Loved the article, but I can't believe you are an Eagle Scout, congrats, this is coming from an Eagle canadate who his having his Board of Review next Thursday.
Taylor, I think you, by far, have the BEST coaster channel out there. Your reviews are so complete on info and also you are NEVER biased about your scores. Thank u so much!!
He does have a slight bias towards his preference for intensity & aggressiveness, but he acknowledges it as a matter of taste(repeatedly, in every vid)
So last year we went to Dollywood after years of not being able to. My 9 yo brother, who has never ridden a roller coaster in his life, wanted to go on Lightning Rod because it was car themed. So we all got on it, thinking it wasn’t gonna be too bad because of the height requirement being so low……. That ride tricks you, you can’t see most of the track while in line other than the launch and end. How quickly our faces went from laughs to “oh crap why did we do this…” should be a world record. And the fact it was my brother’s first ever roller coaster too just makes it even better💀
I love when a very serious review is happening and Taylor sprinkles in little shots of the GP freaking out or being stupid, that's my absolute favorite. The best one is probably Mean Streak coming back into the station where that one guy's pretending to be passed out.
haha thank you! I love that shot! It was so funny cause I had no idea who that was; I was just filming the ride coming into the station and the dude acted like he died and it was hilarious!
Wow I just rode it today. Finally. I did it. And it exceeded my expectations. He is right it really is that good. It’s insane. Can’t imagine what Steel Vengeance and other new ones would do. But this one is insane! Best ride in Dollywood.
Nice, thoughtful, objective review. I appreciate that you factored in prototype, terrain hugging, being a wooden launch, and compare to very successful steel coasters. This made me want to ride it yet made me aware of the inherent logistical risks. Thanks:
I went one night and it went down 2 times, the first time it was just down for maintenance, but the second time (right when I was about to get on) it had a rollback, I was devastated but around 30 mins later it opened again and I got a back row night ride!! which was just.... wow.
2:10 Who cares about roughness? Is everyone just too spoiled by couch-comfort Intamin, B&M, and GCI? If a ride is too smooth, it's like you are sitting in your living room. You have to be a little mean sometimes
I rode both Lightning Rod and Fury 325 last year and I can't say witch one is better. There both awesome but I think Lightning Rod was the highlight of the trip. They are both my new Number 1 coasters for steel and wood
I just rode this coaster two days ago when I went down to Tennessee. I have to say, this is probably the most insane experience of my life. When I rode this in the front it was after after they removed the front so you feel super exposed, it is just incredible. That launch feels like your going 100 with the wind blowing is your face. I would ride this every day of my life if I didn't live in Wisconsin.
I believe lightning rod is a good coaster. Even though I have not ridden the ride, my family is planning to go to Dollywood to see and ride this fantastic coaster. I am now a coaster enthusiast. THANK YOU COASTER STUDIOS
We to Dollywood yesterday. No crowd at all. Southern Gospel was going on so lots of older folks. Rod lightning rod 3 times. No wait on any ride. Kings Island is my home park and I was there for haunt. Wait times averaged 40mins. Dollywood and Lightning Rod are refreshing.
I'm no coaster expert. I haven't ridden a ton. But I love Lightning Rod. I rode it last summer and it's one of the first coasters in a long time to give me an actual thrill!
We didn't do this ride at the beginning of the day and ended up waiting sixty minutes to ride as they were only running one train. Thankfully it was totally worth it because that ride was amazing. You never lost any pacing throughout its course, you come out of your seat a lot, and it the views of the surrounding woods make it even more exciting. This could possible be my favorite ride for sure. I am just glad it didn't break down while we were waiting, and I am making this my first ride of the day from now on if it's open.
Went around the same time as you and finally got to ride it after 4 visits last year....but rode it 10 times in a row and over 40 over the 4 days at the park and can easily say it's the best coaster I've ever ridden!
I finally rode it a few days ago, and It was amazing, I rode it in the back and it’s my favorite roller coaster of all time, I have not gotten a front row ride and you said you prefer the front row, I can’t even image that it can get better than that
I was enjoying the review and at the part where you say I'm gonna give it a final score, I'm thinking oh yeah I know what this is gonna be, then you say nine and I'm like WWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!! When. you gave the reason I understood though. But I did hear a rumor that RMC came in and did some work in the launch over the off season so it'll be more consistent from now on.
I think this is an awesome review! 👍 I'm glad that you were not only able to ride it but marathon it as well. The rollercoaster does look incredible! 🎢
This sounds insane!!! You at the end of this was me after torro. It takes a while to process even if you know the lay out. Wish I could’ve ridden it again. But this seems even crazier. I think I’m the only person who doesn’t mind a little roughness on a high quality woodie like these two. All of my friends were complaining about headbanging on torro and I was like again!!! I hope I get to ride this someday.
This coaster was an EXPERIENCE!!! It thoroughly exceeded my expectations, I had low hopes and it WOW'ed me. I highly recommend trying this if you love coasters.
When I went to Dollywood on June 11, 2017 this ride was down that whole day but last year I managed to get a ride on Lightning Rod two times last year.
Yay!! Great review and well worth waiting for! Your vid that you uploaded right after you rode this for the first time actually prompted me to book a trip to Dollywood this summer, and this review now has me even more pumped! I take it by your ignoring my comments on your last vids that you were irked by those of us expressing impatience for this review; I think you should be flattered, not irked, but hey I'm not you.
There needs to be a downward launch coaster :) on like 30 degree declining 250-300 foot hill on the way down so the drop is like 100mph. It would be the surprise ending to a great ride. And of course some great elements leading up to it.
The main problem with Lightning Rod is the launch. They used a company who makes magnetic brakes and had just started to try out magnetic launches. If they went with another company they probably wouldn't have all the issues. But Lightning Rod is my #1 out of the coasters at Dollywood, Cedar Point, Kings Island, SFOG, Magic Mountain, and all of the US Disney Parks.
I think this ride is most comparable to Phantoms Revenge. Both start out with really big elements which are fun, but halfway through their short ride they have small hills that the train flies over. Overall I think Lightning Rod is a top 10 coaster, but doesn't quite make it into my top 5
One of my classmates in school (part of the GP) got to ride it last year. I went in December and didn't. I wasen't too happy, but it still put me over 100 credits before the end of 2016.
Taylor's top five as of October 2016 was 5. Voyage. 4. iron Rattler. 3. El Toro. 2. intimidator 305. 1. Fury 325. Now he has said that this enters his top three. So the only question left for him is whether it's ahead of i305 and Fury, behind them, or in between them.
Hey Taylor. Just a couple of things I want to mention. The launch has a max speed of 45 mph and the max height of the ride is 206 feet. You did a great job with this review.
i actually talked to some of the dollywood staff after i rode it for the first time this april, and they said something about having to recalibrate the on ride photo system, because it was actually going something like 80 mph
You had a better chance of winning the Lottery than riding this ride the first year. This was a very well thought out tactic. It made guests expectations sink so low that it had to be a huge hit.
I went to Dollywood yesterday and we ran to lighting rod right when they opened and we were up in the station then the second train of the day went half way up the hill and rolled back we left the line came back a hour later than we got in line waited for 2 lighting delays even though it wasn't raining then after 2 hours we finally got on and it was awesome.
This thing is my number one wood coaster (BARELY ahead of Voyage) because of how much ejector airtime there was and how powerful said airtime was. I felt like I was going to fly out of my seat on it.
Having been to Dollywood 3 times in the last 4 years now and still been unable to ride it, hearing all these good things about this ride is a mistake for me haha, I am a massive fan of wooden coasters so to hear this may be one of the best rollercoasters in the world is killing me. I can't wait to ride this sexy 70mph beast in the future!
When I rode lightning Rod in June of 2017, Lightning Rod we’re running 1 train operations, It was a 90 minute wait and I got 11 rides on it in two days. Two or three night rides.
Rode Lightning Rod 38 times total. My goal before the season ends is try for 100 times. I live almost an hour away and I go to Dollywood almost all the time.
Thank you for the excellent review Taylor, I predicted that it would come out one day this week, --- sure hope to check this out some time; this year I'll be checking out Cedar Point & Kings Island for the 1st time, & finally find out what the Hell is in that Shed! --- Your review came quicker than my replacement remote from Dish TV, still waiting on that.
The first time I went on Lightning Rod early summer 2016 it was a blast but when I went on it again in late fall 2016 it was so painful, I hoped they fixed everything because I love the speed on this rollercoaster just don't want to get bruises from it again.
I think the only rmc that might blow this away by the looks of it will me rmc mean streak. I've looked at it over and over and it seems like they're trying to combine a bit of every rmc out there into this one.
Lol when you're at school and you can't watch it right now, but then see the review is 13 minutes long and then you can't contain yourself for the two hours until you can watch it 😂
The launch sounds awesome. This is why they need a coaster with a full out 90 degree launch, like if Fahrenheit was a launch. The gs on that would be crazy
Want more Lightning Rod? Read up on it in this article I published on it! www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58ead5d5e4b06f8c18beed5c
Coaster Studios I
Wow thanks man
Coaster Studios Is it now opened without technical issues?
Loved the article, but I can't believe you are an Eagle Scout, congrats, this is coming from an Eagle canadate who his having his Board of Review next Thursday.
Taylor, I think you, by far, have the BEST coaster channel out there. Your reviews are so complete on info and also you are NEVER biased about your scores. Thank u so much!!
He does have a slight bias towards his preference for intensity & aggressiveness, but he acknowledges it as a matter of taste(repeatedly, in every vid)
I have just turned this on and I bet anyone 10 bucks Taylor will give it less than 10 because of all the issues
Update, I was correct
I think he has emotional scars because of the difficulties he had riding it.
Correct!
ride is a let down..
no it's still awesome
So last year we went to Dollywood after years of not being able to. My 9 yo brother, who has never ridden a roller coaster in his life, wanted to go on Lightning Rod because it was car themed. So we all got on it, thinking it wasn’t gonna be too bad because of the height requirement being so low…….
That ride tricks you, you can’t see most of the track while in line other than the launch and end. How quickly our faces went from laughs to “oh crap why did we do this…” should be a world record. And the fact it was my brother’s first ever roller coaster too just makes it even better💀
I love when a very serious review is happening and Taylor sprinkles in little shots of the GP freaking out or being stupid, that's my absolute favorite. The best one is probably Mean Streak coming back into the station where that one guy's pretending to be passed out.
haha thank you! I love that shot! It was so funny cause I had no idea who that was; I was just filming the ride coming into the station and the dude acted like he died and it was hilarious!
Wow I just rode it today. Finally. I did it. And it exceeded my expectations. He is right it really is that good. It’s insane. Can’t imagine what Steel Vengeance and other new ones would do. But this one is insane! Best ride in Dollywood.
Have you been on steel vengeance yet? I have but haven't been on lr want to but steel vengeance is my number 1 rn
Nice, thoughtful, objective review. I appreciate that you factored in prototype, terrain hugging, being a wooden launch, and compare to very successful steel coasters. This made me want to ride it yet made me aware of the inherent logistical risks. Thanks:
I just rode Lighting Rod 3 days ago and it just blew me away, Love this coaster so much and it is definally a top 5 coaster or so
The ride is perfect and you can’t convince me otherwise
This ride is an engineering marvel. I can't wait to finally ride this!!
I went one night and it went down 2 times, the first time it was just down for maintenance, but the second time (right when I was about to get on) it had a rollback, I was devastated but around 30 mins later it opened again and I got a back row night ride!! which was just.... wow.
2017: everybody trying to decide if fury or l-rod is the best in the world
2018: hold my vengance
That's a great idea.
El Toro / Lightning Rod comparison.
Don't make us wait !! Lol.
theripoffchicago
It’s happened
3:55 why did that kid staple himself 😂
2:10 Who cares about roughness? Is everyone just too spoiled by couch-comfort Intamin, B&M, and GCI? If a ride is too smooth, it's like you are sitting in your living room. You have to be a little mean sometimes
Illinois Coasters I agree 100%
Illinois Coasters The point of the video is to review the coaster. Of course he'd mention if it's rough.
Yeah, but he mentioned it as a con, so I feel I had to give my opinion about roughness
I agree, smooth coasters are boring
Metal Coasters better than rough ones
One of the best parts of the video 4:04
Lol
3:57 ......... He ju- He just stapled his self😖😔😂💀
poor guy
I rode both Lightning Rod and Fury 325 last year and I can't say witch one is better. There both awesome but I think Lightning Rod was the highlight of the trip. They are both my new Number 1 coasters for steel and wood
8:53 "Everyone came into the station clapping..."
1 person claps
Much logic
When I rode it every 1 was clapping
Actually 3 people clapped 😂
I just rode this coaster two days ago when I went down to Tennessee. I have to say, this is probably the most insane experience of my life. When I rode this in the front it was after after they removed the front so you feel super exposed, it is just incredible. That launch feels like your going 100 with the wind blowing is your face. I would ride this every day of my life if I didn't live in Wisconsin.
I believe lightning rod is a good coaster. Even though I have not ridden the ride, my family is planning to go to Dollywood to see and ride this fantastic coaster. I am now a coaster enthusiast.
THANK YOU COASTER STUDIOS
We to Dollywood yesterday. No crowd at all. Southern Gospel was going on so lots of older folks. Rod lightning rod 3 times. No wait on any ride. Kings Island is my home park and I was there for haunt. Wait times averaged 40mins. Dollywood and Lightning Rod are refreshing.
I'm no coaster expert. I haven't ridden a ton. But I love Lightning Rod. I rode it last summer and it's one of the first coasters in a long time to give me an actual thrill!
We didn't do this ride at the beginning of the day and ended up waiting sixty minutes to ride as they were only running one train. Thankfully it was totally worth it because that ride was amazing. You never lost any pacing throughout its course, you come out of your seat a lot, and it the views of the surrounding woods make it even more exciting. This could possible be my favorite ride for sure. I am just glad it didn't break down while we were waiting, and I am making this my first ride of the day from now on if it's open.
Went around the same time as you and finally got to ride it after 4 visits last year....but rode it 10 times in a row and over 40 over the 4 days at the park and can easily say it's the best coaster I've ever ridden!
Lightning Rod is 206ft tall making it a wooden hypercoaster
YES, IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO
2:22 that guy's about to throw up 0_0
Rode for the 1st time this year. Best wooden coaster I have ever been on. Lucky live 2 hours away from this & 3 hours from Fury 325.
I'm really happy to get to go to Dollywood in June , looking forward to lightning rod!
I love adrenaline and roller coasters, I loved your blog and your channel on youtube. Helped me in a job for college. Thank you very much and success!
Nice job Taylor, really loved this one. I'm going to Dollywood in August, I hope I can ride it!
As of June 2019, this is my favorite coaster hands up (Lol) :)!
"I'm hoping all the issues are behind us..." Oh no... little did you know they're gonna RMC THE RMC for the ULTIMATE hybrid!
The fact that this coaster is along a mountain is awesome and definitely represents the true character of RMCs.
I finally rode it a few days ago, and It was amazing, I rode it in the back and it’s my favorite roller coaster of all time, I have not gotten a front row ride and you said you prefer the front row, I can’t even image that it can get better than that
Crest over the Dolly, LMAO, AND ROFL
I was enjoying the review and at the part where you say I'm gonna give it a final score, I'm thinking oh yeah I know what this is gonna be, then you say nine and I'm like WWWWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!!!!!!! When. you gave the reason I understood though. But I did hear a rumor that RMC came in and did some work in the launch over the off season so it'll be more consistent from now on.
I think this is an awesome review! 👍 I'm glad that you were not only able to ride it but marathon it as well. The rollercoaster does look incredible! 🎢
12:25 That's not stopping Alton Towers from building a Launched GCI...
Guess that's why it turned out to have a lifthill instead...
I'm looking at going to Dollywood this year and I sure do hope it's open.
thank you :)
This was my first roller coaster and i had no idea what i was getting into and now i love roller coasters.
Just rode this past Sunday, awesome ride.
3:45
I admit I just watched the meat squish instead of listening.
Same as Cannibal? Wow, that makes me feel better about my coaster count!
I'm going there in April and I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!
7:10 “Making it seem like you’re going so much faster than you actually am” 😂😂😂😂👌👌👌🔥🔥🔥🔥
This sounds insane!!! You at the end of this was me after torro. It takes a while to process even if you know the lay out. Wish I could’ve ridden it again. But this seems even crazier. I think I’m the only person who doesn’t mind a little roughness on a high quality woodie like these two. All of my friends were complaining about headbanging on torro and I was like again!!! I hope I get to ride this someday.
I am going in July to ride. I am so excited. your review was great. Made me even more excited after your the video.
This coaster was an EXPERIENCE!!! It thoroughly exceeded my expectations, I had low hopes and it WOW'ed me. I highly recommend trying this if you love coasters.
When I went to Dollywood on June 11, 2017 this ride was down that whole day but last year I managed to get a ride on Lightning Rod two times last year.
I may take a trip just to Dollywood just to ride this. Wow that looks insane
Thank you, Taylor! Awesome job!
Yay!! Great review and well worth waiting for! Your vid that you uploaded right after you rode this for the first time actually prompted me to book a trip to Dollywood this summer, and this review now has me even more pumped! I take it by your ignoring my comments on your last vids that you were irked by those of us expressing impatience for this review; I think you should be flattered, not irked, but hey I'm not you.
There needs to be a downward launch coaster :) on like 30 degree declining 250-300 foot hill on the way down so the drop is like 100mph. It would be the surprise ending to a great ride. And of course some great elements leading up to it.
The main problem with Lightning Rod is the launch. They used a company who makes magnetic brakes and had just started to try out magnetic launches. If they went with another company they probably wouldn't have all the issues. But Lightning Rod is my #1 out of the coasters at Dollywood, Cedar Point, Kings Island, SFOG, Magic Mountain, and all of the US Disney Parks.
U
I might be going to Dollywood this summer. And while I'm there, I hope I can get on lightning rod.
Yes!!!! I knew this would be posted sometime today! Awesome review! Hoping for a LR off ride video.
It's the best coaster I've ever ridden.
I think this ride is most comparable to Phantoms Revenge. Both start out with really big elements which are fun, but halfway through their short ride they have small hills that the train flies over. Overall I think Lightning Rod is a top 10 coaster, but doesn't quite make it into my top 5
yessssssssss
One of my classmates in school (part of the GP) got to ride it last year. I went in December and didn't. I wasen't too happy, but it still put me over 100 credits before the end of 2016.
YESSSSSS!!!!!!!! TOP 3!!!!!! OMG IM GONNA CRY!!!!!
I'm guessing Taylor's top three are Lightning Rod, Fury 325, and Maverick/I305.
Taylor's top five as of October 2016 was 5. Voyage. 4. iron Rattler. 3. El Toro. 2. intimidator 305. 1. Fury 325. Now he has said that this enters his top three. So the only question left for him is whether it's ahead of i305 and Fury, behind them, or in between them.
Mako?
Hey Taylor. Just a couple of things I want to mention. The launch has a max speed of 45 mph and the max height of the ride is 206 feet. You did a great job with this review.
Gotcha, thanks! Appreciate it!
i actually talked to some of the dollywood staff after i rode it for the first time this april, and they said something about having to recalibrate the on ride photo system, because it was actually going something like 80 mph
richard mclaughlin gp
The good old days of Coaster Studios. Imo he’s way to official now. He’s lost his teen having fun making videos vibe.
You had a better chance of winning the Lottery than riding this ride the first year. This was a very well thought out tactic. It made guests expectations sink so low that it had to be a huge hit.
i got off it and was like "i feel the same way i did after intimidator 305" and also i loved this video!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to Dollywood yesterday and we ran to lighting rod right when they opened and we were up in the station then the second train of the day went half way up the hill and rolled back we left the line came back a hour later than we got in line waited for 2 lighting delays even though it wasn't raining then after 2 hours we finally got on and it was awesome.
This thing is my number one wood coaster (BARELY ahead of Voyage) because of how much ejector airtime there was and how powerful said airtime was. I felt like I was going to fly out of my seat on it.
lol, at the top of the dolly. Still holding on to that one, ey Taylor?
I rode Lightning Rod and that thing hits hard. Enough said. lol
that looks awesome!!!
I can't wait to hopefully ride Lightning Rod in a month, I have already been on Wicked Cyclone so I hope this coaster has better air time.
Having been to Dollywood 3 times in the last 4 years now and still been unable to ride it, hearing all these good things about this ride is a mistake for me haha, I am a massive fan of wooden coasters so to hear this may be one of the best rollercoasters in the world is killing me. I can't wait to ride this sexy 70mph beast in the future!
This is easily in my top 3
You should make a video on the concept of a Magnum XL200 redo and the possibility of it happening
Jenna Lotocki 0% chance.
Well ok then
They're not going to redo Magnum XL200. It has a lot of historical significance and people love it as it is. Cedar Point's not touching that one.
3:55 my man stapled himself so hard lmao
11:38 I started dying of laughter when I saw that
Gonna try to get on it this summer
When I rode lightning Rod in June of 2017, Lightning Rod we’re running 1 train operations, It was a 90 minute wait and I got 11 rides on it in two days. Two or three night rides.
Finally!!! Nice review
awesome review!!
"Everyone loves it" "it's not for everyone" :DdDD
Rode Lightning Rod 38 times total. My goal before the season ends is try for 100 times. I live almost an hour away and I go to Dollywood almost all the time.
pud219 almost all the time?
Nose usually about once every week. I usually try to go on a slower day.
I rode this. It was the best, no problems or anything!
Thank you for the excellent review Taylor, I predicted that it would come out one day this week, --- sure hope to check this out some time; this year I'll be checking out Cedar Point & Kings Island for the 1st time, & finally find out what the Hell is in that Shed! --- Your review came quicker than my replacement remote from Dish TV, still waiting on that.
I hope the problems are mostly behind us! I'm going to dollywood next week!
LR sticks out like a sore thumb at Dollywood, very intense and awesome.
Finally!!!!! Well done. Nice review.
But can you Turn down the volume of your intro?
The first time I went on Lightning Rod early summer 2016 it was a blast but when I went on it again in late fall 2016 it was so painful, I hoped they fixed everything because I love the speed on this rollercoaster just don't want to get bruises from it again.
2:23, some guy feels sick
Are the restraints uncomfortable because of the seatbelt. It makes me feel the same for twisted colossus.
Seatbelt didn't bother me.
I think the only rmc that might blow this away by the looks of it will me rmc mean streak. I've looked at it over and over and it seems like they're trying to combine a bit of every rmc out there into this one.
4:02 tf my man doing
Do you think it is better than maverick at cedar point?
Lol when you're at school and you can't watch it right now, but then see the review is 13 minutes long and then you can't contain yourself for the two hours until you can watch it 😂
This ride at night must be sensational
The launch sounds awesome. This is why they need a coaster with a full out 90 degree launch, like if Fahrenheit was a launch. The gs on that would be crazy
Dedrick0429 yea but that launch is weak
I am HOPEFULLY riding this coaster this weekend. Is he right about front row? I want the best experience