Celebrate National Roller Coaster Day – From First Drops to Family Traditions


August 16, 2025

August 16 is National Roller Coaster Day, a time to celebrate the rides that bring us together, one laugh, scream, and loop at a time. From the Smoky Mountains to the Ozarks and beyond, Herschend’s coasters deliver more than big thrills. They spark the kind of shared moments that turn a simple ride into a lasting memory.

Each coaster below has earned its place as a guest favorite, with its own story, setting, and style of excitement. Whether you’re chasing your next adrenaline rush or hopping on your first coaster, there’s something unforgettable waiting just ahead.

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Dollywood's Lightning Rod Dollywood's Lightning Rod

Lightning Rod at Dollywood: The Fast Lane Through the Smokies
Buckle up and hit the gas. Lightning Rod doesn’t ease into anything. This launched wooden coaster takes off like a 1950s hot rod tearing down a mountain road, accelerating from 0 to 45 mph up its lift hill before topping out at a breathtaking 73 mph. Set against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, it combines classic car culture with cutting-edge coaster design to deliver some of the most intense airtime you’ll find anywhere. It’s fast, a little wild, and unmistakably Dollywood. A must-ride coaster for any thrill-seeker visiting Tennessee.

Kentucky Kingdom's Wind Chaser Kentucky Kingdom's Wind Chaser

Wind Chaser at Kentucky Kingdom: Reinventing the Ride
In Louisville, Wind Chaser (formerly Storm Chaser) grabs your attention right from the first drop, an inverted barrel roll before you’ve even had time to scream. This RMC hybrid coaster transformed a wooden classic into a sleek steel thrill ride packed with intense airtime, quick transitions, and unexpected twists. Wind Chaser feels like it was built by thrill-seekers for thrill-seekers, yet it’s one of those rare rides that wins over everyone from first-time riders to hardcore coaster fans. A standout at Kentucky Kingdom, this ride blends innovation with a rebellious streak that keeps fans coming back for more.

Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler

Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City: A Spinning Ride Through Time
Tucked into the Ozark Mountains, Time Traveler rethinks everything you thought you knew about coasters. As the world’s fastest, steepest, and tallest spinning coaster, this ride launches you headfirst into the unknown with magnetic boosts, rotating cars, and a dramatic 10-story vertical drop right out of the station. One moment you’re staring at the sky, the next you’re twisting through the trees. It’s disorienting in the best way. Riding Time Traveler feels like stepping into a story that just happens to move at 50 miles per hour. A truly one-of-a-kind thrill ride at Silver Dollar City, it’s an unforgettable experience for any coaster fan visiting Missouri.

Wild Adventure's Twisted Typhoon Wild Adventure's Twisted Typhoon

Twisted Typhoon at Wild Adventures: Loops, Laughter, and Old-School Fun
At Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia, Twisted Typhoon climbs 95 feet before diving into five inversions at nearly 50 miles per hour. This looping steel coaster is fast, familiar, and just the right kind of wild. For some riders, it’s a first-time milestone. For others, it’s a trip down memory lane, with parents who rode it as teens now cheering from the sidelines or strapping in for another go with their kids. With a little grit and a lot of heart, this family-friendly thrill ride brings generations together for one twisty, head-spinning experience.

More Thrills, More Memories
Across Herschend’s parks, there’s a coaster for every fan, from approachable options for younger riders to high-adrenaline thrills with bigger drops and inversions. Here’s how each park delivers double the fun:

Wild Adventures

  • Swamp Thing is a suspended family coaster where riders glide beneath the track, offering a smooth, accessible way to introduce younger guests to inverted rides.
  • Boomerang is a reverse shuttle coaster that zips riders through a Cobra Roll and vertical loop, then sends them back through both elements in reverse. A thrilling inversion ride that’s compact but unforgettable.

 

Silver Dollar City

  • Fire in the Hole, is not only the park's newest coaster, it's also the Heartlands largest indoor coaster. Fire in the Hole is a multi-level indoor family ride blending Ozarks-themed scenes with drops and turns, including three drops with a finale water splashdown. With a 36-inch minimum height (when riding with an adult), it’s designed for multi-generational fun.
  • Wildfire delivers five inversions and sweeping Ozark views in what many consider the park’s most iconic looping coaster.

 

Kentucky Kingdom

  • Hollyhock and Roll is a kid-favorite junior coaster, making it a perfect stepping stone for the next generation of thrill-seekers.
  • Lightning Run is a compact steel coaster that features an 80-degree first drop and strong airtime from start to finish.

 

Dollywood

  • Big Bear Mountain is the park’s newest and longest coaster, a family launch ride with three boosts and an immersive storyline that appeals to adventurers of all ages.
  • Wild Eagle introduced the first wing coaster experience in North America, with riders seated on either side of the track for unobstructed mountain views and heart-pounding drops.

 

From high-speed twists to first-time loop-de-loops, Herschend’s coasters offer more than just thrills. They’re the kind of moments you’ll still be talking about long after the car ride home.

This National Roller Coaster Day, whether you’re trying something new or returning to an old favorite, we hope you find a ride that brings you a little closer to the fun and a little closer to each other.

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