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Lightning Rod Reopens at Dollywood After Months of Downtime
Lightning Rod yesterday reopened at Dollywood after more than three months of downtime. The coaster last operated in early July.
Until last week, when the American Coaster Enthusiast (ACE) Southeast region’s Twitter account shared a photo of the coaster testing, the ride and even its station remained silent with little to no activity — at least when the park was open.
The park made no formal announcement of the ride’s reopening. But as of this posting, the “Lightning Rod is closed for repair. We apologize for any inconvenience.” notice had been removed from the roller coaster’s page on the Dollywood website.
Aside from that notice on the website, Dollywood remained tight-lipped about the coaster during its downtime. Rumors swirled that the park was removing the launch and adding a chain lift. Some speculated that the coaster would remain closed until the 2019 season.
Thankfully, those rumors obviously proved to be untrue.
Some of those who have ridden it since it reopen say the “pothole” at the bottom of the 165-foot drop is no longer noticeable. If you’re unfamiliar with the “pothole,” it was a jarring bump you would feel as the train leveled out at the bottom of the hill. It by no means ruined the ride, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
The new zero car is smaller and less “ornate” than the original. But if that’s what it takes to keep the coaster operating consistently, I’m all for it.
Have you ridden Lightning Rod since it reopened? Can you tell a difference? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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