It's definitely possible we will see a yeetasaurus lift like Tornado at Bakken.

Absolutely love Dollywood. I got to enjoy the ride but I’d never stop going because of one ride. It’s an amazing park.

I went to Dollywood in May and spent over three hours waiting in line for this. Two hours were spent upstairs after it stopped midway up the hill and people had to be evacuated. Another 45 minutes of nonstop tests, they finally packed the cars again and... it stopped again. By that time, the line began clearing itself out, but no way. Since I was moving far away soon, this was both the first and last time I would ever visit Dollywood. I was not going to pass up on riding the most intense-looking coaster there. So another hour went by, test, test, inspection, test, test, inspection, test... And it was finally time. The previous riders that had to be escorted off were sent away with free passes to something, and so many people had left either because the line was too slow or they feared for their safety that i was now at the very front. I remember when it started to move, people in the line were chanting "launch, launch, launch, launch, launch", and I remember that feeling of euphoria when our car made it over that hill. Despite it not being the most "extreme" coaster I've ever been on, that combination of height, speed, and fear of it breaking down at any time made it the most thrilling coaster experience I'd ever had. After the ride was over, we just left. There was a new coaster I hadnt ridden, but honestly, nothing was going to top that. I knew it was inevitable this thing was gonna be taken down or redone because you just can't keep a ride running in that state. I'm so glad got to ride it, because I will never have another coaster experience like that.

Hey brother.... Great to hear from you. Your videos are like NO OTHERS on KZfaq or anywhere else. The crown of You Tube, coaster channel king is yours for the taking. We debate it in Coaster Enthusiast circles constantly, how and why is OKAYcoasters so special and different??? and whether it's your amazing video quality, your unique/easy to listen to voice, or your attention to detail with your Hollywood level narration...The bottom line is your different and your the best. So we miss you and hope all is well🙏🏽God bless and we hope to hear more from you ASAP!💯

This past March, I finally got the chance to visit Dollywood. Over the two days I was there, I got 7 rides on Lightning Rod with the ride operating for most of the time. I consider myself incredibly lucky! Both days were in the 40s so it wasn’t even optimal conditions for running coasters period. Those 7 rides were so amazing! The launch was a crazy way to start the ride, then it flew into one of the most fast-paced, out-of-control speed and airtime machines I’ve ever experienced. It instantly became my favorite RMC for the aggressiveness and layout! The other ones I’ve ridden are Twisted Timbers, Steel Vengeance, Storm Chaser, Goliath, and Twisted Colossus. Now, I am very sad that the launch is going away. Launching uphill over a mountain is something you don’t get to do everyday. If the ride runs the same starting on the first drop, as the park says it will, then this will be a great change! I’m counting launched Lightning Rod and lift hill Lightning Rod as two separate credits though. A 45-mph launch feels much different than a 13-mph lift hill.

We need you around more 🥺

The circumstances are definitely sad... but I'm so happy to see you in my subscription feed again ❤ I really wish I could have experienced this coaster in its prime... but I guess I won't get the chance.

This was the absolute FASTEST roller coaster ride I have ever been on!!

I never got to ride it but I'm not gonna lose sleep over it either. I still love the art you bring to your videos. Thanks for posting!

THE KING IS BACK 👑 oh also im sad that im only going to get to ride the og lightning rod one more time… BUT WHO CARES THE KING IS BACK 👑

The best launch you'll find in Orlandos Universal Studios. I've never seen something like that. This Coaster works perfectly.

I've been there only once (June 2022) and I got really lucky, it was open all day and I got around 10-12 rides including last ride of the night in the back row. That day wouldn't have been the same without that amazing coaster so if it means more people can ride it, I'm all in for the chain lift!

Really wish I had rode this when it first opened, but still excited to ride this, great seeing you making a video again!

It’s literally just the launch that’s getting replaced. It’s not like it added anything drastic to the ride since it basically comes close to a complete stop on top of the first crest. It’ll be fine. The coaster community needs to take a chill pill over this

Please keep making vids! Great job as usual

Congrats Dollywood on the award!

I finally got the chance to ride it this week. Been trying to go to Dollywood for years. First of all, gorgeous. That place is beautiful. 2nd, the ride was closed most of the time I was there. When it finally opened, I got in line, and circled back to ride up front the 2nd time. 3rd, the front row was best roller coaster ride I've ever had... It's a real shame they're going to have to either get rid of it or change it...

That was quick.. It was never the same

I am so glad I got on this last year

I'm glad the only time I made it to Dollywood in 2020 I managed to get a ride on Lightning Rod (2.0 I guess?). Though for the top tier attraction at a major park to have so much downtime is legitimately unacceptable. Especially given that Dollywood doesn't have a ton of world class coasters to fall back on if one goes down (like at Cedar Point if Steel Vengeance or Millennium Force are down for extended times, or Maverick, which seemingly has gone down every day this year). After LRod, there's an ok wing coaster, a legitimately great GCI in Thunderhead, Mystery Mine, an Arrow Looper in Tennessee Tornado, and family coasters. I mean, they have solid family coasters, but I'm not driving down just for Firechaser Express or Big Bear Mountain.

They could have just added friction drives much like hulk uses but a standard lift chain seems to be the most reliable option.

I rode this last June with the launch. Looks like I went on this just in time. And based on how I waited for a whole hour with no brake downs, I'd also say I was lucky.

I love LR. I m visiting In Nov so it be interesting to see if with it being closed

If it means that I don't have to waste 3 trips to Dollywood just trying to ride it, then I'm for it. Even though I didn't get to ride it with the launch.

It will now just be rod. But next summer I’m taking the almost 10 hr trip from Michigan to ride this. So I’m all for this

I've only been to this park without Lightning Rod open

I wonder if they could retrofit some type of pneumatic launch system that would provide reliability and keep the launch. Only ridden it once and I’ll just say i am not as young or adventurous as i used to be 😂

Dollywood is next on my theme park agenda. I am hoping BigTime that the issues with lightning rod will be worked out by the time I get there summer 2024. When they reworked the Texas giant to steel box beam rails and redesigned the track layout, I was so mad….UNTIL I RODE IT! I could not imagine improving on its already fantastic build BUT THEY ACHIEVED FAR MORE than I had anticipated. I am certain that whatever changes they have in mind for Lightning Rod, Will be an improvement that will fix it for good.

I like your video and the change, but another option would have been a 100% steel launch hill. It sounds expensive, but buying 2 new trains and converting the hill into a chainlift is not cheap either.

I feel the same about Top Thrill Dragster now that the 0-120 in 4 seconds is gone

Fantastic video as always! Jts a shame I'll never get to experience it with the launch but I think I'll finally make it out to Dollywood next year due to the increased reliability. Also I'm still waiting for part 2 to your Cedar Point guide...will it ever see the light of day?

Last rides on OG LRod weekend of 10/27 are gonna be lit 😎

It's a shame, but not surprising. I am curious if replacing the wooden supports on the lift to a steel truss could have saved the lsm launch or what a tire drive booster similar to Hulk could have done for the ride

Weren't (near-)standstill launches known for their lack of reliability compared to 'weak' rolling ones? Let alone one which has to fight against gravity... I wonder how much easier the launch would've been if it were a rolling launch

its so crazy to me cause i went on a hot summer day and got to ride it 13 times

@okaycoasters music?

We lost the launch, but we will (hopefully) get a more reliable ride. All in all, good news. But here’s the best news of all: we got a new okaycoasters video because of it.

was does a "high speed chain lift" even mean? How can I change lift go fast? And how fast is high-speed in this context?

Downtime is terrible, but got to experience it a couple of times. When there's a problem like that, are repairs or mods on RMC or Dollywood as far as cost for them?

ill miss it

I always wondered why they never did a3rd option. Commission help from a company that has more experience with launch LSMs to replace the ones done by the original one (who had only done braking systems).. maybe it truly is the same expertise acceptable versus decelerating... or maybe the secretly did consult someone like drivetec... or maybe they are maintaining good business relationships by staying loyal. 🤷🤷🤷

And it still WILL be fun regardless even tho launches are inherently fun.

I’ll take a more reliable coaster. Glad i was able to ride it with the launch.

Was there for Smokey Moutain Coasterfest (ACE event) for 2020 and 2021. I went back the second time to ride L-Rod because it was down for the first refurbishment. I got 7 rides on it that day(fast pass and single rider helped). I'm sad to see it go away in its current configuration, but it does help with up time. My question is this, does that make it a new credit without the LSM launch? I'd say so. Sad to see it go, but I understand why. I think the launch makes the ride. But it would be difficult to redo the LSMs to make it work, and cutting the train lengths in half would reduce weight as well, but RMC went to a company who doesn't do launches(the same company that does the magnetic brakes on SteVe BTW) and have never done one since. Lighting Rod was a prototype and a very problematic one at that. Probably RMC's only launch they will ever build. Sorry about my wordy comment...

I feel like Dollywood is paying people to make positive videos about this change because all I see are positive videos. 🤔🤔

lmao i love how you posted a video of wildcat that’s the least reliable RMC besides lrod

this generation's hypersonic xlc

Yet Universal never replaced the Hulk's launch system

Sad. Going for the first time this coming Christmas.

The phrase “fast chain lift” has me huffing copium that URL at least be like Millie or I305 in terms of speed.

The level of dramatics over this is hilarious. It’ll be basically the same ride. Except it’ll be open 😅

It's time it's been ran as far it can go they gave up

😭

Damn at least I rode it with the launch. Funny thing is was that those times I went to ride it, it broke down lol