Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri has unveiled the ride vehicle for its new Fire in the Hole coaster, due to open in spring next year.
Alongside Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the park in the Ozarks revealed the ride cars at IAAPA Expo 2023. Per a press release, the custom-engineered ride vehicles offer maximum comfort and are inspired by fire pumper wagons from the 1880s.
“Signifying our biggest investment in a single attraction, Fire in the Hole continues Silver Dollar City’s strategic, multi-phased growth plan offering families opportunities to play and stay together in the heart of the Ozarks,” said Brad Thomas, president of the Silver Dollar City Company, in August.
The new Fire in the Hole, billed as the largest indoor coaster in the Midwest, is a $30 million version of the Fire in the Hole attraction at the 1880-style theme park from 1972.
Located in a new five-storey building in the new Fire District area, the roller coaster will provide a track length of 1,512 feet, a top speed of 26 mph, and three drops.
It will also include a custom soundtrack with high-resolution onboard audio, show lighting effects and enhanced special effects such as fibre optics.
The new ride is Silver Dollar City’s second collaboration with RMC, following 2013’s award-winning and record-breaking Outlaw Run coaster.
“Like Silver Dollar City, Rocky Mountain Construction is committed to creating custom-built ride experiences that haven’t been done before,” said Darren Torr, president of RMC, earlier this year.
“We loved the challenge of engineering, fabricating, and installing the one-of-a-kind Fire in the Hole, creating a new ride experience while honoring a legendary coaster. It feels fondly familiar, yet it will be daringly different.”
The original Fire in the Hole coaster is open until the end of the 2023 season. So far, more than 25 million guests have enjoyed the ride.
Images courtesy of RMC and Silver Dollar City Company
