Wabash Cannonball, Steel roller coaster at Opryland USA in Nashville, United States
The Wabash Cannonball was a steel roller coaster at Opryland USA, a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring two back-to-back vertical loops. The track ran at ground level for much of its length before rising into those twin loops, which were clearly visible from other parts of the park.
Arrow Development built the coaster in 1975 for Opryland USA, which was already a well-known destination for country music fans and families. The ride operated for more than two decades until the park closed in 1997 and was later replaced by a shopping mall.
The ride takes its name from a classic American folk song about a steam locomotive, a reference that felt natural in Nashville, the home of country music. Visitors familiar with the song could appreciate the connection between a high-speed ride and a roaring train barreling down the tracks.
The coaster was aimed at riders comfortable with inversions and had a minimum height requirement to ride. Lines tended to grow quickly on busy days, so arriving early in the morning gave the best chance of a shorter wait.
Among the five roller coasters that operated at Opryland USA, this was the only one with an inversion, setting it apart from the rest of the park's lineup. Arrow Development, the company that built it, was also responsible for many of the first looping coasters across the country during that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
