Dollywood

[Danny]

Looks like the best family coaster ever!

One downside is there's needs to be lots of trees and bushes around to make the area look dense and some more theming.
There is a video by coaster force with an on ride video showing the firework effect but I can't find the link!

[Owen]

Looks like the best family coaster ever!

One downside is there's needs to be lots of trees and bushes around to make the area look dense and some more theming.
There is a video by coaster force with an on ride video showing the firework effect but I can't find the link!

This one by chance? :lol

[Danny]

Looks like the best family coaster ever!

One downside is there's needs to be lots of trees and bushes around to make the area look dense and some more theming.
There is a video by coaster force with an on ride video showing the firework effect but I can't find the link!

This one by chance? :lol

I meant an off ride video

[NickiFan]

After watching a few POVs this isn't a family coaster of any kind, aha! It looks a little fast and intense for kids to go on. But on a positive note, the launches look fast, the effects are awesome and it has airtime! :lol

Looks good, dollywood seem to have a lot of good coasters now!

[Martin]

New POV courtesy of Theme Park Review

[Capt.Barnacles]

For a few months now Dollywood have been doing construction work in an area of the park. All signs point to it being an RMC coaster, with rumours of it being launched. Dollywood are streaming the announcement of the new ride today, you can watch it streamed at 3:30pm GMT today here:

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Discuss away!

[Capt.Barnacles]

So it's been announced, Dollywood is opening LIGHTNING ROD in 2016, the world's first launched wooden roller coaster.

Stats:
45mph launch up a 20 storey hill
165ft drop at 73 degrees
Top speed of 73mph, making Lightning Rod the world's fastest wooden roller coaster
3800ft track length
12 airtime moments, making up 20 seconds of airtime in total
12 car trains with a capacity of 24 people per train
Several unique features including twin summit airtime hills, a 90+ degree banked wave turn, a 90+ degree outside banked turn, and a non inverting half loop.

Dollywood have as suspected, commissioned Rocky Mountain Construction to build the new ride, so looks like we can expect something VERY good to happen now! It's scheduled to open March 2016.

[NemeJaney]

I also like the mention of the launch apparently being '1500 horsepower', which could perhaps stand out to people who know about cars and things. Quite clever really as it'll draw a bit more attention to a ride themed around these people's interests

[Jack]

My jaw dropped watching the rendering of this! what an amazing looking ride!

[lewis97]

I think this rendering just captures how awesome this is going to be.

[Aidan Lowe]

Have a feeling this is gonna be a world class coaster, really looking forward to the build of this.

[Jack]

Ok, this is what love looks like!

I'm very pleased to see an airtime based RMC looking at it again, loving the (mostly) terrain based layout as well! at first glance this ride is awesome, but when you put everything together it just shows how much more awesome this thing is really going to be!

[Aidan Lowe]

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Construction has begun, check above tweet with pictures.

[Stan.H]

The world's first Launching wooden coaster arrives to Dollywood in 2016! http://www.dollywood.com/themepark/rides/LightningRod

12 airtime moments!
73 mph top speed!
Massive airtime hill!
Half loop!
And much more!

This new RMC looks like an incredible investment and great addition to the park...

I love the sound of this, want to make a trip down to Dollywood to ride this beast and stay at the new hotel as well!

[Capt.Barnacles]

This information has already been covered in my initial post

[Adam.W]

More concept pics:











And a video:

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[lewis97]

These latest photos on the ThemeParkReview Forum show that the station and initial launch hill are well on their way up.

[lewis97]

Lightning Rod has now been topped off, with track for the first pre-drop also in place, as well as progress on the construction of the station building.







Source: ThemeParkReview Forum

[Dom]

A couple of wonderful shots of the coaster from @Thrillgeek on twitter

[Stan.H]

I love the way that Dollywood use their terrain in their rides and attractions, this will only add to the theme of the ride. This looks like an airtime machine!