Thunderhead

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Thunderhead
Dollywood
Location Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA
Status Operating since April 3, 2004
Cost $7,000,000 USD
Statistics
Builder Great Coasters International
Designer / calculations Mike Boodley
Type Wooden - Twister
Riders per train 24
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 100.4 feet
Drop 100 feet
Top speed 53.7 mph
Length 3230 feet
Inversions 0
Duration 2:30
HELP

Thunderhead is a wooden roller coaster located at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, USA. It was built by Great Coasters International and opened in 2004.

History

Elements

In June 2003, Thunderhead was announced.[1]

Thunderhead opened on April 3, 2004.[2] Upon opening, it was voted the 5th best wooden roller coaster. It peaked at number 1 in 2005 and 2006 in the Golden Ticket Awards and ranked at number 4 in 2023.[3]

In 2009 and 2018, portions of Thunderhead were retracted by GCI.

Design

Thunderhead required 700,000 feet of Southern Yellow pine to construct the 3,230 foot long coaster.[4]

It was the first roller coaster to feature a station fly through.

Trains

12 cars per train. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.

Images

References

  1. "New Wooden Coaster To Roll Into Dollywood For 2004 Season". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  2. "Thunderhead wooden roller coaster opens at Dollywood".
  3. Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll
  4. Hook, Patrick (2019). Ticket to Ride. USA: Chartwell Books. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-7858-3577-6.

External links


Articles on Dollywood