Lightning Rod at Dollywood blasts down a Smoky Mountain hillside as one of the most unique coasters Rocky Mountain Construction has ever built.
It debuted in 2016 as the world’s first launched coaster on a wooden-track-style hybrid, reaching 73 mph and 165 feet on a hot-rod theme.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction
- Opened: 2016
- Height: 165 feet
- Top speed: 73 mph
- Length: 3,800 feet
- Note: Debuted with a launch up the lift; later converted to a traditional chain lift
The Ride Experience
Instead of a slow climb, Lightning Rod originally launched riders up its lift hill before plunging 165 feet down the mountainside. The terrain-hugging layout delivers a run of steep drops and airtime hills themed to a 1950s hot rod.
A One-of-a-Kind Coaster
Lightning Rod’s launch system made it a record-setter at debut. After reliability challenges, Dollywood converted it to a conventional chain lift, but its mountain-carving layout and RMC airtime keep it a fan favorite.
Explore more: types of roller coasters.
Lightning Rod FAQs
How fast is Lightning Rod?
73 mph, down a 165-foot drop along the Dollywood hillside.
What made Lightning Rod unique?
It opened in 2016 as the first launched coaster of its kind, launching riders up the lift rather than using a chain.
Where is Lightning Rod?
At Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Been to Lightning Rod? Log It on ThrillZing
Create a free ThrillZing account to log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Lightning Rod, and share your take — then see what your friends and crews thought of it too. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: / The original uploader was McDoobAU93 at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.