Dollywood Announces Lightning Rod - World's Fastest and First Launching Wooden Coaster for 2016!

Well, it looks like the folks at Dollywood have announced yet another unique spin on things for the coaster world, this time with the all new Rocky Mountain Construction coaster, Lightning Rod! Not long ago, all the details were released on this all new groundbreaking wooden coaster. Not only will it be the fastest wooden coaster in the world, but also the world's first launched coaster. Yeah, that's a little crazy. Let's let that sink in for a minute.

Okay, ready? Well, before getting into the specifics, here's the announcement trailer for this insane creation that's coming to the park for the 2016 season.


Not a full POV, but there's a ton of things in there to talk about regardless. So, just what can we expect from this $23million dollar monster?

First off is the launch, with 1,500 Horsepower trains will be sent up a 20 story hill at 45mph. Then, the drop comes, plummeting 165ft at 73 degrees and hitting a top speed of 73mph. From here, it's a race to the finish that features 12 airtime moments spread across the 3/4 of a mile long twisting journey through the hills and woods of Dollywood.

That's not all though, here's a few other elements that will be in the ride:

• 90+ degree banked "Breaking Wave" turn
• 90+ degree outside banked "Top Hat"
• Non-inverting Half Loop
• Quadruple Down

That's a lot to take in on this one! A few elements I definitely haven't heard of and there's some interesting takes on a few classics as well.

Here's a what Dolly Parton had to say about things as well;

“Lightning Rod reminds me so much of those colorful cars cruisin’ up and down Main Street in downtown Sevierville back when I was in high school. I remember all those souped up cars; but what I remember most were those good lookin’ boys behind the wheel with those flat top and ducktail haircuts,” Dolly Parton said.

“Even better, it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, so I think we’re going to see a lot of people coming from all over to peel out on the Lightning Rod.”

Now, wanna see some rendering shots? Sure ya do!

Fire Chaser Express- Lead Car on Display

 More news today coming out of both Dollywood and the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Convention!

Image from Dollywood's Twitter Account

 Yesterday Dollywood's Twitter account tweeted this image from the IAAPA convention currently going on in Orlando, Florida.  On display is the lead car from Dollywood's new coaster for 2014- Fire Chaser Express.

  In case you haven't been keeping up, Fire Chase Express is a duel launch 'family coaster' but it features some very intense looking elements. I'd suggest checking out- Fire Chaser Express Animation Released for more information!

Rumor- B&M Coasters create 5 Point Harness?

 This image surfaced today out of the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson, Missouri.

 Please Note- I'm classing this as a "Rumor" simply because there is no real conformation of this project from either the Park or the Designer.

 Negative G reports that this new harness is something being testing by roller coaster giant, Bolliger-Mabillard. Early rumor states this is a new "5-Point Harness" which should allow amputees to ride on their coasters. Employees of Silver Dollar City also believe that Dollywood may be testing this system also.

 This would be surprising as Busch Gardens is normally the testing parks for B&M coasters in the United States. Another point which I've started to wonder about- Most B&M coasters feature a full shoulder harness with the exception of their hyper-coasters (a full circuit roller coaster without inversions and over 200 feet tall).

 Now if your still with me here, have you ever seen the "water dummies" they use to test roller coasters? Their rather weird to look at but notice one key part- They lack both arms and legs.

 So, if you can test a standard B&M shoulder harness coaster with these I'm wondering why folks who've lost a limb have trouble riding? I get that on the lap-bar only coasters a problem could easily happen (and did) but wiggling out of a shoulder harness is damn near impossible unless your some kind of contortionist.

 Seriously, you can't get those off without the coaster having power or some heavy-duty power tools being involved. Even if your missing a single limb (be it arm or leg for whatever reason) I don't see why riding would be a problem nor why you would need a full 5-point harness. If the water dummies ride just fine, I'd think real people would be just fine? Granted, I'm not coaster designer nor do I have any kind of impressive engineering nor physics degree.. just a healthy dose of common sense.

 Either way, if this turns out to be true I'm very pleased that B&M is going the extra mile to make sure those who may be missing a limb will have extra safety precautions and will soon be able to enjoy the thrill of coaster riding.

Dollywood- Fire Chaser Express Animation Released

Dollywood's newest roller coaster may be labeled as a 'family ride' but when the new animation of the ride was released today, it looks like the coolest 'family ride' ever!  Not only does this newest ride have a launch, it also has a lift hill and a backwards return to the station! This ride looks surprising both fun and rather long.. check out the video.


Fire Chaser Express will open at Dollywood for the 2014 season.

Rumor Round-Up for Late August 2013

Rumor Round-Up

Late August 2013 Edition

 Holy Crap!

 Rumors have been thick on the ground lately in the theme park and amusement park world, everyone is making announcements and most of us are speculating wildly about what's really going on!  So I've tired to compile a decent collection so you can keep up-to-date with who may be doing what for 2014 and beyond!

Dollywood Announces FireChaser Express and Dreammore Resort

Dollywood Announces FireChaser Express 

 "Now comes your turn to celebrate that heroic spirit in a new coaster that’s sure to test your mettle, and leave you screaming for more!  It’s the FireChaser Express – the nation's first dual launch family coaster – blasting riders forward and backward!"

Today at 11am Dollywood announced what the mystery project for 2014 will be. The park is adding in a new duel launch roller coaster called Fire Chaser Express. The stats for this new attraction look pretty amazing, the United State's first duel launch coaster. It's a forward and back launched roller coaster, which is labeled as a family coaster "little kids, 4 years old, can ride". With this addition Dollywood will now host seven roller coasters and dozens of other rides and attractions.  The park has also hinted that they plan to keep up the building spree in the coming years with new "big attractions" and "big shows".

Stats for FireChaser Express
Builder: Gerstlauer
Height Restriction: 39 Inches
Speed, Length and Drop: Unknown

It is themed around saving the great smokey mountains from a forest fire on the Fire Chaser Express train.

 This total upgrade of the park also includes a new family resort to be built on Dollywood property, both projects are costing in the range of $300 million over the next ten years.  The resort, called "Dreammore Resort" will have 300 rooms on 100 acres of property next the the water park with ground transportation available.  It's planned to open in 2015.

 There is also a new Christmas Show where Dolly herself will play the "Ghost of Christmas Past" coming to the park.

Dollywood 'New Attraction' Announcement Coming Soon? UPDATE

UPDATE 8/21/13: 
FireChaser Expressed Announced for Dollywood in 2014 as well as a new Resort Hotel! 

Image from Dollywod's Facebook Page

 Wow, the "new something" announcements are flying thick on the air this month and Dollywood isn't about to be left out of the loop.  Something new is coming to Dollywood in 2014 and the big reveal with come on August 21st at 11am.

 The rumor mill is speculating that this may not be an entirely 'new' ride but a massive refurbishment of an older attraction. Some say it could be the old mine train "Thunder Express" which is defunct while others are pointing to a completely new attraction, probably a roller coaster. Honestly, I've seen guesses that range from "A NEW Dollywood Park in Florida" to "Resort Hotel" so this one is entirely up in the air. However, keep in mind that Dollywood last built in 2012 when they put in "Wild Eagle" which is a terrain wing coaster.


Update 8/20/12
 We've managed to compile the clues up which have been given about the Dollywood Announcement which is coming tomorrow at 11am. I admit, the clues are confusing. Do they mean a new attraction or perhaps a resort hotel attached to the property? The Rumor Mill is leaning to this being a multiple announcement, meaning more then one thing will be announced for the park in 2014.

One Reader, Megan, Suggested a Snow Park. While a good thought, it looks like today's big clue puts all our wondering to rest. It looks like it's confirmed to be a roller coaster! Today's big clue was "Duel Launch" which could only mean we're looking at a brand new coaster coming to Dollywood in 2014!

Either way, here are the current clues up to today's!

-Aug. 5: “Express”
-Aug. 6: “in 2014″
-Aug. 7: “make Dollywood”
-Aug. 8: “thanks to”
-Aug. 9: “ultimate”
-Aug. 10: “beautiful”
-Aug. 11: “new”
-Aug. 12: “and my”
-Aug. 13: “thrilling”
-Aug. 14: “family”
-Aug. 15: “Dollywood’s”
-Aug. 16: “opening”
-Aug. 17: “vacation”
-Aug. 18: “in 2015″
-Aug. 19: “destination”
-Aug. 20: "duel-launch"
-Aug. 21:



 ISI will be following the rumors and bringing you the news of Dollywood's newest attraction as soon as the announcement hits (or someone spills the beans to us)!

News around the Theme Park Circuit- East Coast Edition

Greetings Again!

I hope your all getting ready for a wonderful summer of traveling and theme park attendance, I know that I'm certainly looking forward to the trips I've got planned.  Was it just me or was this winter entirely weird? Time for some warm weather and a look at what's new and exciting around the east coast theme park circuit.

 Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Verbolten Opening
Rumors are flying threw the air about a soft open for Verbolten starting sometime around March 31 with the full opening coming late this spring, projected for sometime late April.

Flying Turns at Knoebels: 2012 Opening?
Well rumors are once again saying that Flying Turns may possibly have a late 2012 season opening. Knoebels has been very closed mouthed in regards to updates on the ride since late 2011.

SkyRush at Hershey Park: 5/2012
Slated to open in May 2012
Construction is nearing completion on the new Intamin psycho-coaster to open up. I'm starting to wonder if Hershey is going to run out of places to stuff these things in!

Dorney Park: Stinger
Another relocation from Six Flags Cedar Point is coming to Dorney Park this year. Yet another obnoxious Vekoma Boomerang, moved from California's Great America.

Dollywood: Wild Eagle 3/2012
Set to start testing in late March (if not already) this will be the first Wing Coaster from our friends at B&M built on the east coast.  Looks to be a truly awesome ride once it gets open.  Plus I doubt Dollywood will try to pull the same kind of stunt that the nutters over at Thorpe Park did!

Kennywood: Black Widow 2012
Well it seems Kennywood really is doing the "boxed attractions" route now with new owners. Seems those of us out here in Pittsburgh are the proud new owners of a (augh) swinging, spinning pendulum ride.
Wonder how much they'll raise ticket prices for this lawn ornament?

 Six Flags: Fiesta Texas, Great Adventure
Sky Screamer 2012.

Not to be outdone by their not-so-creative-now competition Six Flags has gone and made an answer to Cedar Fairs "Wind Seeker". Get this, same concept only we're gonna do it with CHAINS like a classic wave swinger! Sounds ever so safe with your feet dangling 100+ feet in the air. These have already had problems but forget that! We'll keep installing them, Great Idea!

Cedar Point: 2012
Yup, you guessed it. Cause it was so massively popular? Anyway, rather then doing some cool (stick to coasters) our friends over at Cedar Point have gone and installed yet another clone of the Dinosaurs Alive attraction. This time Cedar Point its-self has gotten this one. Are we spotting the Six Flags trend here yet?

Six Flags New England: 2012
Six Flags is moving Deja Vu from Magic Mountain (it never worked right) to Six Flags New England for the 2012 season. Wonder if they needed a new lawn ornament?

Six Flag Great America: 2012
Looks like they are getting a B&M X-Flight flying style coaster for the 2012 season. A fresh built B&M at that,  I've forgotten Six Flag could do fresh builds!

Six Flags America: 2012 Apocalypse
Six Flags is moving the former "Iron Wolf" coaster from Great America and is coming to Maryland under the name of Apocalypse. A large, old stand-up coaster. Might be a nice change?

 Seaworld Adventure Park Orlando: 2012
TurtleTrek (Augh) is replacing Manatee Encounter. Supposedly to have a 360 degree, 3D movie theather added into the attraction of a Sea Turtles journey. Followed by an exhibit of (get this) Turtles!

Freestyle Music Park: Sold?!
Rumors are that a Russian company is currently in talks to purchase the (badly placed) Freestyle Music Park in Myrtle Beach, NC.  There is no current news as to if this has fallen threw or may really happen, sad to see anything rusting away like this place currently is.

Bluegrass Boardwalk: 2013
Formerly Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
It's official! The amazing people of the Koch Family who own and operate Holiday World in Santa Clause, IN have signed a deal with the state of Kentucky to re-open the former Six Flags park.  You can follow all the updates of the Koch family putting this park back together at http://bluegrassboardwalk.com/




Well, I hope this keeps you all up-to-date in the current news and openings.  I've probably missed some or several that are going on around the east coast, so please feel free to comment on them!