Lighting Rod Update?

Hello,

I have a family vacation planned that includes a trip to Dollywood and of course I am highly anticipating riding Lighting Rod! I check the Dollywood web page daily and always get the same message everyday. I have not tried calling the park since I am sure it would be a generic repeated reason on why this ride is not up and that they do not have an estimated time frame. So being curious I thought that possibly any of you who have visited Dollywood or live close by could give any updates on this ride such as... is any testing going on? any type of track work? any spotting of live people on the ride? anything would be better than the "Lighting Rod will be closed to the general public today due to extended commissioning" message. I know that is not exactly the way the website has it worded but you get the point. Thanks for any insight you all can provide.

I was there Tuesday then again today. As you can imagine, I spoke to a lot of people who were pretty sure that the ride would open today. I finally met a member of the Lightning Rod ride crew that said they wouldn't even be on the job until tomorrow. So it's going to be at least a week, maybe even more before the ride opens, barring any other unforeseen problems.

The good news is Dollywood was awesome, as usual. I'm going to make a trip report as soon as I can.

A few years ago I gave up on Scheduling Trips far away on new rides early in the season. Especially with prototype rides. I wait for Mid Summer to schedule them. By that tie it's very likely to be up and running then. That plan work well for Goliath at SFGAM. (The ride was just opened a few weeks before) Right now if I have time off from work I hope to make it to Dollywood this July for this ride. It should be running well by then I hope.

According to Screamscape, Lightning Rod is rumored to be running much faster than originally intended:

Instead of maxing out at 73mph, Lightning Rod has been clocked blazing through the hillside at over 80mph. Nothing was said about adding trims to the experience, so Lightning Rod may really be a wild experience when it opens.

I hope this is true, because an 80 mph wooden terrain coaster sounds INSANE! I'm definitely planning a trip to Dollywood, not sure if I'll go in July or October.

And Screamscape is always factual, so there is that.

I said "Lightning Rod is rumored to be running much faster..."

Lance even starts by saying "I don't know how true this last part is, but hearding an interesting rumor..."

The noun "rumor," in case you wondered, means "a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth." It doesn't mean that it's a solid fact. Screamscape admits that he's not sure how true it is. I merely said "I hope this is true," not "I'm 100% positive this is true because Screamscape is always right."

I also didn't say that I was planning a trip to Dollywood because it was going 80 mph, I simply said that I was planning a trip to Dollywood. The bottom line is, nothing is confirmed, but it is a possibility that I have the right to get excited about if I want to. Sheesh.

An online source says that an anonymous source who is quoting an unidentified source (An employee? A guest? The Lemon Chill guy?) has you stoked for your definite trip to Dollywood on an indefinite date? Maybe I'm too pragmatic, but I'd wait for the rumor of a rumor of a rumor to be confirmed before getting excited.

Let's say the chance of this rumor being false is 99.9% - there's still that 0.01% chance of it being correct. But I didn't say that I was planning a trip to Dollywood because it was going 80 mph, I simply said that I was planning a trip to Dollywood. No mater what the outcome of this rumor of a rumor of a rumor, I am stoked for my definite trip to Dollywood at an indefinite date. 😉

If it is true, there's gonna be some serious wheel changin' down there.
Do I hope it's true? Not sure...

Maybe I'm not a full-bore, well-rounded fan for asking this, but is a 7 mph speed really making this ride that much better? It looks pretty damn fun at anything faster than jogging speed.

I can think of a few coasters that would be much better if the were 7 mph *slower.* Maverick, I-305, and even New Texas Giant come immediately to mind.

And Skyrush.

Airtime Always said:

The noun "rumor," in case you wondered, means "a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth."

Get right out of town! I had no idea! High five!

Airtime Always said:

The noun "rumor,"

Noun "rumor"? Unless its used as a verb I don't care.

Airtime Always said:

Let's say the chance of this rumor being false is 99.9% - there's still that 0.01% chance of it being correct.

That would be 0.1% chance, actually. I'm a little disappointed no one else jumped all over this, with all the enthusiasts on here and stuff. Somebody dropped the ball.

Vater can't spell, but his math skills are fabulous!

I assume Skyrush, but I haven't ridden it yet. Pretty sure the 10 CB commandments state "Thou shalt not judge something thou haven't ridden," so I left it out.

Airtime Always said:

Let's say the chance of this rumor being false is 99.9% - there's still that 0.01% chance of it being correct.

Good Job! With that type of reasoning you can work for Karl Rove!

I heard a rumor that Lightning Rod is being converted into an inverted wooden coaster. 99.9% chance it's false, but I'm still excited about the possibility.

And why NTG on the list of coaster that would be better slower? I don't feel like that ride is too intense at any point and I'm kind of a wuss.