Dollywood's All-New Record-breaking 'Lightning Rod' Debuts

After a few glitches along the way, Dollywood's new Lightning Rod finally opened this week down in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  The new coaster gives fans yet another great reason to visit the beautiful space that boasts other great coasters like Firechaser Express, Mystery Mine, Tennessee Tornado, Thunderhead and Wild Eagle.  This record breaking, first of its kind launched wooden coaster, glides along 3,800 feet of track at 73 miles per hour and looks like a lot of fun.  Here's what the parkk has to say about Lightning Rod:

Themed after a tricked out 1950's-era hot rod, Lightning Rod launches riders from zero to 45 mph more than 20 stories up its lift hill to one of the ride’s first airtime moments. At the crest of the hill, riders face twin summit airtime hills before tackling the daring first drop. Lightning Rod races down the 165-foot drop and propels guests along its 3,800-ft. track to a top speed of 73 mph, the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world.

Located in Dollywood’s Jukebox Junction, Lightning Rod rockets riders around its massive wooden structure on an adrenaline-charged lap through the trees in the hills and valleys surrounding Dollywood. During the ride, guests experience nearly 20 seconds of airtime. The coaster train is comprised of 12 cars, carrying two passengers each, for a total of 24 people per train.

I visited Dollywood a couple of years ago and simply loved almost everything about the place, and with the addition of this new one, another trip may soon be in store.  So click play below and have a virtual ride...

Adventureland's New 'Monster'

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Looks like Des Moines, Iowa will be another hot destination for roller coaster enthusiasts this year. I'm speaking specifically of Adventureland Amusement Park in Altoona and their new Monster roller coaster.  I am loving the fact that these non big-name parks are whipping up some major thrills (see Lagoon's Cannibal).  When I first checked out a video of this one, which opened to the public this past Saturday, I salivated with excitement at that first, 101 degree drop.

Monster is the park's 4th roller coaster and by far the most fearsome.  Starting with that drop from a height of about 133 feet, this coaster whips through five different types of inversions at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour.  This new coaster won't warrant a specific trip to Des Moines, but if I am ever within 100 miles of it, I am going!  Check it out...

Six Flags Great Adventure Unveils "The Joker"

It's been almost nine months now since Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, announced their newest, and most noteworthy roller coaster since the debuts of Kingda Ka and El Toro in 2005 and 2006, respectively.  For we roller coaster enthusiasts, that's a very long time to wait for something as exciting as this, especially when it's at your nearest theme park.  Sure, the park has added The Dark Knight (2008), Green Lantern (2011), and Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom (2014), but none of those rides carry the weight of a coaster like this one.

McCall

Back in September, when the new ride was first announced, it was to be called Total Mayhem.  On Thursday, Six Flags unveiled this new 4D Free Fly Coaster, renamed The Joker, and it looks like a doozy!  According to Six Flags on their website:

The ride will be the most unique and intense attraction in park history, featuring one-of-a-kind magnetic technology and unique swiveling vehicles to deliver a sensation you've never experienced before.

On this new unbelievable adventure, you'll soar outside the confines of the track in wing cars facing other riders. You'll take an elevator-style lift straight up 120 feet in the air. When you reach the top, you'll begin to tumble head-over-heels, free-falling down two beyond 90-degree raven drops and experiencing at least six weightless flips.

The ride is set to open to season pass holders today and will be open to the public on Saturday, but if you just can't wait, then take a virtual ride on this screamer here...

Note: Already one of the cars on Joker malfunctioned yesterday and they had to shut the ride down to fix it.  Read the full story here.  Well, they have to work out the kinks, right?

Lagoon Amusement Park's Wicked Wicked Cannibal Coaster

Here's a coaster I've never heard of in a park that I haven't heard of either, but somehow it showed up on my Facebook feed the other day and I just had to share it.  The park is called Lagoon and it's located just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah (Hence, probably the reason why I never heard of it!). The coaster, Cannibal, is the park's newest attraction, opening last summer, though I guess new rides at the big name parks got all of the attention because this is the first I've seen of it.

Cannibal looks like one helluva ride, featuring a whopping 116 degree angle of descent on the first hill!  The structure itself is a thing of beauty and it all starts on an elevator lift that brings riders to a height of 208 feet before complete mayhem breaks loose, traversing three inversions, including a 140 foot loop, lots of twists and turns and all at about 70 miles per hour.  Hella cool!  Check out Cannibal...

Sources:

Theme park Review

Ultimate Roller Coaster