Safety System Suspends 38 In Air
Safety System Suspends 38 In Air Save Email Print
Reporter: Nick Bona

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Pigeon Forge (WVLT) -- Dollywood's Timber Tower remains closed one day after it gave some visitors a wild ride.

The photos came to us courtesy of a parent whose son was stuck on the 65 foot tall ride for nearly five hours.

According to a Dollywood spokesman, 38 people were on Timber Tower when its safety system engaged, locking it at its upper most point.

Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Firefighters used ladder trucks to get the suspended riders down.

No one was injured.

Timber Tower opened last year.

Park officials say they are unsure why the safety system engaged, but that it did do exactly what it is suppose to do.

The ride will remain closed until an independent third party completes an investigation.

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Posted by: wendy Location: knoxville on Jul 22, 2007 at 11:42 PM
My family & I was there on Saturday & spent the whole day there. We rode the Timber Tower sometime between 11:30 & 12pm. As we were all on the ride going around while in the air my sister & i kept hearing popping sounds, which freaked us out. Everytime that i have been there this year that ride has been down and not running. Maybe they need to consider taking it down & putting something new up...i know i will definately not ride that again after hearing this!!!!!

Posted by: KAYLA on Jul 3, 2007 at 11:40 PM
NOPE THAT WAS AT SIX FLAGS

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Did a girl lose her feet, during this malfuction (by a broken cable)?

Posted by: Felicia Location: Campbell county,TN on Jun 28, 2007 at 05:51 AM
I Think they should just tear that thing down and put a new one up because im sure dolly parton has enough money to get another ride that dont tear up every two days....timber tower is a wonderful ride but there is no excuse for making like 48 people sit in a ride for 6 hours steaight and then get a season pass to come back and get stuck on it again........omg

Posted by: Kitty Location: Ky on Jun 27, 2007 at 01:40 PM
I was stuck on the timber tower from 6:28 till 12:15. The employees at dollywood was doing everything they could to keep everyone calm so they would leave without being mad because there is a good lawsuit. People has to plan there life and thier activities around thier work, money,and time. When people plan a get away to enjoy thier time with thier family they don't want to spend 6 hours sitting on a ride watching everyone else running around having fun. I was on a very tight schedule after leaving dollywood I had to drive 3 hours home and turn around and drive for 11 hours to go back to work and because of dollywood I had to drive for 24 hours straight to get back on schedule. I think that the workers could of got us down a whole lot sooner. They should of been much more prepared for a situation like this. The only thing i got out of the whole deal was a season pass to Dollywood. Which isn't much after sitting up there for that long and wasting my time. My legs went numb, my back was hurting, my bladder was full, and i was hungry and wet from the previous water ride, and cold by the time i got down. Plus they havent even called to check up on me like they have with others that were there. I am interested in talking to other people that were on the ride and maybe talking to a lawyer.

Posted by: Brian Location: Jefferson City, TN on Jun 23, 2007 at 06:01 PM
I have heard a rumor, online, that Dollywood did not know how to properly maintenance this type of ride because of it's unique design. I am wondering if this is the reason why the ride's emergency system engaged.

Posted by: KAYLA Location: ROCKHOLDS KY on Jun 22, 2007 at 11:59 PM
OK IM BACK!! ANYHOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE STUCK IN THE AIR FOR SIX HOURS AND COULDNT MOVE AND STAY IN ONE SPOT!! THATS WHY MY BACK IS HURTIN BECAUSE IM NOT USE TO SITTIN IN ONE SPOT FOR FREAKIN SIX HOURS!!(RAYMOND THAT WAS TO YA) OH YES IT DOES TO!! WELL SEE YA!!

Posted by: kayla Location: kentucky on Jun 22, 2007 at 11:30 PM
Ok Raymond when did ya become a doctor! by back if freakin killin me still! i cant bend or anything! so yep! it was terrible watin there for ever!! yep, but it sure did take a LONG time for them to do anything!! oh if ya heard the people yellin for a lawyer and get us down and the cigratts that was me and my cuzns!! but i dont smoke so yeah!!

Posted by: Greg Location: Knoxville on Jun 22, 2007 at 07:47 PM
I was on the timber tower when it seized up. It was terrible waiting there. A real nightmare. The problem was that I needed to use the restroom before getting on the ride but waited thinking I would be alright. After five hours with a full bladder, I couldn't wait any longer and ended up wetting my pants. it was humiliating, a grown man losing control like that. I will not be visiting a theme park again for a long time.

Posted by: Daryel Location: Knoxville, TN on Jun 19, 2007 at 08:47 AM
Yeah, looks like Dollywood responded as well as they could. One thing I wonder though. I'm sure there is a good reason for it, but why does the safety system lock it in the top position rather than bringing the riders down?

Posted by: Raymond Location: Knoxville, TN on Jun 18, 2007 at 04:44 PM
This ride may not be the BEST ride Dollywood has to offer but I assure you all the rides at Dollywood are teh safest rides it the country. Sorry abotu this incident but calm down people NO ONE WAS HURT! and Kayla you back maybe hurt but it has nothign to do with sitting in the ride for 5 hours.

Posted by: Nancy Location: Harriman on Jun 18, 2007 at 02:41 PM
It could have been a lot worse. The safety system is in place for one reason-the safety of the riders. And they were stranded at the top, and not hanging toward one side. Granted, I would not want to have been riding when this happened, and what a nightmare it was for all involved, but I think Dollywood responded appropriately.

Posted by: kayla Location: rockholds,ky on Jun 18, 2007 at 01:37 PM
i was there on that ride when it was stuck i was on there for 5 1/2 hrs it sucked! my back is killing me and everything! we went for my 16 yr old cousin b-day!! she had a bad b-day because of it!! email me if you got any questions

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