PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 2012) – A four-ton wild eagle, actually a sculpture weighing four tons, has landed at Dollywood as the symbol of the park’s newest ride, the Wild Eagle roller coaster.
Sculptor Kevin Stone created the towering art piece in Chilliwack, British Columbia, before it was shipped – not flown – 3,000 miles to Pigeon Forge.
The fierce-looking bird is a mixture of stainless steel and mild – or corten – steel. This is the first time Stone has used two metals on one sculpture.
The eagle’s head hovers more than two stories above the entrance to the Wild Eagle roller coaster and is posed with outstretched talons, ready to swoop down on its prey. Its wingspan measures 48 feet.
The roller coaster is a $20 million ride, the largest capital investment in Dollywood’s 26-year history, and is the first of its kind in the U.S.
Taking off from the Wilderness Pass area, riders will experience the sensation of flight as the track swoops and soars along a 3,127-foot-long journey.
Wild Eagle reaches a top speed of 61 miles per hour and maneuvers four inversions, including a giant loop, a “zero-G” roll and a giant flat spin.
Dollywood’s 2012 season starts on March 24.