Lightning Rod (w/Chain Lift) front seat on-ride 5K POV @60fps Dollywood

[@slosprint5]

Congratulations to Dollywood for their innovation. They now officially have the world's first wave turn with hangtime.

[@dlopez8104]

😂😂😂

[@Sau1-g00dman]

Nah 💀💀💀

[@coastercreations9415]

soo tru

[@RomanSecundus]

True but also this pov was running empty

[@slosprint5]

@@RomanSecundus It's not far enough into the ride to make a difference. Empty trains lose speed over time, not immediately. The difference right after the first drop will be negligible.

[@Howlingburd19]

For better or for worse the change was absolutely necessary. There were far too many people saying “I went to Dollywood but Lightning Rod was closed”. Still, I think they should make the lift hill taller or steeper (like Iron Gwazi’s lift hill) so it can go through the track at the speed it’s supposed to.

[@occultpyromancer]

i swear to god thoosies are the most overdramatic people on earth. 95% of parks would absolutely kill to have a ride like this

[@tomw485]

Well now it might as well be closed forever.

[@brendancollins2970]

They should have replaced the structure on the lift hill instead of putting a chain lift in. The chain lift should have never even been considered an option in the first place.

[@jonny-b4954]

@@occultpyromancerTo be fair, I visited it 3 times. Spent thousand plus dollars to travel there, stay the night, pay for admission etc. and only got on Lightning Rod once out of 3 visits, for 5 days total. That's.... unacceptable honestly. Wasn't scheduled maintenance. Was just down.

[@vcoolwater]

@@tomw485Maybe GA will love it.

[@floridamaddogg]

Wow, i just compared old lightning rod to whatever this is and it is worlds apart. RIP Slow Rod

[@Armorial-knight2]

It has changed now. They made the chainlift 10x faster and now the speed of this is really fast. I just rode it yesterday and I think the fastest it goes is 73 mph.

[@huntzzio]

At least its still operating. I commend dollywood for sticking with the attraction instead of removing it altogether, like most parks wouldve done

[@iPhoneFactoryYT]

they should just get a faster lift with a mini launch at the bottom of pre drop

[@KameWeeb]

Yeah, I'm glad they kept it. I remember it being PLAGUED with issues when it opened, it was bad enough I never got to ride it.

[@FlyngDtGT]

Welp this ride is being removed in January

[@iPhoneFactoryYT]

@@FlyngDtGT they are so dumb

[@titatoverteefje8168]

Remember theres also videos of opening day and it runs much faster than in this video, it was prolly an early morning ride. It looks like it crests the lift at the same speed as it did before. And new trains always run slower the first few weeks. Every1 should watch footage of reopening day it runs wayyy faster than this video and people who actually rode it say its pretty much the same.

[@Applezz649]

This is what people need to see! I rode it today and sure, the lift is slower but the rest of the ride runs the same as it used to be, if not faster. This video doesnt do it justice.

[@titatoverteefje8168]

​​​​@@Applezz649 Yea, looks like ppl are jumping to conclusions way to fast, only judging by this vid.... same happened the first few vids of Untamed and that ride is absolutely hauling nowdays.

[@heliotropeskies5918]

the train on this pov is also empty u can tell by the lack of noise. trains aren't broken in yet either. it'll run more or less the same after the lift eventually just not when this video was filmed

[@titatoverteefje8168]

​@@heliotropeskies5918Yes this is what im saying haha

[@WapoStudios]

People have already made comparison videos with when the ride was testing on empty trains early season in 2023. The new version is still several seconds slower.

[@c0d3_m0nk3y]

R.I.P. Lightning Rod

[@justinpino8115]

Yeah because the lift is changed haha. Whatever

[@bblw1307]

@@justinpino8115 Honestly the entire ride is way slower now. It's not just because of the lift....

[@StatBoiRichie]

@@justinpino8115 To be fair, the main gimmick of the ride was the launch. It's a very impactful change

[@williamf.buckleymusic666]

@@bblw1307 The is absolutely not true. In fact, with the new trains, the ride is faster on the circuit than before.

[@Hakuna_Frittata]

​@@williamf.buckleymusic666 It isn't. Find a single launched POV that is slower than this. I timed the CF LR 2.0 POV, from what I can tell - it's nearly 4 seconds slower cresting the top to the brake run. I've done countless laps on LR, anywhere from barely open in the 30s to 100+ heat index days. This is absolutely crawling.

[@wickedsickfunkyfreshroller2037]

This was a top 5 bucket list coaster for the past 5-6 years and is one of the main reasons I became a serious enthusiast. Not a bucket list coaster anymore, which is probably for the best cause dollywood is a long drive away.

[@dtwbtl]

Why is it no longer a bucket list coaster? I rode it today for the first time so I didn't experience it before the changes but this ride was intense, super fast, and so fun.

[@ThatOneguy-z6b]

Def still a bucket list coaster, just closer to the bottom now

[@mrknowhere6457]

Dollywood itself is a bucket List Park imo

[@Hippopotamus_Amphibius]

@@mrknowhere6457yeah srsly its so good. I go every so often cause i only live about an hour away

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

Looks pretty high speed for a chain lift, also looks really early in the morning so it’s most likely running slow through the course. And many people have told me it runs the same after the lift, when they actually ride it and not judge it off a morning test run. Why can’t people ride the ride before commenting and not act so butt hurt? I’ve met so many people who traveled hours and spent thousands of dollars to visit Dollywood, and never got to ride LR. This was destined to happen.

[@ThrillSeekersandHellRaisers]

It's a normal rmc lift hill speed.

[@alexphillips4325]

Honestly, after the launch was repeatedly slowed down, it already crested at about this speed.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

@@ThrillSeekersandHellRaisersit takes less time for it to get up the hill than SteVe and IG, in the same height range and less steep of a lift hill. So statistically it should be faster.

[@coasterbp]

@@ThrillSeekersandHellRaisersno its not.

[@Zerethon]

It's literally an empty train, very early in the day, so it's a LOT slower than it should be. But of course people are judging it based on it being slow.

[@rocketrodlover]

It’s not just the thrill of t he launch it was the high paced energy of it and the sounds of the Revving car. It was none stop action. Now it just feels like the ride has lost the excitement

[@Godzillafanboy89]

Yep I haven't ridden lighting rod since my first ride with the chain lift every time I go to dolly wood now I skip lighting rod

[@Stuntpilot22]

I'm not privy to the logistics of such a thing, but I imagine a high-speed hydraulic chain lift like the one on Bakken's Tornado would do wonders to bring Lightning Rod back to her former glory.

[@hungry_boarder]

They would never do that probably because the last time RMC tried a new lift technology for a wooden coaster on a rollercoaster at dollywood it didn't go great

[@willdoty7395]

You’re also talking about an infinitely lighter train on a much smaller lift hill.

[@NickyD]

wont happen too unreiable

[@wierdglitch]

It truly has dropped off for me, will definitely ride it if they did this

[@A2L112]

I'm so glad I went on a spontaneous trip to Dollywood in Oct. '23 now solely to ride this before the change (even got lucky enough to have only a 5min wait)

[@riceracm]

❤️❤️ *THANK YOU* so much for posting this! My husband and 2 daughters are on a church trip to Dollywood right now, that I had to miss because I’m recovering from surgery. My husband just texted and said that my 8-year-old just rode this as her first big coaster. I cried while watching this because through it I actually got to _”experience”_ this huge milestone with her. 🙏🥲🥰✝️

[@Abdulaziz_Aleid]

Love the “High Speed” chain lift 😍

[@rehanpoonawalla7406]

I get why dollywood had to replace the launch with a lift but Genuinely a shame dollywood never figured out how to reliabaly run Lrod with the launch. The launch made it super unique and intense. Now it looks like it's crawling through the layout, especially during the 1st waveturn RIP Lrod

[@GoudLoodje]

They should’ve replaced the launch’s supports with steel ones or make it a tire launch. Would be way more reliable and still have the launch

[@Trim_Brakes_06]

This also looks to be an early morning run with an empty train, so this is about the slowest it'll ever run. I saw some off ride footage from opening day when it had a full train of riders, and it was running significantly faster than this.

[@CarolinaCycloneJames]

Or use a cable lift. I’m pretty sure the fastest chain speed is almost equal to the slowest speed on most cable lift systems. But you know I guess that’s too much common sense to do

[@Trim_Brakes_06]

@@CarolinaCycloneJames Cable lifts also aren’t the most reliable either. Dollywood has been dealing with Lightning Rod’s issues for too long at this point, so I can’t really blame them for going with most reliable option.

[@CarolinaCycloneJames]

@@Trim_Brakes_06 if you get a good company cable then yes it is reliable. Look at el toro. Heck even millennium force was running a lot. Even with the backup motor it didn’t really have any issues besides the slow return speed. Considering lightning rod has terrible capacity a cable wouldn’t hinder much besides the land reforming to make it work. If a cable can be reliable for 2 gigas and a woodie. Then I see no excuse for not using on LR besides the terraforming that is required

[@AfkRush]

THEY MURDERED THE BEST RIDE EVER

[@theripoffchicago]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="77">1:17</a> just rode this yesterday. You literally fall out of your seat and just hang there looking at the ground. What an amazing moment on this ride. Then it hauls the rest of the way. I think this ride is better with the chain lift.

[@kencrislip875]

Glad I was able to enjoy for several years when it was thrilling

[@richphoto]

Remember everyone, this was probably filmed with an empty train early in the morning when it was cold outside. Not saying it’ll be running the same way as it used to, but during normal operations it’s probably faster than this.

[@aledandrian]

Cope

[@Hydra_X9K_Music]

​@@aledandrianWow, what a well thought out and constructive response.

[@mobetterent.gamerzunited2529]

Bro lighting rod is dead now

[@gibiati8295]

A moronic post doesn't deserve a constructive response. Its slow. There is no video at any time of the day where the new LROd has looked anything but slow. When people type delusional nonsense because they don't want to accept the truth, "Cope" is the only reply needed. @@Hydra_X9K_Music

[@gibiati8295]

All of you obnoxious forced positivity lames who can't just tell the fucking truth and have to delude yourself and justify your little trip out to Tennessee by calling a 54 second cycle "just as fast" as a 42 second cycle. Its okay to tell the truth, it doesn't make you entitled, impossible to please, or anything else. And stop relying on shit takes from content creators who lick parks balls so they can get invites to events and preferential treatment. All the locals are calling it way slower.@@Hydra_X9K_Music

[@beowolf9480]

okay, to everyone commenting on how slow this is, this is a morning test run, when it actually has people on it, it is flying through the layout, there's been a few off ride POVs posted and it really flies through it

[@coasterforce]

Our last Lightning Rod POV (with launch) ran slower as well due to the empty train and early morning ride. By the end of the day, with a full train, it’ll be a significantly faster ride. -Scott

[@EmeraldBayMovies]

False. Instead of talking out of your ass, compare the videos and actually time the difference. It's several seconds slower. Stop spreading lies

[@AlliedBroom9081]

Still, a chain lift just isn’t as powerful as a launch, I’ve seen videos from later in the day and it still just crawls through the layout. Definitely dropped off the bucket list

[@deathandbananas2152]

Welp I’m thankful I manage to ride this when it still had it’s launch. Funny those times I rode it it broke down 😂

[@endercreeperx26]

Same I remember the first time I rode it I closed my eyes after the big launched hill and didn’t open them until it was over😂 luckily I got to ride it one last time in 2023 before they changed it’s best feature. R.I.P. fastest wooden coaster

[@KnockKnockMFS_WeNeedOil]

I just went to Dollywood recently and this ride is still awesome. In fact, I think it’s better now. For one, Lightning Rod was up and running all day! I got to ride it twice, and before, you would have to be extremely lucky just to ride it once. Also, it may look a bit slow on this video, but trust me, it’s very fast still. Not only is it fast, but it’s honestly more exciting. You have more anticipation when you’re going up the hill since it’s slower. In my opinion, I think Lightning Rod is way better now, and I definitely recommend it if you haven’t rode it already.

[@grilledsleaze]

But anticipation up a hill is what you get on literally every other roller coaster my dude 😐 the launch before was actually different, exciting, and unexpected which made it stand out from all the other slow anticipation climbs

[@akcsamiru]

i went 2018 with the launch, and i honestly dont recall a ride as insane, except iron gwazi

[@wowitskevin]

I understand why they had to do this - it was out of service more than it was open - I'm just glad I got to experience it once in its original configuration.

[@edsantos191]

The ride has officially been neutered! Thank goodness I rode this multiple times.

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

This is an early morning run without riders. It would ride just the same before at this time.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

Observe the video and ride it irl before commenting. No riders and running in the early morning means it’ll run slow.

[@mcstrangelove]

Nah, "neutered" is what they did to The Voyage by engaging trim brakes before the triple-down in the tunnel. It was one of the most amazing elements on any wooden coaster, but now it just crawls through the tunnel. A damn shame.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

@@mcstrangelove lol what. I rode it last June and it still gave ejector airtime. The back row was crazy enough that my family members couldn’t handle it after one ride. Go join their carpentry team and keep up with maintaining it if you want those trims disabled. It wouldn’t continue to rank so high if it was “neutered” that bad.

[@mcstrangelove]

@@Stagnant_Gravy The back half is a completely different ride when it is trimless, so I'm not sure what you're rambling about. I actually feel really sorry for you that you've clearly never experienced it.

[@Faith-mc7hs]

Ive rod this with and without the chain lift. The launch made the ride so fun and I’ll never forget it considering it was my first roller coaster. The chain lift was still fun though! I thought it was still pretty fast.

[@t-a-r-o-n_on_top]

how on earth is that lift high speed

[@jay-dubb.dubb.68]

😮🎉

[@rozaygraves9224]

The way RMC managed to work this coaster around that type of hilly terrain is amazing

[@nikkiguese831]

My #1 ride!!!

[@ericcsakany8994]

Rode this last week. It was an absolute RIPPER!

[@coasterbreakdown7]

Congrats Dollywood with the world’s first slow-speed chainlift and an RMC that may be worse than the joker

[@GPK1075]

fr the wave turn looks sooooooo slow

[@kv4271]

That original launch was the best. It made the ride so much more fun.

[@Fantasy_Engineer]

You can for sure tell by the way how the train just crawls over its highest elements, that it was meant to have a launch system.

[@djavatar68]

That's a high speed chain lift?

[@chrex.4825]

This was my first ride 💪💪💪

[@LarissaCiafullo]

went on this opening day in the rain this season and the raindrops at this speed felt like splinters going into my eyes. even going down the hills all i could hear was everyone just laughing as we were all ducking down trying to blindly protect our faces

[@mlbumbalough]

Well.. I can now take lightning rod off my bucket list coasters.. since they just neutered it!

[@jay-dubb.dubb.68]

🎯

[@EmeraldBayMovies]

Same. It was closed during my visit a couple years ago. But now I have no reason to go back to Dollywood until they get something really big

[@Jamies_life6]

I was there one passholder preview day as soon as it opened so i was one of rhe first ones to ride this. It was amazing going back first weekend in August

[@EmberMcLain87]

looked like that was crawling through the layout, but also it looks like early morn area so probably hadnt had time to warm up. getting my 1st ever ride come june, and i hope to high heaven it's a warm day on june 3rd and 4th.

[@Coasterfreak1456]

Somehow it looks very slow.

[@DavidVitrano]

It’s never gonna be the same without the launch. I say, just tear this down and make a Vekoma Launch version. Then make a brand new ground up RMC Hybrid Coaster with a different theme.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

Because as you can see, it’s early in the morning and nobody is in the train. So it’s not warmed up and probably running the slowest it will for the day.

[@CLAYMAKERSGUIDE]

Hold your tongue ​@@DavidVitrano

[@bradylewis9698]

@@DavidVitrano why tf would they do that?

[@DavidVitrano]

@@bradylewis9698 because this coaster is better with the launch, but it’s been hard to do it with an RMC. But it will be easier to do it with a Vekoma.

[@DiamondOrPoor78]

Does anyone know the reasons why the launch system never worked?

[@theshiggityshwa4359]

In short, the launch has a bunch of sensors that need to work in tandem with another. The hill would flex (because its wood) and this would knock the sensors out of sync with eachother.

[@affabaffa4393]

@@theshiggityshwa4359ahh that makes a ton a sense thanks

[@tennessee.tiger1988]

I rode it twice yesterday. Once in the morning, which was fun, and once at park closing after it'd run all day. And the train was packed. It scooted on the second ride. The ride in this video is noticeably slower than my experience yesterday. Most likely because it's early morning, it's probably very cold out, and the train is empty. Unfortunately I just recently got over my paralyzing fear of coasters. Recently as in by the time I got over it and had ridden every other coaster in the park, it was already shut down to remove the launch. So I don't know 100% exactly how it compares to when it had the launch, but I do know that my ride was way more intense than this.

[@evanthames4189]

I looked side by side vs a video from last year and this is wayyyy slower. I also rode it last week and was definitely faster than this. Early morning/being empty is for sure the issue here.

[@awesomedude4947]

Plz tell me this was in the morning not in the afternoon

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

How many people do you see 😂

[@kurtbrigandi]

Idk why RMC wouldnt have reprofiled the top of the first drop to remove the dip, which made sense when launched, for a bit more height and speed. It runs through at quite a slow pace here.

[@samueltowles]

What happened to the sped up thing, it has a chain lift now

[@itr0863]

i think cause it broke down a lot with the fast start. now its the chain start which is slower but reliable. i rode it twice when it was the fast start. i got lucky

[@Austin-jd4os]

I am curious of why they didn't go with a tire lift hill.

[@phillipray3941]

Rain.

[@Xxx-hk6mk]

Hopefully rmc try another launched coaster in the future

[@samuelitooooo]

Wooden and hybrid launched coasters are probably not the way forward. However, maybe they can try it with the Raptor or T-REX models (if the latter ever comes to fruition). EDIT: I forgot RMC does like to build their own steel truss on ground-up RMCs as well as rebuilds where the lift hill is at a new location. I assume that this steel truss provides enough rigidity to make launches reliable, so maybe there's still a chance.

[@brandoncole5533]

It can be done but a big problem is that wooden coasters shift WAY more than steel coasters This can lead to misalignments with the launch which is why lightning rod never launched consistently But a bigger problem was the terrain that lightning rod sat on wasn't necessarily good and that caused way more misalignments So for a wooden launch to happen they would need to build in better ground and build a sturdier structure to reduce swaying It's possible but ik park owners are terrified

[@matthewmiller7207]

Leave launches to steel coasters.

[@eddieholt8222]

Launching coasters are the best.

[@stephenboshears4832]

It’s definitely faster than this . That’s 52 seconds from top of the lift to the brakes including the predrop, I’ve personally clocked it at 46 seconds over the same since the lift hill conversion.

[@SmokyMountainStarlight]

thanks this is great to see how the new lift rides! ❤

[@Jessie_D_83]

I just rode this Friday and it feels a heck of a lot faster than what this looks like. That could be because I was floating out of my seat at times, though. Lol!

[@bobbybigfoot1163]

Yes the incline has changed. But to the people who are complaining. I just rode this yesterday with the chain. The video is of an empty coaster and trust me, it’s much faster than this video by a lot. Every hill you go over. Your butt is coming off the seat. The first turn after the drop is so much faster. This video is not doing justice for this ride. I miss the launch like it used to be. But this video really needs an update showing the speed with a full coaster.

[@JerseyDevils21]

Honestly they prolly should've went with the cable lift instead

[@andygordon2055]

cable lift was not an option due to the geography of the land the ride is built on

[@CarolinaCycloneJames]

@@andygordon2055well. Kinda. They would have to dig a trench yes. But if they wanted to they would do it. I have a feeling this chain lift isn’t gonna last long. Enough people will backlash to where they’ll either have to use a cable or put in a new launch system with the steel track in its place. From what I hear the only major issue was the wooden track couldn’t really handle the launch. If they used the steel track it would’ve done fine that and also not use a braking company that has never made a launch before.

[@Kittyhat]

Lol RMC should probably never try that. Or maybe they'd actually find a way to do it, who knows

[@NickyD]

@@andygordon2055 also not reaible

[@NickyD]

@@CarolinaCycloneJames wrong only backlash is from entilted enthuists lift is there froever

[@joshuagray17]

So is it just called Rod now?

[@HUGEbanks]

My new favorite coaster!!! It’s amazing!!

[@SanitizeR_OW]

This was the right call. Even like this, Lightning Rod is a top-tier attraction and most theme parks would pay RMC a ton for a clone. Also, this ride has had RMC back out working and modifying the coaster more than any other ride they've been a part of. It's unheard of to see a company try to do work on their ride because of flawed or unreliability issues... RMC could have said "We told you so!" and made them pay for all the time, materials, and work instead of just materials.

[@telecasterbear]

I like old school just fine. That hulk coaster in Florida had a launch thing. It was OK, but I like the slow climb like they had way back when I was a wee lad.

[@craiggilchrist6285]

Still looks like a awesome ride even without the launch..

[@Tom-b1r9r]

Just one word to say..... WOWSERS!!!

[@Juan_Wick00]

WoWsErS!

[@HangtimeEnthusiast]

This literally when from my top bucket list coaster to not even on the list anymore

[@BoomerBaskins]

Yikes although changes may have been necessary, the ride experience has suffered.

[@samwichy]

RIP Lightning Rod's Launch.. you won't be forgotten.

[@_coasterhead_]

So what’s the speed now? Certainly ain’t 73 anymore.

[@captjaneway3]

I love your videos. It would be awesome to see you edit together a side by side video with chain lift on one side of the scree and launch lift on the other side of the screen so we can see the differences.

[@coasterforce]

Stay tuned for tomorrow's video! - Jack

[@Rockytop548]

Hopefully this will let this ride stay open. We have been to Dollywood three times since this opened and have still never rode because it was shut down with mechanical issues.

[@davidhees6389]

Very and amazingly intense

[@WhitfieldSinclair]

Yall did an amazing job filming this. The scenery is beautiful. The people behind transitioning the ride... this doesn't feel like Lightning Rod anymore, and makes me sad. Like a Boomer taking away tiktok.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

Like the brain of the average TikTok user

[@twistedcoasters1533]

Literal shell of its former self

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Yeah.

[@lawman7117]

The stipulation is the train crests the hill with the chain at 13mph...the exact same as with the LIM motor. I know from a PR standpoint, DW just needs the coaster to run consistently for the season. Big Bear Mountain didn't have quite the draw they were expecting.

[@Fman17]

Awesome! Can we get a side by side comparison of the old vs the new?🙏

[@rossh688]

From the 2nd peak, it takes 9 extra seconds to hit the brakes.

[@HxydenG59]

first rollercoaster i actually ever rode and it was fun

[@Leospartner]

maybe the chain lift was a good investment. I went to Dollywood back in October, and the ride broke down twice while I was in line. The track was literally steaming.

[@InfinitePlaylist909]

Is the high speed chain lift in the room with us

[@drakeclouse8763]

I have never seen a coaster brake that fast on the brake run.

[@Faith-mc7hs]

It was so fast and really fun before the change but I do it was for the better. It’s probably much safer to ride now.

[@Zingo1988]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="82">1:22</a> there’s a serious pothole there now. Still an awesome ride. It goes much faster than this pov.

[@jessiepatton6179]

I heard they fixed the pothole. Is it back?

[@Zingo1988]

@@jessiepatton6179it was 3 weeks ago

[@Yikes_its_Psychs]

Rest in peace Lightning Rod, I wish I could've ridden the good version.

[@jrax1713]

I really wish they could’ve kept the launch. It really was the rides best marketing point. I’m wondering why they couldn’t also possibly use drive tires as an alternative to the original launch

[@EmanGD23]

Why does the launch look slow on the POV but when I went to Dollywood the launch went fast?

[@CPW618]

Without a doubt one of the best coasters I have ever been on

[@itsjustjunkk]

What happened to the launching Lightning rod ?

[@TinglerTelevisionNetwork-hs5cy]

I have ridden it with both. The launch was incredible, literally taking your breath and it threw you into a chaotic multiverse of speed. Now, the chain lift is mediocre, (Thunderheads lift feels faster) BUT after it crests the top? OMG! It's much smoother and even seems faster than before. I'm still on the fence though.

[@RollerCoasters62719]

Is it just me, or does it go slower than it used to?

[@shamrock6975]

They got rid of the launch

[@GoudLoodje]

Sadly it runs slower every year, so no surprise there. Wouldn’t be surprised if they make the lift hill slower next year lmao

[@CoasterGuy2323]

Well no shit

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

The chain lift, plus the fact it’s clearly early in the morning with an early train means it’ll run slower. I’ve heard it’s running completely fine when it’s warmed up.

[@itr0863]

i rode this twice pre chain lift. is there a difference during the ride in speed?

[@b_onko]

it’s not nearly as slow as it looks. its definitely running slow in this video, yes. but dollywood is my home park and i rode it with the launch hundreds of times, and at least a couple dozen with the chain. its still super intense.

[@ChloeJennings-j7e]

Who else loves the lighting rod

[@ChloeJennings-j7e]

Meeeeeeee

[@christopherwynn727]

⛓️🎢 Welcome Back Lightning Rod

[@llg.13]

seeing the parking lot was the scariest moment of my life

[@Colton-k4o]

Went to Dollywood today wild eagle and this one is scariest

[@austinwilliams87]

That new launch is so much faster!

[@1998232v6]

Could it have been possible to give it a faster chain lift hill?

[@CaliforniaThrills]

I hope everyone does realize that this is probably the first run of the day with an empty train so it’s running really slow

[@drewcorry5056]

Looks Absolutely Awesome

[@jonathanrose829]

I commend Dollywood for doing the right thing by installing a chain lift so more people get to ride, However I have rode this ride with the fast launch system, And even with a high speed chain lift it just does not have the same excitement that makes you want to keep coming back and riding it no matter how they spin it. I am not sure why they could not get the launch system to work reliably as kings Island has flight of fear with LIM technology that has been working for years without any issues.

[@mikecooley3361]

I won’t comment on this one since I rode it prior to the change but haven’t been on it yet. That being said, Thunderhead is still my favorite there.

[@looperdehooper5870]

I’ve been to Dollywood only twice. First time this was shut down for the overhaul, second time it broke down so much I was barely able to get one ride in. Well I’m extremely grateful for that one ride because it doesn’t look the same. There was seriously no way to make the lift go faster?

[@Whimsically_Ruth]

When I first rode this, there was like some type of boost and it felt like we were going up that chain life 35 mph (I rode this over a year ago)

[@WolfRaging95]

Was this filmed early in the morning?

[@evanthames4189]

I timed lightning rod today. It’s running about 7 to 8 seconds faster than this video. Its flying.

[@mattcollins3591]

Because this was first thing in the morning 7am and people expect it to be hauling as if it’s 5pm in the afternoon.

[@Mrmcfat3]

Was this taken at sunrise or sunset?

[@MagnetPlusWater]

This is still a really good coaster without launch

[@thibprs7571]

My baby… without LSM😢 Very slow no ?