Fire in the Hole (Silver Dollar City) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fire in the Hole |
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| 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 |
| Status | Closed |
| 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 |
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| 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 coaster was built by Silver Dollar City itself in 1972. It was a unique ride, often seen as a mix between a dark ride and a roller coaster.
A similar ride called "Blazing Fury" was built in 1978. It was located at Silver Dollar City Tennessee, which is now known as Dollywood. Silver Dollar City announced on February 13, 2023, that 2023 would be the last year for Fire in the Hole. The ride officially closed on December 30, 2023. However, a new version of Fire in the Hole is set to open in 2024 in the park's new "Fire District" area.
The Story Behind Fire in the Hole
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The Fire in the Hole ride told the story of Marmaros, a small town in the Ozarks hills. Marmaros was built near Marvel Cave, which is where Silver Dollar City is located today. The town grew because miners came to collect guano (bat droppings) from the cave.
The people who invested in the town hoped it would become a popular resort village. For a while, Marmaros grew very quickly. However, the town depended heavily on the mining at Marvel Cave. When mining stopped, Marmaros slowly began to fade away. Much of the town was later destroyed by a big fire. What was left of Marmaros moved to a new spot and is now underwater in Table Rock Lake.
It was rumored that a group of people called the Baldknobbers burned the town down. The true story of the fire is hard to know because facts and legends have mixed over time. Some people thought the fire started from a conflict in a local tavern. Others blamed it on anger towards William H. Lynch, a businessman from Canada who bought Marvel Cave. Lynch later opened the cave as a tourist attraction. We know for sure that the town did burn, but the exact reason might never be fully known.
The first idea for the ride was very connected to Marvel Cave itself. When they were planning Fire in the Hole, they called it "The Devil's Den." This was an old name for the cave. The ride was supposed to have volcanoes and exploding geysers. But these plans changed, and the ride became what it was.
Fire in the Hole became a favorite ride for many people. Riders would pass through scenes of the town's residents trying to put out the fires. They would cross a collapsing bridge and almost get hit by a steam train blowing its whistle. Finally, they would crash into a shack where dynamite was stored. In the very end of the ride, the coaster trains would speed over a drop into a pool of water, creating a big splash! This splash was part of the ride from the beginning. Water cannons in the splash area could spray more water in the summer to drench riders, and less in cooler seasons to only mist them.
Ride Scenes and Changes
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As you rode Fire in the Hole, you would see many scenes of Marmaros on fire. These scenes included a burning hotel, a camp of Baldknobbers, a blazing cabin, a collapsing bridge, and a Main Street. On Main Street, you would see a saloon, an undertaker's office, and a blacksmith shop. A shootout would happen on Main Street between three Baldknobbers and the town sheriff. This would cause the undertaker's windows to break and bullet holes to appear in the water tower, which would spray riders.
To allow more people to ride, a large section of the track was removed in 1982. After the first dip (the Collapsing Bridge), the ride used to turn right and then connect back in front of the second dip (the Train Collision). In the scene where the cabin was burning, there was a moon and some stars above one of the old track areas. Also, near the "Kinney Bridge" sign, to the left of riders, there was a big open space where scenes used to be.
The Fire in the Hole Theme Song
A special song was created for the ride in 1972. It played throughout the ride and could also be heard outside the building. While waiting in line, you could hear the song along with conversations between two men talking about the brave actions of firefighters.
