Lightning Rod (roller coaster)

Lightning Rod is a wooden roller coaster located at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Marketed as the world's first launched wooden roller coaster, the ride is themed to hot rod cars from the 1950s and was manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction. It was originally planned to debut on opening day in 2016, but a problem with the ride's unique launch system delayed the opening to June 13, 2016. A mechanical issue occurred the following week, resulting in an extended closure that caused Lightning Rod to miss most of its debut season.

Lightning Rod
Lightning Rod main entrance
Dollywood
LocationDollywood
Park sectionJukebox Junction
Coordinates35.8058°N 83.5289°W / 35.8058; -83.5289
StatusUnder construction
Opening dateJune 13, 2016
Cost$22 million
General statistics
TypeWood – Launched
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
DesignerAlan Schilke
ModelTopper Track - Custom
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemLinear Synchronous Motor
Drop165 ft (50 m)
Length3,800 ft (1,200 m)
Speed73 mph (117 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration3:12[1]
Max vertical angle73°
G-force3.5[2]
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Lightning Rod at RCDB
Pictures of Lightning Rod at RCDB

History

Dolly Parton first unveiled plans for a new roller coaster in a presentation at Dollywood on August 7, 2015.[3] Upon opening, Lightning Rod became the first wooden roller coaster in the world to use a launch system instead of a traditional chain lift hill.[3] Featuring a peak speed of 73 mph (117 km/h), it also became the world's fastest wooden coaster.[3] The ride, estimated to cost $22 million, represented the largest investment in park history on a single attraction as of 2016.[3] The investment is one component of a multi-year expansion costing $300 million, which began in 2013.[3] The park hired Rocky Mountain Construction to design and manufacture the new coaster using its patented "Topper" Track technology.[4]

Lightning Rod was scheduled to open with the park on March 15, 2016, but the opening was postponed.[3][5][6] On March 24, 2016, Fred Grubb of Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) stated that the roller coaster's magnetic launch system, which was being developed by Pennsylvania-based Velocity Magnetics, "would not be able to perform at the level required for proper operation".[7] Grubb did not elaborate any further on the nature of the problem, nor did he estimate the length of the delay.[7] Lightning Rod opened occasionally for "technical rehearsals", where select guests could experience the ride, but it didn't open officially to the public until June 13, 2016.[8]

On June 20, 2016, Dollywood announced that Lightning Rod would be closed while a recalled mechanical part was being replaced on the roller coaster, by request of Rocky Mountain Construction.[9] Park officials re-opened the ride, again as a "technical rehearsal", on June 29, 2016.[10] On September 5, 2016, Dollywood announced that the ride was once again fully operational.[11]

Mayfield Dairy released a co-branded ice cream flavor called "Smoky Mountain Fudge" advertising Lightning Rod.[12]

Lightning Rod closed in early July 2018 for repairs. The ride reopened on October 10, 2018 after some modifications were done.[13]

On September 25, 2020, the coaster was announced to be closed for the 2020 season while the manufacturer Rocky Mountain Construction performs necessary changes to the attraction. The coaster was also taken off of Dollywood's website around the same time.[14] In November 2020, during the annual American Coaster Enthusiasts Smoky Mountain Coasterfest, the park confirmed that Lightning Rod will receive a partial replacement of its wooden topper track with RMC's steel Ibox track, thus making it a hybrid of wood and steel, instead of a full-on wooden coaster.[15] Out of the 3,800 feet of track, approximately 2,160 feet will be replaced with Ibox track, including the launch and final turnaround, with the intention of improving the coaster's reliability. No changes will be made to the layout or trains.

Ride experience

Lightning Rod's trains are themed to hot rod cars from the 1950s.[16] Each train has six cars, each seating four people (in two rows of two riders), for a total capacity of 24 riders per train.[16]

Lightning Rod departs the station via a right-hand turn and is launched up its first hill, accelerating from zero to 45 mph. After a short drop, the train crests and descends its tallest hill, dropping 165 feet and attaining its maximum speed of 73 miles per hour.[16][11] Lightning Rod then climbs to the left and enters the first of several steeply-banked turns. Dropping out of the turn, the train rises to the right, then snaps to the left and back to the right again.[11] After another right-hand turn, Lightning Rod enters another snap-left-then-right sequence. The train enters a double-up climb before descending the mountain through a sequence of four consecutive drops prior to banking right and passing near the station. The train then enters its final turn, a climbing 180-degree turn to the right, before dropping and entering the final brake run, leading to a right-turn back into the station.[11]

Awards

Lightning Rod claimed the Best New Ride of 2016 from the 2016 Golden Ticket Awards.[17]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2016201720182019
Ranking 11[18]5[19]6[20]7[21]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Carly Harrington (August 7, 2015). "Wood coaster, 'Lightning Rod,' is new at Dollywood for 2016". knoxnews.com. Journal Media Group. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  4. "Dollywood hopes to capture lightning in a coaster in 2016".
  5. "Lightning Rod: World's Fastest Wooden Coaster". Dollywood. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  6. "Dollywood's new "Lightning Rod" coaster delayed". WBIR.com. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  7. "RMC's Statement on the Delayed Opening of Lightning Rod Roller Coaster at Dollywood Theme Park". rockymtnconstruction.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  8. "After weeks of anticipation, Lightning Rod coaster opens at Dollywood". knoxnews.com. Knoxville News Sentinel. June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  9. "Spokesman: Motor locks up on Dollywood's 'Lightning Rod' coaster, causing smoke". WATE 6. June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  10. Thomas Novelly (June 29, 2016). "Dollywood's Lightning Rod coaster reopens after recall". tennessean.com. Gannett Newspapers. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  11. "Dollywood's Lightning Rod fully operational". wate.com. Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. September 5, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  12. "Lightning Rod On Mayfield's Newest Ice Cream Flavor". Dolly Parton.com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  13. "Lightning Rod Reopens at Dollywood After Months of Downtime".
  14. "Lightning Rod down for rest of 2020". September 25, 2020.
  15. "Lightning Rod at Dollywood Receiving New Track in 2021". Coaster101. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020. |first= missing |last= (help)
  16. "Dollywood Adds World's Fastest Wood Roller Coaster For 2016". dollypartonentertainment.com. August 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  17. Baldwin, Tim (September 2016). "Dollywood, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island win Best New Rides" (PDF). Amusement Today. Arlington, Texas. 20 (6.2): 28. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  18. "2016 top 50 wooden roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  19. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  20. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  21. "2019 Top Wood". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
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