A trip to Pigeon Forge is not complete without a visit to Dollywood! Home to the best roller coasters in the south, visitors can count on thrilling rides that fulfill their adrenaline needs! From top speeds to crazy loops and turns, there are roller coasters for everyone! Here are the 5 best roller coasters in Dollywood:
1. Wild Eagle
Constructed in 2012, the Wild Eagle is a thrill-seeker’s dream! As you slowly climb over 200 feet with your legs dangling from your seat, you prepare for that inevitable stomach drop. The Wild Eagle drops you 135 feet down followed by multiple rolls, tucks, and loops, making this ride one of the most exciting in the park! The train is designed to resemble eagles, with the seats as the wings, and with nothing below your feet, you’ll feel like you’re flying through the air. The Wild Eagle is located at Wilderness Pass in Dollywood.
2. Lightning Rod
Modeled after a classic 1950’s hot rod, the Lightning Rod takes riders up 20 stories at 45 miles per hour before dropping them 165 feet at the top of the hill. The Lightning Rod’s top speed is the fastest in the world for a wooden roller coaster, coming in at 73 miles per hour. The turns place riders almost sideways on the track, fulfilling any adrenaline junkie’s need for speed. The Lightning Rod is located in the Jukebox Junction section of the park.
3. Thunderhead
Thunderhead was the first wooden roller coaster built in Dollywood, as well as one of the first roller coasters in the country to feature an in-station drive by. Thunderhead crosses over and under itself over 30 times at 55 miles per hour, making it easily one of the best roller coasters at Dollywood! Riders don’t slow down the whole ride, especially during the thrilling 100-foot drop. Thunderhead is located in Timber Canyon.
4. Tennessee Tornado
Tennessee Tornado is a fan-favorite for both first-time and repeat visitors! You’ll really feel like you’re in the middle of a tornado as you roll into a triple-spiral loop and drop down 128 feet. If you like fast roller coasters, Tennessee Tornado is the one for you, topping speeds of 70 miles per hour and you soar over the trees. The Tennessee Tornado is located in Craftsman’s Valley.
5. Mystery Mine
Mystery Mine will keep you on the edge of your seat, as both a thrilling and spooky ride. Modeled after an abandoned mining company, this steel roller coaster includes an adrenaline-pumping 95-degree, 85-foot vertical drop that sends riders straight into darkness. Riders can also look forward to an upside down corkscrew right before they arrive back to the station. Like Thunderhead, Mystery Mine is located in Timber Canyon.
All of the best roller coasters in Dollywood guarantee a fun-filled trip to the park! Make memories with your family that will last a lifetime at the best theme park in the south. Book with one of our cabins and plan your trip to Dollywood today!
