Dollywood theme park building $22M wood roller coaster
The theme park has announced a new $22 million ride that is billed to be the world’s fastest wooden roller coaster.
The park says the Lightning Rod, themed after a 1950s-era hot rod, should be ready for visitors in March 2016.
The Lighting Rod will launch riders up 20 stories from a standstill to 45 mph. Riders will experience 20 seconds of airtime along the 3,800-foot track. The top speed will be reached down a 165-foot drop.
The new ride themed after a 1950s-era hot rod is billed as the world’s fastest wood coaster by reaching speeds of 73 mph.
The $22 million price tag marks the largest single investment in the Dollywood Co.’s history.
Dolly Parton opened Dollywood in 1986 in Pigeon Forge near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
