Lightning Rod (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lightning Rod |
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Lightning Rod main entrance
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| Dollywood | |
| Location | Dollywood |
| Park section | Jukebox Junction |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 13, 2016 |
| Cost | $22 million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Rocky Mountain Construction |
| Designer | Alan Schilke |
| Model | Topper Track - Custom |
| Track layout | Terrain |
| Lift/launch system | Linear Synchronous Motor |
| Drop | 165 ft (50 m) |
| Length | 3,800 ft (1,200 m) |
| Speed | 73 mph (117 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 3:12 |
| Max vertical angle | 73° |
| G-force | 3.5 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
| Lightning Rod at RCDB | |
Lightning Rod is a super exciting wooden roller coaster located at Dollywood amusement park. Dollywood is found near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This amazing ride was built by a company called Rocky Mountain Construction.
Lightning Rod is very special! It's the first and only wooden roller coaster in the world that uses a launch system. This means it shoots you forward at high speed instead of slowly climbing a big hill.
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About Lightning Rod
Lightning Rod is one of the most thrilling rides at Dollywood. It opened on June 13, 2016, and quickly became a favorite. The coaster cost about $22 million to build. It's known for its incredible speed and unique design.
What Makes It Unique?
Most wooden roller coasters use a chain lift to pull the train up the first big hill. But Lightning Rod is different! It uses a special system called a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) launch. This system uses powerful magnets to push the train forward very quickly.
This launch system makes Lightning Rod feel like a race car. It's the only wooden coaster that can do this!
How Fast and How High?
Lightning Rod is incredibly fast. It can reach a top speed of 73 miles per hour! This makes it one of the fastest wooden roller coasters anywhere.
After the launch, riders zoom up a hill and then plunge down a huge drop. The biggest drop on Lightning Rod is 165 feet tall. That's like falling from a 16-story building! The steepest part of the drop is at a 73-degree angle, which is almost straight down.
The Ride Experience
The ride lasts about 3 minutes and 12 seconds. During this time, you'll experience lots of twists, turns, and airtime hills. Airtime is that fun floating feeling you get when the coaster goes over a hill.
The track is 3,800 feet long, which is almost three-quarters of a mile! The ride also pulls about 3.5 G-forces. This means you'll feel like you weigh 3.5 times your normal weight during some parts of the ride.
Where to Find It
Lightning Rod is located in the Jukebox Junction section of Dollywood. This area has a fun 1950s theme. The coaster's theme is based on hot rods and drag racing, fitting perfectly with the Jukebox Junction vibe.
