improvements* on Mystery Mine. The new trains with the lapbars would've been a better choice. This is definitely disappointing, as I really dug the first half.
Others have said clearances would be an issue with lap bars, but maybe vest restraints would be a compromise.
Be there when the park opens and go straight to Mystery Mine. You can usually ride it 2 times with no wait.
Makes sense