By Tim Cable
Anchor / WJHL
Published: November 27, 2006

A Smoky Mountain Christmas is shaping, up.

“IT’S JUST A BIG WOW FACTOR”, SAYS DOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, DAVE ANDERSON.

A giant German Christmas Pyramid is wowing ‘em at Dollywood.

“WHEN WE SET OUT TO FIND AN ICON AND DE’COR PIECE THAT WAS JUST A REAL STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHRISTMAS TIME WE FOUND THE GERMAN CHRISTMAS PYRAMID WHICH WAS TRADITIONALLY A TABLE TOP SIZE DE’COR ELEMENT”, DAVE SAYS.

“PYRAMIDS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE FOR THE MINERS WHO WORKED IN THE OREN MOUNTAIN ON THE EASTERN PART OF GERMANY”, SAYS CHRISTMAS PYRAMID EXPERT, DIETER HUNDT. “MADE BY THE WIVES TO WISH THEIR HUSBANDS WHO WORKED FOR 12 TO 14 HOURS IN THE MINES FOR COAL OR SILVER THAT NOTHING HAPPEN TO THEM”.

Many of the actual pyramids that you’ll find in Dollywood’s Olde World Christmas Market feature the miners themselves. Others have different themes..the Nativity’s a popular one..like in Dollywood’s big pyramid. Their colossal Christmas Pyramid is quite an impressive and imposing sight.

“WE SET OUT TO BUILD THE LARGEST ONE OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA”, SAYS DAVE. “SO THE GERMAN CHRISTMAS PYRAMID IS 45 FEET TALL, 25 FEET ACROSS AT THE BASE AND WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 20 TONS”.

Made of steel, wood and fiberglass coated sculpted foam..the pyramid’s surrounded by candles to represent light and warmth..and as for the propeller on top.

“IN A TRADITIONAL TABLE TOP DECOR PIECE, THE CANDLES WOULD BE REAL”, DAVE ADDS. “THE HEAT OF THE CANDLES ACTUALLY TURNS THE PROPELLER WHICH THEN TURNS A CENTER SHAFT WHICH THEN GIVES IT SOME MOTION AND ROTATION AND BRINGS IT TO LIFE”.

Now traditionally, these figurines would have been very small but that’s not the case with these, amazingly, they’re life size. As soon as you see them, you’ll probably think: Fisher-Price.

“THAT’S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST AMERICAN REFERENCE IS FISHER-PRICE PEOPLE”, SAYS DAVE. “BUT THEY’RE PATTERNED AFTER TRADITIONAL GERMAN FIGURES. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT NOW MAKE NUTCRACKERS AND PYRAMIDS AND THINGS STARTED AS TOYMAKERS”.

“WE HAD A LOT OF HOMEMADE CHRISTMASES, OUR DAD WAS REAL BIG ON MAKING HOMEMADE TOYS FOR US”, SAYS DOLLY PARTON.

This four and a half story pyramid is turning heads..putting a unique spin on Christmas time at Dollywood.

“IT’S A NICE, SOOTHING, GREAT PLACE TO JUST SIT AND RELAX AND WATCH IT TURN”, DAVE SAYS.