Lightning Rod, Launched roller coaster at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Lightning Rod is a wooden and steel roller coaster with a launch system at Dollywood amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The track winds through forested terrain and reaches a top speed of roughly 73 miles per hour (117 km/h).
The coaster opened in June 2016 and was the first wooden roller coaster in the world to use a launch system. In 2021 major changes replaced wooden sections with steel track to improve reliability and performance.
The theme draws on American hot rod culture from the 1950s, connecting the ride to the car heritage of the Tennessee region. The train design and station styling recall that era when visitors board and race through the forested hills.
Daily inspections take place before operation begins and determine whether the ride runs each day. Throughout opening hours crews check the system regularly, which may lead to brief pauses now and then.
The launch takes place uphill rather than on flat ground, which is rare among roller coasters. This approach uses the natural slope of the terrain and carries the train straight into steep hillside sections.
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