Lightning Rod • Dollywood

Location Intensity Ejectors

This damn ride... my good lord. To this day, Lightning Rod is the one and only coaster that has given me an adrenaline rush that felt legitimately addictive. After almost every one of my 10 rides I NEEDED to get right back on it. Although it's had its well-documented reliability issues, I was lucky enough for it to be running very consistently when I visited last summer, to the point where a friend and I managed to marathon it for an hour or so on the first of our 2 days at Dollywood. The only time I didn't feel to re-ride was after that marathon session where I looked at my friend and said "yo my body needs a break." This thing is absolutely relentless from start to finish, and even so, it somehow hits another gear halfway through it. There are so many moments which characterise the nature of this coaster, but everything after the two wave turns is why Lightning Rod is my #1. From the off-axis airtime hill onwards, it's complete bedlam, and the quad down and subsequent speed hill might be my favourite coaster sequence I've ever experienced. As if the avalanche-like nature of the quad down wasn't enough, the speed hill which flies between the launch and the brake run, feels as though the train is crashing through a brick wall. Pure, unadulterated aggression. This coaster showed me definitively what my favourite coaster characteristics are - sense of speed, aggression, whippy elements and transitions, strong forces. Airtime is cool, but I much prefer it when it is implemented with the purpose of a sense of speed/aggression behind it, eg. LRod's world beating finale. LRod has the potential to stay at my #1 spot for a very long time. A truly special experience that very well may not be beaten for me anytime soon.

Airtimes First Drop Fun Reliability

The one and only Lightning Rod. After over 240 rides across every single operating version of it, It is still my all-time favorite! The launch, airtime, pacing, and theme are all fantastic!

Location Pace Ejectors Capacity Intensity Reliability

This is my #2 Coaster so far, the pacing and the airtime is some of the best on the planet, it doesn't even feel short, unfortunately i wish this ride had positives, this ride easily gets a 10/10 for me

Location Pace Ejectors

It is an intense ride with POWERFUL airtime. It's not the longest ride, but if it was longer, it might be too much to handle, it is that insane. This is the only coaster to beat Steel Vengeance for me and I've been a SteVen fanboy for a while.

Pace Masterpiece Ejectors

This is my number 1 without a doubt, no other RMC even comes close to packing in the full package like this ride does, it has the airtime of Storm Chaser, the Setting of Outlaw Run, the Pacing of Zadra. This coaster is indeed perfect, and with a night ride marathon on this thing, I came of in pain from the airtime, but it was pure joy.

Airtimes Ejectors Launch

For all its problem during its first season, Lightning Rod is well worth the wait. A cocktail of beautiful hillside mixed with utterly relentless air time, particularly on the ludicrous hillside finale. Whilst the launch itself is lacking any significant grunt, the remainder of the ride that hides over the crest of the first hill is downright bonkers and a thorough joy right to the last moment.

Airtimes Pace Ejectors Reliability

Every element after the launch has ejector, and most of it is extremely strong ejector. The ride starts with a fun launch which goes directly into a short but intense ejector moment which then leads into the amazing first drop which provides strong, sustained ejector in every row. The ride then has a strong moment of positives before it goes into the wave turn which has surprising sideways ejector which is also well sustained. The ride entered maybe the most disappointing part of the ride for me, the outward banked wave turn has good ejector throughout the whole element however it doesn’t compare to Wildfire’s version of the element. The following twist and shout had very strong ejector and laterals, making it one of my favourite elements ever. The step up into the quad down has maybe the strongest moment on the ride in the front row, but then the ride enters the first hill of the quad down which is also really strong. Each subsequent hill on this journey down the hill gets more intense except for the final hill which focuses more on laterals. The only rough patch on the ride is the bottom of the final hill of the quad down, but it still isn’t that bad and before you can process it you flying through an ejector speed hill. The ride ends with an intense turn which has great ejector and whip on the exit. So overall this ride is amazing, every element is phenomenal, making Lightning Rod my favourite coaster.

Launch Fun Intensity

LRod doesn't have a weakness. Its been reliable lately so hopefully that's all solved. Launch is bonkerz. Theming is perfect. Location is perfect. RMC trains are great. Pacing is fantastic. Ejector air is great. Strong and intense the whole way through. It's like the wooden version of Skyrush; its fast, its intense, it has insane ejector, it has a fast lift hill, no inversions, and sort of hates you. Amazing Ride.

Location Intensity Ejectors Reliability

Lightning Rod is by far my favorite roller coaster of all time, beating other coasters like Fury and TTD. It has airtime unlike any other coaster every, it’s so powerful and non stop that after a few rides your legs might be bruised from it. My favorite experience on it though was in 40 degree weather at night, by far the most intense experience on any coaster I’ve ever ridden. The only issue with the ride would obviously be reliability, it took a while for me to get my first ride in this because it was always broken down. Of course now it’s a lot better but you still have The fear of it breaking down and not being able to ride it.

Airtimes Pace Fun Reliability

Dolly has really outdone herself with this magnificent roller coaster. If her coaster's were like her songs, this one would be her "Jolene". What a number one hit this is. The epic uphill launch was a nice touch. The entire coaster makes use of the hill terrain found in the region of the Smoky Mountains. The speed is intense and just doesn't let up, it only gets faster as it comes down the hill. The wave turn is gigantic and lovely. The old woodie feel is just right. Alan Schilke deserves the highest award for how this thing came out.

Airtimes Intensity Ejectors

My first ride, I wasn't 100% sold on its greatness. After a few back-to-back night rides, however, it launched its way up my favorite coasters of all time rankings. The air is crazy, ejector style. Literally on the border of downright frightening and/or painful. It isn't painful at all though. Truly on the edge of what our bodies can withstand and still enjoy. The most intense ejector air ever, by a wide, wide margin. Crazy fun. The launch up the hill is...interesting, not necessarily spectacular, just different--it does give a decent air pop over the top. Then the 90 degree banked turns at the top of the hills were truly disorienting--especially at night. Then the return trip home down the mountain. Truly epic. Air, then air, then air, then air again. The whole time you are getting faster and faster and more and more intense. Good times for sure. Great coaster for sure. Truly a world class thrill machine.

Fun Layout Ejectors Dead spots

ラジエータースプリングスのパクリ

Airtimes Location Ejectors Disappointing! Lap Bar

せっかく加速したのにてっぺんで減速するなら、普通に巻き上げたらいいんじゃないですかね？殺戮的なエアタイムの連続は唯一無二です。

First Drop Ejectors Discomfort Launch Intensity

This coaster is too relentless.

Launch Pace Ejectors Rattle Reliability

I have ridden this thing at least 100 times. My first ride was in late 2016. So... rare credit! The airtime on LR is so strong that if you aren't stapled, you can see where the seatbelt dug into your lap. Last time I rode LR, in was mid-August 2019 and it closed twice while I was in line, so try to ride early in the day.

Airtimes Theming Location

One of 4 coasters I’ve ridden so far that I consider to be perfect. I live unique rides and this is one. Only launched woodie, hugs the terrain, well themed. It has everything I want. The launch is great the wave turns throw you out if your seat and the quad down is arguably the greatest airtime Moment there is.

Masterpiece Intensity Hangtime

10 out of 10! This is a perfect coaster with the speed and big jumps like Shawn White in the half pike. For me it is the perfect amount of time you get all of the excitement not too much to be overbearing but you don’t feel cheated. I got to ride this front, back and middle and loved ever location.

Airtimes Location Intensity Disappointing! Lap Bar

Lightning Rod was all the rage back in 2016. No one talked about anything BUT the world’s first launched wooden coaster, meaning that my hype for this ride had skyrocketed for when I would finally get to experience it in October 2016. It certainly did live up to my absurdly high expectations, but the very next morning my thighs were riddled with black-and-blue bruises. Then, it placed at my 4th favorite spot, just behind Mako, Fury 325 and Skyrush. I revisited Dollywood in spring 2017, and was able to get one ride on Lightning Rod. Unfortunately, I was stapled — meaning that I couldn’t feel any of the incredible airtime that I’d experienced back in 2016. Thankfully I came off with no injuries, but this experience disappointed me greatly. My most recent ride was in December 2017, in which the ride ops caught me trying to get more room. I begged and used the old “puff out your stomach” trick (which worked), and I actually secured some room! The airtime was great, sure, yet I didn’t find this altered version of Lightning Rod to be nearly as intense and airtime-filled as the former one I had ridden the previous October. While Lightning Rod’s layout makes for a fantastic ride, the restraints, inconsistent quality and colossal hype unfortunately ruined it for me. There’s no denying that it is a very impressive coaster — however, the quality of my more recent rides on it did not match the sheer insanity that this coaster delivered back in October 2016. It’s the flagship attraction at Dollywood and a must-ride for any coaster enthusiast like me, but I have yet to understand why others rate it so much higher than I do.

Airtimes Masterpiece Intensity

Out of 159 credits including Steel Vengeance, Japanese and Chinese Credits, most of the East Coaster, Lighting Rod reigns not only as my #1 wooden but #1 overall.

Intensity Discomfort

I rode it twice, once in the back row and once in the middle, and both were some of the least enjoyable rides i've ever been on. The layout is awesome, but the ride just hurt like hell and was incredibly uncomfortable. The ride broke down both times we were in line as well, making it even less enjoyable. Almost all other reviews seem to say this coaster is amazing though. So maybe it just had an off day? I'll try it again next time I'm in the area, and can hopefully update my rating.

Airtimes Masterpiece Ejectors

Lightning Rod is the best coaster I have yet ridden out of 280 different coasters. Although it is a short ride, the layout leaves very little to be desired as a lot is accomplished in every element of the ride. Every single moment of Lightning Rod features ejector airtime, and although the airtime may not be as strong as El Toro, the different sensations of airtime found during the first wave turn (my favorite element of the ride), the outward banked turn, and the final overbank were pure bliss. While the launch has been troublesome to the ride's reliability, it is what makes the rest of the ride paced so well. What sets Lightning Rod apart from other rides is an amazing ride paired with theming, as most coasters are stellar in only one of those aspects. Lightning Rod is a near-perfect roller coaster experience, and is a must ride for every enthusiast out there.

First Drop Pace Intensity Too short

Lightning Rod is the king of ejector air. The launch is neat, the location is great, it is truly a relentless beast, but, frankly, the imfamous quadruple-down makes this coaster. To put it simply, Lighting Rod is a full buffet-worth of airtime that Dollywood aggressively shoves down your throat till you simply can't handle anymore. This is the type or coaster that you are out of breath on when you arrive back at the station. Somehow despite its incredible intensity, this coaster remains comfortable too. Fast, smooth, and ferocious—what's not to love?

Location Intensity Ejectors Harness

What a wild and intense ride! Love the "launched" lift hill, the pre-drop and the following "first drop". The rest of the layout hugs the terrain and was a little bit too hectic for my tastes (especially the quadruple down wasn't as fun as I expected - you are thrown against the restraints four times in a row). After riding Wildfire in Kolmarden, I also wish they had added an inversion or two, because RMC inversions are exceptionally great. But still, one of the best coasters I have ever ridden.

Airtimes Location Masterpiece

Not a wasted inch of track

Airtimes Launch Pace Discomfort

One of the best coasters ever built, it's just not the most comfortable ever.

Pace Intensity Ejectors

Airtimes Pace Ejectors

Airtimes Intensity Ejectors Too short

Airtimes Intensity Rattle Discomfort Reliability

Launch Airtimes

Airtimes Location Pace Too short

Airtimes Nice surprise! Layout

Airtimes Launch Layout Reliability

Location Launch Ejectors

Location Launch Pace Too short

Airtimes Pace Ejectors Too short Discomfort

Pace Masterpiece Ejectors Too short

Airtimes Masterpiece Ejectors

Airtimes Pace Masterpiece

Pace Fun Masterpiece