One of Dollywood’s most iconic attractions, Blazing Fury, roared back to life Friday with a nod to its rich history and the local heroes who help protect the Smoky Mountains community.
I was there for the reopening of the beloved ride, one of Dollywood’s oldest, and one of the very first rides I experienced when I first visited the park. There’s always been a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in Blazing Fury — and after riding it again Friday, I can say the heart and spirit of the attraction remain as strong as ever.
The refreshed Blazing Fury made its public debut during a special Independence Day ceremony. Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton joined members of the Pigeon Forge Fire Department, including Chief Tony Watson, for a ribbon-cutting to mark the occasion. In a fitting tribute, local firefighters and their families were the first to climb aboard the refreshed ride.
“Blazing Fury is an iconic Dollywood attraction, and we are glad we were able to finish our work in time to open it on July 4th during our 40th anniversary season,” Naughton said. “I’m proud of our teams who worked on this project, and I’m even more proud to ask our local heroes—members of the Pigeon Forge Fire Department and their families—to be the first ones to ride.”
Blazing Fury originally opened in 1978 and stands as Dollywood’s longest-operating roller coaster. Its storyline — which follows an 1880s mountain town as it battles a raging fire — has captivated generations of guests, myself included. The familiar call of “Fire in the hole!” echoed throughout the ride once again Friday as excited visitors relived the experience after months of refreshment work.
While the attraction’s classic storyline remains intact, guests will notice some enhancements throughout. Characters sport new costumes, signage has been updated, portions of track have been replaced, and the waterfall scene received a complete rebuild. All of the updates were done with respect for the ride’s nostalgic charm — a careful balance between preservation and improvement that Dollywood has mastered.
“Storytelling plays a vital part in the Dollywood experience,” Naughton added. “Blazing Fury has a rich history of entertaining guests through a unique combination of a renowned thrill ride and classic storytelling. It’s important to keep that alive for generations to come.”
The reopening coincided with the park’s larger 40th anniversary celebration and Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, which continues through Aug. 3.
Alongside Blazing Fury’s return, Dollywood announced the upcoming launch of “Dollywood Radio,” a new streaming station from iHeartMedia, debuting July 7 on the iHeartRadio app. The station features Dolly Parton’s music, her favorite artists, and exclusive content from the Smoky Mountain legend herself.
Dollywood’s 40th anniversary season continues with summer entertainment, art installations, the Sweet Summer Nights Drone & Fireworks Show, and returning favorites like the “Gazillion Bubble Show” and “The Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience.”
Later this year, Dollywood will host its Harvest Festival (Sept. 12 – Oct. 27) and Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 1 – Jan. 4, 2026), recently voted the industry’s Best Theme Park Christmas event.
But Friday, all eyes were on Blazing Fury — and for good reason. As someone who rode the attraction decades ago, I can say the ride still delivers that same sense of excitement, storytelling, and nostalgia that keeps people coming back.
For more information on Dollywood’s 40th season, visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
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(Photos and Video: Dollywood Parks & Resorts)
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