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    Lightning Rod

    4.8 (16 reviews)

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    Arlene M.

    Lightning rod is by bar the best wooden coaster I have ever ridden. Overall at Dollywood it is now is my favorite and has Big Bear mountain beat.(Reviewed separately) Who would ever thought that when you begin you first accent up the mountain that all of a sudden you would be whoosed at such a speed to get you on you way before you even reach the top. The ride rounds out with twists and curves that has you screaming for more. Perhaps another thing I like is that the side of your seats don't come in contact with you ears. Several of the coasters here including those at other amusement parks have your head banging from side to side and thus you ear gets slapped against the the sides of your seat. Timesaver pass is available for Lightning rod but due to popularity you are only able to use it once. I've always been a fan of the woods and this one is truly not to be missed. You owe it to yourself to check out this coaster when visiting Dollywood.

    Rachel Macie H.

    An RMC Coaster that's also a launch oh is it even possible you better believe it and this coaster has it so buckle up and get ready for one hell of a ride! To be honest I really do didn't expect this Coaster this be as awesome as it really is as it has a bit of a unique factor as it's the only launch coaster built by RMC which is totally awesome as who doesn't like a good hybrid! This is yo there with some of my favorites as the ride itself is totally unpredictable as your speeding through the awesomeness that is the Smokey Mountains with the wind in your hair wile your twisting and turning not knowing where you'll go next all the way to the end! This is a great addition to the awesomeness that is Dollywood I will be looking forward to my next visit here as this ride has s awesome and just soo much fun in that super Unique RMC type of way!

    Signage is simple, meant to look like a 1950's gas station! Pretty cool tbh
    Eric S.

    SPEED DÆMONS The world's fastest wooden roller coaster (yes, you read that right) is an unbelievable rush and Dollywood's headlining attraction. Ever since this unprecedented ride debuted in mid-2016, I'd heard stories from fellow coaster enthusiasts about just how balls-to-the-wall Lightning Rod was. Apart from the wicked speed, it dishes out a considerable amount of 'airtime' in a glorious woodsy setting. LR eschews the conventional clickety-clack chain lift mechanism; instead, it utilizes a magnetic launch identical to the one on 'Maverick' @ Cedar Point. Linear synchronous motors rocket the train up the side of the mountain at 45mph and through a quick dip before things really kick into overdrive. A 165ft drop brings the trains -- fashioned to look like a 1950's hot rod -- to a mind numbing 73mph at the base of a large hill. A series of heavily banked turns (some turning the train completely horizontal) and zippy snapbacks lead to a double-up and the ride's highlight. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: THE QUADRUPLE-DOWN. All coasters have a drop, many have a double-down, and at least one special ride has a triple-down in the dark. But the series of 4 drops in succession on Lightning Rod takes the cake. It's sublime. Though there aren't any inversions like on 'Goliath' @ Six Flags Great America or 'Outlaw Run' @ Silver Dollar City (a sister park to Dollywood, as a matter of fact), L-Rod doesn't need 'em. Its claim to fame is simple: speed + airtime. And you get a whole lotta both! Sadly, as with all things that push the envelope of possibility, Lightning Rod was -- and still very much is -- prone to issues. The LSM launch used on the ride's lift hill caused the attraction to miss virtually its entire opening season. Further delays were encountered on & off throughout 2017, and when I visited on 3/28/18, the coaster was only operating intermittently. (( quick shout-out to Mitchell D, who gave Lightning Rod the 1-star treatment. what the f*ck happened, man? did a girl spurn your advances while waiting in line? were you inappropriately fondled by a ride operator?? I rode in the EXACT same seat as you did and am just as tall/heavy. I was fine, my petite latin girlfriend was fine. your "leg pain" is probably an existing condition, roller coasters don't cause that. L-Rod is an *extreme* thrill ride, so perhaps the merry-go-round is more your speed, you gigantic pussy. thanks for trying to ruin the rating of a brilliant wooden roller coaster. )) ______________ FINAL VERDICT: This diabolical thrill machine from Rocky Mountain Construction is three things -- fast, furious, unreliable. It can take your breath away, or leave you heartbroken depending on the day/time you visit. We got lucky on a Wednesday late afternoon, but the launch is dicey at best, meaning you MIGHT miss this on a day at the park. Lighting Rod is an exhilarating 90 seconds to be sure, though it's not the best roller coaster here, and only the 7th-best wooden roller coaster I've ridden so far in life....... Eric S's Dollywood coaster rating: 2nd out of 7!

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    Review Highlights - Lightning Rod

    Apart from the wicked speed, it dishes out a considerable amount of 'airtime' in a glorious woodsy settin

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    Dollywood - Experience great southern cooking at Front Porch Cafe.

    Dollywood

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Well to start the parking was 25.00 and we saw adds everywhere for the new ride( Night passage )…read morethis is one reason we went but we could not even find construction site for where it might be some day . We love the train and it was closed as well .

    I grew up going to Disneyland since the 1980s. To me, that has always been the standard for…read moreamusement parks. Fast forward to 2026 and it was my first time coming out to Pigeon Forge to check out Dollywood as I was in town to participate in the inaugural Run Dollywood Half Marathon. Although I had a 2-day park ticket, I needed to save my legs for the race. Parking was $25, but thankfully, it was free for race participants and spectators. For both days, I didn't stay very long. It was raining the first day, so I mostly walked around to check everything out. It wasn't too large, but a decent size. Over the 2 days, I did go on 2 rides: Lightning Rod and Blazing Fury. The Lightning Rod was a pretty thrilling ride. They really do have you strapped in tight! The Blazing Fury was entirely indoors, kind of weird, and much more tame in comparison. Some other rides that I saw were Demolition Derby, Lemon Twist which was their version of Disney's Mad Tea Party, and The Amazing Flying Elephants which was their version of Disney's Dumbo. They had quite a few more rides. It was a good mixture of rides for the little ones as well as for the older thrill seekers. While they had a lot of fair type foods at various locations, I only made sure to visit the Grist Mill to try their famous cinnamon bread. I don't have much of a sweet tooth and I thought it was indeed worth it and lived up to the hype!

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    The Island - Dance Party 360º at The Island is a MUST!

    The Island

    4.1(535 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    My family and I visited The Island in Pigeon Forge early on a Monday morning, and it turned out to…read morebe a great time to go. We parked across the street in their free parking area, which had plenty of available spots at that hour. The walk over was less than a mile and very manageable. Although the weather wasn't ideal--light rain and chilly temperatures--it didn't take away from the experience. We started by walking around and taking everything in. There are so many cute shops, unique stores, and plenty of great photo opportunities throughout the area. We did a little shopping, sampled some food, and purchased tickets to ride the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, which was a highlight. Before heading out, we made one last stop at Ole Smoky Moonshine, which is always a fun experience. Even though the weather didn't fully cooperate, we still had a great time and really enjoyed our visit. The Island has a fun, lively atmosphere and offers something for everyone--we'd definitely go back!

    This is a very beautiful shopping place in Pigeon Forge. I really loved the dinosaur figurines…read moreoutside; cool! With that being said, we found it a bit of a tourist trap and pricey, but that was to be expected for the area and kind of place this is. There are tons of alcohol tasting places and food places through out here. We did do a stop and tasting at Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, which was unique enough since I am from the west coast visiting, and fun. I still think if you want more authentic tastings and food, to go to downtown Gatlinburg instead (it's all similar enough though). We also did a wine tasting here and all the wines were so sweet for my palette. I did enjoy the shops and pursuing around this beautiful area. A great spot to get some steps in. Many places also offer free samples of food to (like the candy store) so don't be afraid to go in and try.

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    March 2026

    Lightning Rod - amusementparks - Updated May 2026

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