Thunderhead at Dollywood doesn't get the pub and love that Wild Eagle and Lightning Rod get. It deserves equal billing IMHO! This is one REALLY EXCELLENT woody that coaster fans need to experience for themselves! This coaster is absolutely a BEAST! It is fast, has insane laterals and airtime, and having ridden in the front and back I can say the front is the better of the two. It feels like you are being propelled forward constantly throughout the ride and is also much more intense during the entire run. I was lucky enough to ride it in the front one time while it was raining! Call me crazy, but the rain smashing into my face made the ride even more fun! I had never been on a coaster in the rain and to be able to ride this one during a shower made it a coaster experience I'll never forget! Before you ask, the operator told me that Dollywood's policy is to run the rides as long as there are no lightning strikes within a certain radius of the park and it does not affect safety. I'm thankful for that!
LRod is my favorite at Dollywood and in my top 3 overall, but Thunderhead is honestly not far off in my opinion. Some of the most unreal pacing I've experienced, and the laterals and airtime are great.
I think that depends who you asked I mean, if you like the crazy out of control feel with action lightning rod. If you like the vintage old-school but new taste to it thunderhead. If you like a different feeling on the track, something new, but has cool elements in it dragon flyer. If you want to cool ride with good, seeming maybe memes, mystery mine. If you want something that the kids and family will enjoy big Bear Mountain and fire chaser express. I love just about everything and Dollywood can’t wait to go back sometime soon hopefully
My favourite part of this ride is the airtime directly into the sharp turns. In the front row, you are still out of your seat by the time the car starts turning.
I think the station flyby is the best out of any coaster with one. Theres just a certain sound of rattling that thunder head has and its the few moments where i get chills when it flys over the station. It could also be cause it still has so much speed through it Also it was very rough from 2016 until late 2022 or soemtime in 2023. To my knowledge they never did a full retrack until recently so it was so rough it was unbearable. But the retrack is new so thats probably why its so smooth now. I only got 1 smooth ride on it in 2015. I went in 2016 and it was starting to get very rough
It must depend on certain factors then. I went in November 2015 and it was hauling even though it was low 60s. But then again it was raining so it probably was very low on friction terms then we went in July 2016 and it was a snooze fest and rough. Haven't been since but I've heard it's smooth now. It could also be what time you ride. Since it's in the mountain mornings are pretty cold for summer standards so it'll crawl through the layout until it warms up
@@CarolinaCycloneJames yeah believe me it was boiling haha. If I remember correctly it was around 90 degrees, which maybe isn’t a lot for you Americans but felt unbearable for me haha. Got many rides in throughout the day as well. It’s not a bad ride it’s still in my top 20 it’s just not better than l rod in my opinion, which is at number 3 rn
@@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239it depends on the day, its my home park and if they’re both running fast I slightly prefer Thunderhead, but on a slow or average day LRod crushes it.
It really isn’t anymore and it’s my home park. After the slowdown, new trains, metal track, and “fast” lift, thunderhead is definitely a better ride now, especially after its retrack last year… LRod no longer has the duration to compete, and even though the few elements it does have are elite, it’s too short of a ride to compare. But that’s my take… I just think taking away its big gimmick (the launch) completely killed the ride.
Thunderhead at Dollywood doesn't get the pub and love that Wild Eagle and Lightning Rod get. It deserves equal billing IMHO! This is one REALLY EXCELLENT woody that coaster fans need to experience for themselves!
This coaster is absolutely a BEAST! It is fast, has insane laterals and airtime, and having ridden in the front and back I can say the front is the better of the two. It feels like you are being propelled forward constantly throughout the ride and is also much more intense during the entire run.
I was lucky enough to ride it in the front one time while it was raining! Call me crazy, but the rain smashing into my face made the ride even more fun! I had never been on a coaster in the rain and to be able to ride this one during a shower made it a coaster experience I'll never forget!
Before you ask, the operator told me that Dollywood's policy is to run the rides as long as there are no lightning strikes within a certain radius of the park and it does not affect safety. I'm thankful for that!
I totally agree with everything you’ve said!! A rain ride in the front seems OUTSTANDING! And I love Dollywood’s policy!
ALPENFURY!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!
@@CoasterVerse premier is cooking 🔥🔥
I’ve always wanted to come to Dollywood!
It's so worth it!
LRod is my favorite at Dollywood and in my top 3 overall, but Thunderhead is honestly not far off in my opinion. Some of the most unreal pacing I've experienced, and the laterals and airtime are great.
That is totally valid!
this is such an amazing video. i enjoyed it so much
Thank you!
I think that depends who you asked I mean, if you like the crazy out of control feel with action lightning rod. If you like the vintage old-school but new taste to it thunderhead. If you like a different feeling on the track, something new, but has cool elements in it dragon flyer. If you want to cool ride with good, seeming maybe memes, mystery mine. If you want something that the kids and family will enjoy big Bear Mountain and fire chaser express.
I love just about everything and Dollywood can’t wait to go back sometime soon hopefully
Those are very good points! Same here!
My favourite part of this ride is the airtime directly into the sharp turns. In the front row, you are still out of your seat by the time the car starts turning.
Yessss, same here!
It looks like a fun ride! I hope I can get to Dollywood some day 😢
It definitely is! I would totally recommend it if you ever get the chance!
Thunderhead > Lightning Rod
And it always will be…
We’ll see if I agree!
I think the station flyby is the best out of any coaster with one. Theres just a certain sound of rattling that thunder head has and its the few moments where i get chills when it flys over the station. It could also be cause it still has so much speed through it
Also it was very rough from 2016 until late 2022 or soemtime in 2023. To my knowledge they never did a full retrack until recently so it was so rough it was unbearable. But the retrack is new so thats probably why its so smooth now. I only got 1 smooth ride on it in 2015. I went in 2016 and it was starting to get very rough
So true, it’s awesome! I do remember it used to be hated by many for being so rough, but I’m glad Dollywood has started to take care of it!
Imma be honest, I recently went, and I didn’t really feel much airtime, and I couldn’t get enough of lighting rods airtime.
I totally get that!
It must depend on certain factors then. I went in November 2015 and it was hauling even though it was low 60s. But then again it was raining so it probably was very low on friction terms then we went in July 2016 and it was a snooze fest and rough. Haven't been since but I've heard it's smooth now. It could also be what time you ride. Since it's in the mountain mornings are pretty cold for summer standards so it'll crawl through the layout until it warms up
@@CarolinaCycloneJames yeah believe me it was boiling haha. If I remember correctly it was around 90 degrees, which maybe isn’t a lot for you Americans but felt unbearable for me haha. Got many rides in throughout the day as well. It’s not a bad ride it’s still in my top 20 it’s just not better than l rod in my opinion, which is at number 3 rn
Thunderhead is for the wood coaster purists like myself. Great GCI.
Yessss
Thunderhead is absolutely better than lightning rod, especially now that they've removed the launch hill.
I agree!!
Nooooooo! I missed the premiere 😭
I almost did 🫢
I didnt like Thunderhead, I found it to be extremely overrated and underwhelming.
Oh wow!
Thunderhead is better than fury 325 and Lightning rod
Thunderhead is literally between Fury 325 and Lightning Rod in my rankings!
Lightning Rod is infinitely better than Thunderhead and nobody can prove me otherwise
I totally get that!
@@CoasterVerse I honestly think anyone who says Thunderhead is better is underrating Lightning Rod
@@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239it depends on the day, its my home park and if they’re both running fast I slightly prefer Thunderhead, but on a slow or average day LRod crushes it.
@@stephenboshears4832 I rode them both in June of 2023 and Lightning Rod killed Thunderhead.
It really isn’t anymore and it’s my home park. After the slowdown, new trains, metal track, and “fast” lift, thunderhead is definitely a better ride now, especially after its retrack last year… LRod no longer has the duration to compete, and even though the few elements it does have are elite, it’s too short of a ride to compare. But that’s my take… I just think taking away its big gimmick (the launch) completely killed the ride.
It's not even top 3. It's rough as shit
Really? I thought it was glass smooth!