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    Lightning Rod

    4.8 (16 reviews)

    Lightning Rod Photos

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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(1.6k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    The Baseline: For a theme park, quality experiences must be provided, fun amusement attractions be…read moreavailable, immersive environments must be established, and safety must be a top priority. Special Note: Dolly! We love and miss you already! You have built so much in the eastern Tennessee area and you were truly a blessed soul. Attractions: Dollywood has some fun rides and especially fun if you like rollercoasters. My favorite being the Wild Eagle! They had a new 2026 attraction called Nightflight Expedition which is one part motion screen/one part rollercoaster/one part water flume and I have never experienced anything like it before. The Lightning Rod is another great coaster that really shows you the views in the Great Smokey Mountains! I loved the attractions here! Entertainment: Great shows if you like or love country music! They even had Gospel Entertainment and they were unapologetic about offering it which was refreshing to see. Plus Dolly Parton music pumping out throughout the park. Theme: It is Dolly Parton all the way with tons of Butterfly's and country charm. The 1950's town theme bled into the rural country theme that bled into the Fantasy Forest theme to the country Nashville town theme. No space or Superheroes themes but isn't Dolly Parton a superhero in her own way (we miss you Dolly!) Special Theme: We were here for Great Pumpkin Luminights and it sure did deliver on the Halloween themed fun. I suggest a fall trip to Dollywood if you can!

    We've done Disney, we've done Universal, and Dollywood holds its own with both of them in ways that…read moresurprised us. The scale is different but the experience is just as memorable and in some ways more personal. The coaster lineup is legitimately impressive. Big Bear Mountain is the longest in the park and a great ride for the whole family. Lightning Rod is one of the fastest wooden coasters in the world. Wild Eagle gives you incredible views of the Smoky Mountains from the top. Dragonflier in Wildwood Grove is perfect if you have younger kids who want in on the fun. The new NightFlight Expedition that opened in 2026 is a unique indoor hybrid coaster and river raft ride that works in any weather, a great addition. Beyond the rides the park has real soul to it. Live Appalachian music playing throughout, craftspeople demonstrating woodworking and glassblowing, the Dolly Parton Experience museum, seasonal festivals and theater performances at the Back Porch Theater. You could skip the rides entirely and still have a full day. The cleanliness here is consistently remarked on and it's earned. Every corner of the park is well maintained and the staff are the friendliest we've encountered at any theme park anywhere. Go on a weekday if you can, weekends get packed. Buy tickets in advance. Wear comfortable shoes. Worth every mile of the drive from the Carolinas.

    Photos
    Dollywood - Fall at Dollywood!

    Fall at Dollywood!

    Dollywood - Cinnamon bread plushies

    Cinnamon bread plushies

    Dollywood - Dollywood

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    Dollywood

    Dollywood's Splash Country - One of our spacious Retreats or cozy Canopies can offer the ultimate getaway during your next Dollywood's Splash Country visit.

    Dollywood's Splash Country

    3.7(157 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I came here with my wife and 4 year old and it was a great time!…read more We came right at opening on a random weekday and the line to get in was still pretty long. Parking was a little expensive at $25, but I kind of expected that. Luckily for us, most of the people entering the park were going to Dollywood and not Splash Country, so we got to park our car near the entrance and didn't have to wait long at all to get inside. Importantly, my son was free because of a pre-K voucher that they were offering, which was very cool. We started off our trip with Big Bear Plunge, and it was a pretty decent water slide. We then hit up the splash pad before journeying into the wave pool, where we spent most of our time :) My son really liked the waves! It got a little boring for me, but whatever. It was sometimes challenging to find a tube for my son to ride in (it felt like a free-for-all!) but we managed to secure one most of the time. We wanted to ride Big Bear Plunge one more time before we left, but by that time the line was exceedingly long and our 4 year old was definitely not going to wait, so we just peaced out. The food was OK but not great, as expected. I liked that they offered complimentary water for everyone, since it was quite hot. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely come back!

    Splash Country and Dollywood lack adequate handicap accessible parking. Instead of creating more…read morehandicap accessible parking, they blocked all the surrounding spots off and marked them as $55 "preferred parking". Or $45 if you are a diamond pass holder. Once you're inside it is so overcrowded you will not have time to do much unless you pay $55-$70 for a fast pass. Some lines had a 70 minute wait. Then the bathrooms were horrible, I bet Dolly wouldn't use them!! I was only here because I have a 2 park season pass but these kids will not get me back to this water park. Yall can have it. I'll stick to the theme park.

    Photos
    Dollywood's Splash Country - Chicken tenders, garlic Parmesan chicken tenders, cookies n cream fry bread

    Chicken tenders, garlic Parmesan chicken tenders, cookies n cream fry bread

    Dollywood's Splash Country
    Dollywood's Splash Country

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    Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - The queue.

    Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

    4.5(504 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    I kind of feel bad. The last time I was in Pigeon Forge with my children, I declined going on a…read moremountain coaster with them, because they just didn't look like my thing. So my kids went on the coaster and I watched and took photos. Then recently, I was forced to visit Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster for a work trip. It was either ride the dang coaster, or irritate the people who set up the trip, so I went. Holy cats! Alpine coasters are super fun! You kind of feel like you're going to fly off the tracks during the ride, but you won't. It seems safe enough, and the ride goes by so fast (it's definitely less than 10 minutes). Before you know it, you're done and wish you could go again. (I didn't, but I'm sure kids would.) You can control the speed, which is nice. At one point, I was feeling wild and crazy, and let it fly and zipped around the track at full speed. I visited with a small group on a weekday, and there was zero wait to start riding. Literally, we just paid and got right on.

    This was a very fun adventure even for a scary person like me. I purchased the groupon which was a…read moregreat deal for 2 for $23. I reviewed the pricing upon arrival and it was $14 for kids. Every penny count nowadays so I'll take it. If the child is under a certain height they require them to ride with an adult. *Insert my nerves kicking in about this* I will say it looks more intimidating that it actual is. No big drops and you can adjust the speed as you ride. I built my courage to go faster the second ride but the employee did ask for me to not hold up traffic like previous did! Good adventure!

    Photos
    Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - Pumpkin was here

    Pumpkin was here

    Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - Nice ride

    Nice ride

    Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - Me on the ride

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    Me on the ride

    Goats On The Roof

    Goats On The Roof

    4.2(178 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    I always see this place advertised on TikTok and happened to drive by it on our way back into town…read morefrom Jeep Invasion, so we decided to stop.We went around the back of the building where they have a bunch of goats that you can feed. The goats were super cute and definitely made the stop worth it. The coaster was pretty fast and at a couple points it honestly felt like you might fall off, but overall it was a lot of fun and definitely a fast ride. It's a little cheaper than some of the other coasters in town, but still a little pricey at about $17 a ticket after the 12.5% tax. The store is HUGE and just kept going and going. They have all kinds of different knickknacks and random stuff to look at. They also have rocking chairs where you can sit and chill or buy one. Overall, it was a fun place to stop and check out.

    Goats on the Roof was one of the most fun laid back and unique stops on our trip! We originally…read moreplanned to ride the Alpine Coaster down the street, but the wait was over an hour, so we came here instead, and we're glad we did. The mountain coaster was a lot of fun, had a short wait, and was only about $15. My favorite part, though, was feeding the goats on the roof! You buy goat food inside the gift shop for about $3 a cup, ($1 refill) pour it into a bowl, then pedal a bike that carries the food up a conveyor to the rooftop. The goats are already waiting, and it's hilarious watching them compete for the food. It's a unique experience that's fun for both kids and adults. Definitely worth the stop!

    Photos
    Goats On The Roof
    Goats On The Roof
    Goats On The Roof - Alpine coaster !

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    Alpine coaster !

    Dig'n Zone Theme Park - Drive a real pavement roller!

    Dig'n Zone Theme Park

    4.2(25 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    I heard about this place and was glad I was able to finally visit…read more The location was easy to find. I am not sire if this was normal but there was only about 4 other groups besides ours so there was no wait I had no expectations of this place and I did no research but I was very impressed and had a great time. There were plenty of games and rides on actual machinery. Also, there is a cafe which I didn't attend and a small arcade area We did allow our daughter to visit the splash pad. She had a great time there. There were a lot of air conditioning bathrooms to help kids change into a swimsuit Overall, I am a fan of this place and would return in the future

    We just had our second trip down there and it was better than the first! A theme park is only as…read moregood as its staff- and the staff at the Decimator and mini-tractors were fantastic! They were so wonderful with my son and the best part of the day! Everyone seemed to take pride in their work, the park was clean, staff was helpful, and seemed to truly enjoy their jobs. The new splash pad is a lifesaver on a hot day. They've added more shade, and it's safe to assume more will be added when we return next year. All bathrooms are single-stall family/accesible which I appreciated a great deal. They're also climate-controlled which helped. I love being able to use construction equipment and try stuff that I can't normally access in my daily life. Yes, it's expensive but utilize Groupon if you want to save money. It's definitely worth the price for us because my kid loves construction equipment and he can safely use it here. To the team: We'll see you next August if not before!

    Photos
    Dig'n Zone Theme Park - Ride the Decimator!

    Ride the Decimator!

    Dig'n Zone Theme Park - Try your hand at the pipeliner to see if you can place the pipe in the right spots!

    Try your hand at the pipeliner to see if you can place the pipe in the right spots!

    Dig'n Zone Theme Park - Enjoy the Dig'n Zone Gem mine!

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    Enjoy the Dig'n Zone Gem mine!

    Lightning Rod - amusementparks - Updated October 2026

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