Barnstormer, Swing amusement ride at Dollywood, Tennessee, United States.
Barnstormer is a swing ride at Dollywood, an amusement park in Tennessee, where two large mechanical arms lift riders into the air and spin them in wide arcs. Each arm holds eight rows of two seats, and riders are secured by lap bars throughout the motion.
The ride opened in 2011 as Dollywood's first major swing-type attraction, built by manufacturer S&S Worldwide. Its theme draws from the old traveling air show tradition that was once common across rural parts of the United States.
The ride's design draws from early aviation history, recalling a time when daring pilots traveled to small towns across America to perform aerial demonstrations for rural audiences.
Riders must meet a minimum height of 48 inches (about 122 cm) to board, so younger children are generally not admitted. Going early in the day or later in the afternoon tends to mean shorter lines.
Although the arms lift riders to around 81 feet (about 25 meters), the view from the top extends well beyond the park into the surrounding Smoky Mountain hills. Many visitors are caught off guard by how far they can see once the arms reach full height.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
