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Lightning Rod
Dollywood
LocationDollywood
Park sectionJukebox Junction
Coordinates35°48′21″N83°31′44″W / 35.8058°N 83.5289°W
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 13, 2016
Cost$22 million
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
DesignerAlan Schilke
ModelTopper and I-Box Track
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
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Lightning Rod is a steel roller coaster located at Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the ride is themed to hot rod cars from the 1950s and opened to the public on June 13, 2016. Initially marketed as the first launched wooden roller coaster of its kind, Lightning Rod was later modified for the 2021 season, with over half of its wooden Topper Track getting replaced with RMC's steel I-Box Track. Prior to the conversion, Lightning Rod was considered the fastest wooden coaster in the world reaching a maximum speed of 73 mph (117 km/h). Dollywood originally planned for the ride to open at the beginning of the 2016 season, but it was delayed due to a problem with the magnetic launch system. Lightning Rod operated in limited capacity for much of its inaugural season and has been plagued with issues over the years that led to frequent closures.

History[edit]

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 (RMC) 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]

After several days of operation, Dollywood closed Lightning Rod on June 18, 2016.[9] RMC requested a recall for a mechanical part being used on multiple coasters the company designed and manufactured, causing all of them including Lighting Rod to close for a short period of time.[10] The ride reopened in limited capacity on June 22, 2016.[11] Park officials later clarified that the ride was operating in 'technical rehearsal' status, meaning it would close periodically for maintenance.[12] On September 5, 2016, Dollywood lifted that status stating that the ride was fully operational.[13]

Another extended closure occurred in 2018. Lightning Rod closed in early July 2018 and didn't reopen until October 10, 2018.[14] The park didn't specify the reason for the closure, but Director of Public Relations Pete Owens stated it was not related to the launch.[14] After it reopened, guests noticed changes to the lead car of each train as well as new wood along portions of the ride's structure.[14] In late September 2020, Lightning Rod closed again, this time for the remainder of the season.[15] Rocky Mountain Construction began work to make major unspecified modifications to the attraction.[15] In November 2020, during the annual American Coaster EnthusiastsSmoky Mountain Coasterfest, park officials confirmed that a portion of Lightning Rod's wooden Topper Track was being replaced with steel I-Box Track, making the coaster a hybrid of wood and steel.[16] It reopened with the park in 2021.[17] RCDB updated the roller coaster's classification from wood to steel, reporting that 57 percent of the track had been converted.[18]

Ride experience[edit]

Classroom

Lightning Rod's trains are themed to hot rod cars from the 1950s.[19] Each train has six cars, with each car seating four people (two rows of two riders), for a total capacity of 24 riders per train.[19]

Magnetic rod rack

The train makes a right-hand turn as it departs the station and launches up the first hill, accelerating from zero to 45 mph (72 km/h). The train drops a short length into a dip that leads into the tallest hill of the ride. After cresting the second hill, the train drops 165 feet and reaches a maximum speed of 73 mph (117 km/h).[19][13] A climb to the left follows, and the train enters the first of several steeply-banked turns. It then rises to the right, snaps to the left, and then back to the right once more.[13] This is followed by a right-hand turn, another snap-left-then-right sequence, and a double-up climb. The train then descends through a sequence of four consecutive drops and a sharp bank to the right as it passes near the station. The finale is a final uphill, 180-degree turn to the right that finishes with a short drop into the final brake run.[13]

Awards[edit]

Lightning Rod claimed the Best New Ride of 2016 from the 2016 Golden Ticket Awards.[20]

Magnetic rod and ball toy
Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2016201720182019
Ranking11[21]5[22]6[23]7[24]

Advertising[edit]

Magnetic Rod Holder For Car

Mayfield Dairy released a co-branded ice cream flavor called 'Smoky Mountain Fudge' advertising Lightning Rod.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^'Dollywood: 2016 Park Accessibility Guide'. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link) CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ abcdefCarly 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.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  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.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. ^'Dollywood's new 'Lightning Rod' coaster delayed'. WBIR.com. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  7. ^ ab'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.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  8. ^'After weeks of anticipation, Lightning Rod coaster opens at Dollywood'. knoxnews.com. Knoxville News Sentinel. June 13, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  9. ^Proessel, Whitney (June 18, 2016). 'Dollywood's 'Lightning Rod' Closed For Recall'. WATE 6. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  10. ^'Spokesman: Motor locks up on Dollywood's 'Lightning Rod' coaster, causing smoke'. WATE 6. June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  11. ^Plautz, Jessica (June 22, 2016). 'The Fastest Wooden Roller Coaster in the World Has Reopened for the Summer'. Travel + Leisure. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  12. ^Thomas Novelly (June 29, 2016). 'Dollywood's Lightning Rod coaster reopens after recall'. tennessean.com. Gannett Newspapers. Retrieved June 30, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  13. ^ abcd'Dollywood's Lightning Rod fully operational'. wate.com. Young Broadcasting of Knoxville, Inc. September 5, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  14. ^ abcStevenson, John (October 11, 2018). 'Lightning Rod Reopens at Dollywood After Months of Downtime'. Coaster101. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  15. ^ ab'Lightning Rod down for rest of 2020'. September 25, 2020.
  16. ^Ozana, Rus (November 14, 2020). 'Lightning Rod Update'. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  17. ^Niles, Robert (March 12, 2021). 'Dollywood Changes Track for 2021 Season Debut'. Theme Park Insider. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  18. ^Marden, Duane. 'Lightning Rod (Dollywood)'. Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  19. ^ abc'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.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  20. ^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.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  21. ^'2016 top 50 wooden roller coasters'. Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  22. ^'2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters'. Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  23. ^'2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters'. Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  24. ^'2019 Top Wood'. Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  25. ^'Lightning Rod On Mayfield's Newest Ice Cream Flavor'. Dolly Parton.com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2017.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lightning Rod (roller coaster).
  • Official website
  • Lightning Rod at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lightning_Rod_(roller_coaster)&oldid=1016984760'
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