Dollywood unveiled plans today for Lightning Rod, the world’s fastest — and first launched — wooden coaster.
Opening in March 2016, Lightning Rod is another groundbreaking Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) wooden roller coaster — themed after a tricked out 1950s-era hot rod.
Lightning Rod will launch its 24-seat trains from zero to 45 mph at an incline more than 20 stories up its lift hill to one of the ride’s first airtime moments.
At the crest of the hill, riders face twin summit airtime hills before tackling the daring first drop. Lightning Rod races down the 165-foot drop and propels guests along its 3,800-ft. track to a top speed of 73 mph, the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world, topping the 72mph top speed of Goliath at Six Flags Great America.
The $22 million coaster also marks the single largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history.
Watch a video of the ride below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFXbryGHMuw
Lightning Rod Facts
- 1500 Horsepower Launch at 45 MPH
- 20 Story Lift Hill
- 73º 165′ Drop
- Top Speed: 73 mph
- 12 Moments of Airtime.
“Lightning Rod reminds me so much of those colorful cars cruisin’ up and down Main Street in downtown Sevierville back when I was in high school. I remember all those souped up cars; but what I remember most were those good lookin’ boys behind the wheel with those flat top and ducktail haircuts,” Dolly Parton said with a laugh.
“I’m truly excited about this ride because it will let our guests experience something just as fast as those hot rods I remember,” she continued. “Even better, it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, so I think we’re going to see a lot of people coming from all over to peel out on the Lightning Rod.”
Dollywood’s development team has tapped Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) as the ride manufacturer. RMC is no stranger to out-of-the-box coaster projects, having designed a number of innovative attractions around the world. Lightning Rod employs several unique features including the lift hill launch, twin summit airtime hills, a 90+ degree banked breaking wave turn, a 90+ degree outside banked turn, and a non-inverting half loop.
Lightning Rod puts riders in the driver’s seat of Johnny Rev’s newest hot rod. After months of tinkering, Johnny invites Dollywood guests to step behind the wheel for the first test drive of his flashy new creation. Like any proper hot rod, massive header pipes and an imposing injector scoop peer out from the train’s flamed bodywork.
Located in Dollywood’s Jukebox Junction, Lightning Rod rockets riders around its massive wooden structure on an adrenaline-charged lap through the trees in the hills and valleys surrounding Dollywood.
During the ride, guests experience nearly 20 seconds of airtime. The coaster train is comprised of 12 cars, carrying two passengers each, for a total of 24 people per train.
For more information, visit Dollywood’s website. Lightning Rod is expected to open in March of 2016.
What do you think of Lightning Rod? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
So there’s Tennessee. We got Kentucky Kingdom, California (Roar at SFDK)
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