Fire in the Hole (1972 roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fire in the Hole
Silver Dollar City
Location	Silver Dollar City
Park section	Hugo's Hill Street
Coordinates	36°40′13″N 93°20′27″W / 36.670261°N 93.340698°W / 36.670261; -93.340698
Status	Removed
Opening date	1972
Closing date	December 30, 2023
General statistics
Type	Steel – Enclosed
Manufacturer	Herschend Family Entertainment
Designer	Herschend Enterprises
Lift/launch system	Trains are powered, propelling themselves on uphill sections. Trains then freely roll over drops. Tires embedded in the track also move trains through certain sections.
Drop	20 ft (6.1 m)
Length	1,380 ft (420 m)
Speed	27 mph (43 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	3:15
Capacity	1000 riders per hour
Height restriction	36 in (91 cm)
Trains	2 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 12 riders per train.
Must transfer from wheelchair
Fire in the Hole at RCDB

Fire in the Hole was a popular enclosed roller coaster at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. This exciting three-story steel ride opened in 1972. It was built by Silver Dollar City itself. Many people thought it was a mix of a spooky dark ride and a thrilling roller coaster. A similar ride, "Blazing Fury", opened at Dollywood (then Silver Dollar City Tennessee) in 1978.

On February 13, 2023, Silver Dollar City shared that 2023 would be the ride's final season. It closed permanently on December 30, 2023. The park announced on August 14, 2023, that a new attraction with the same name, Fire in the Hole (2024), would replace it. The new ride welcomed guests starting March 30, 2024, in the park's new "Fire District."

Exploring Fire in the Hole: A Classic Roller Coaster

The Story Behind the Ride: Marmaros Town

A bartender rescues a dance hall girl from the town's tavern.

This Baldknobber is blasting riders with his cannon while a coyote eerily howls close by. The Baldknobber pictured was once hanging on a rope by his neck, but has changed to its current form in recent years. The cannon came from Silver Dollar City's musical production, “For the Glory.”

The Fire in the Hole ride told the story of Marmaros. This was a small hill town in the Ozarks. Marmaros was located near Marvel Cave. Today, this area is home to the Silver Dollar City theme park.

Marmaros grew because of mining. Miners came to collect bat droppings from the cave. Their families also moved there. Investors hoped the town would become a popular resort. They wanted it to be like other famous resort villages.

The town's survival depended on the cave's mining. When mining stopped, Marmaros slowly faded away. A big fire later destroyed much of the town. What remained moved south of the cave. This area is now underwater in Table Rock Lake.

The Mystery of the Fire

Rumors said a group called the Baldknobbers burned the town. The Baldknobbers were local groups who took justice into their own hands. The true story of the fire is hard to know. Some legends say a disagreement in a local gathering spot started the fire. Others suggest anger towards William H. Lynch caused it. He was a businessman from Canada who bought Marvel Cave. Lynch later opened the cave as a tourist spot. Records show the town did burn. However, the exact reason remains a mystery.

The ride's first ideas were about Marvel Cave. It was even called "The Devil's Den" during planning. This was an old name for the cave. Early plans included volcanoes and exploding geysers. These ideas changed, and the ride became what we knew.

The ride's unique story and older style made it a favorite. Many riders even had special phrases to shout during the journey. Guests saw scenes of townspeople fighting the flames. They crossed a collapsing bridge. They nearly got hit by a Steam train and crashed into a dynamite shack. The ride ended with a splash. Trains plunged over a drop into water. This splash was a key part of the ride from the start. Water cannons could even spray riders more in summer.

Journey Through the Burning Town

A section of a scene that has been removed. The scene gave the rider the illusion of broken tracks over a deep chasm. When it appeared to the riders that they would be in peril a sharp right turn away from the cliff was made.

Throughout the ride, many scenes showed Marmaros engulfed in flames. These scenes included a burning hotel. A Baldknobber was seen taking trousers from a guest trying to escape. There was also an off-limits Baldknobber camp and a blazing cabin.

Riders also saw a collapsing bridge. A Main Street scene featured a saloon, undertaker, and blacksmith shop. A confrontation happened on Main Street. Three Baldknobbers faced the town sheriff. This resulted in broken windows and bullet holes in a water tower. Water from the tower would then soak riders.

Changes to the Ride Over Time

In 1982, a large section of track was removed. This was done to allow more riders on the attraction. After the first dip, called the Collapsing Bridge, the ride would turn right. It then reconnected before the second dip, the Train Collision.

In the burning cabin scene, a moon and stars were visible. These were above an old track area. Near the "Kinney Bridge" sign, a large open space existed. This area once held other ride scenes.

Some removed scenes included Baldknobbers talking. They would say, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Then a gun would fire. Another scene showed a Baldknobber dumping a barrel. This barrel is now in a different part of the ride. A sign once read, "Danger, Track out ahead." Riders would then see what looked like broken tracks over a cliff. Just as they seemed to go over, the cars would sharply turn onto the real track.

The Fire in the Hole Theme Song

A special song was created for the ride in 1972. It played inside the ride and outside the building. While waiting in line, guests could hear the song. They also heard conversations between two men. These men talked about the brave actions of firefighters.