4 Thrilling Roller Coasters at Dollywood That Will Take Your Breath Away

The Dollywood sign and a butterfly flower display.
October 16, 2018

If you are planning a trip to Dollywood, get ready for an action-packed day with some of the top roller coasters in the nation! Whether you want to experience the thrills of a traditional wooden coaster or flip head over heels through the inversions of a wing coaster, you will find it all at Tennessee’s famous theme park! Here are 4 thrilling roller coasters at Dollywood that are sure to take your breath away:

1. Lightning Rod

lightning rod dollywood april 23

Hold on tight for a wild ride through the trees in the hills and valleys surrounding Dollywood on the Lightning Rod! This incredible roller coaster launches riders from zero to 45 miles per hour up the lift hill, and that’s just the beginning! Once you reach the crest of the hill, you encounter twin summit airtime hills before racing down the 165 foot drop and through 3,800 feet of track. The Lightning Rod reaches a top speed of 73 miles per hour, which is the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world! The ride is themed to a 1950s era hot rod and is located in the Jukebox Junction section of the park.

2. Mystery Mine

The Mystery Mine combines the elements of a dark ride with a roller coaster for a truly unique experience! After being strapped into one of the 8 passenger coaster carts, you will set off on 1,811 feet of track through an abandoned coal mine. You never know what encounters and maneuvers may await you in the shadows of the mine, but we can tell you that you will experience a hair raising 95 degree drop that plunges you down into total darkness! Mystery Mine is located in the Timber Canyon section of the park and is often one of the first stops that guests make when visiting Dollywood.

3. Thunderhead

thunderhead ride at dollywood

Another one of the thrilling roller coasters at Dollywood is Thunderhead, a wooden roller coaster that offers a breathtaking ride through the wilderness! This massive coaster is situated between two mountains and takes full advantage of the terrain. It features a 100 foot drop and a top speed of 55 miles per hour, as well as a portion of track that goes directly through the loading station! Thunderhead is a highlight of the Timber Canyon section of Dollywood and is a favorite ride for many coaster enthusiasts around the world!

4. Wild Eagle

If you ever had dreams of soaring above the Smoky Mountains like an eagle, now you can make that a reality on the Wild Eagle! This steel wing coaster is unique in that the seats hang off each side of the track so that there is nothing above or below you. This allows you to truly feel the sensation of flying as you float over giant hills and travel through 4 inversions including a 100 foot tall loop! After just one ride on the Wild Eagle, you will want to run back around to ride it again and again!

If you’ll have kids with you while you’re visiting Dollywood, here are the top kiddie rides you should check out!

If you are ready to experience these thrilling roller coasters at Dollywood, be sure to check out all of our Dollywood coupons for a discounted day at the park!