If you’re looking for the ultimate “thrills in the hills” this summer, don’t miss the incredible lineup of Pigeon Forge mountain coasters! These unique rides offer a similar experience to a roller coaster, as carts are securely attached to steel rails and coast downhill using gravity for momentum. The key difference is that you get to control the speed of your own ride using a brake lever to slow down or go full throttle! Here are 4 thrilling mountain coasters in Pigeon Forge that you need to ride:
1. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is just a mile off the Parkway on Wears Valley Road, and you’ll see the sprawling track as soon as you approach this action-packed destination! The ride opened in August of 2013 and was the first mountain coaster to open in the Smoky Mountains, and it remains one of the best! The circuit is more than one mile long and takes between 7 to 8 minutes to complete, depending upon your speed down the mountain! The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is open both during the daytime and at night, so come during the daylight hours to enjoy the scenery and then return at night to race downhill through the darkness!
2. Goat Coaster at Goats on the Roof
Another one of the thrilling mountain coasters in Pigeon Forge that you need to ride is the Goat Coaster at Goats on the Roof! This attraction is located just a bit down the road from the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and is named after the wacky gift shop right next door where there really are goats on the roof! The ride measures nearly a mile in length, and riders can reach speeds up to 30 miles per hour for a hair-raising experience! This speed may not sound like much when you think of driving in a car, but we guarantee that it will feel quite different when you are riding on rails just inches above the ground!
3. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
The Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is situated right along Veterans Boulevard and is the closest mountain coaster to Dollywood, offering some extra thrills for folks on their way to or from the famous theme park! This breathtaking ride features four separate uphill lifts, stunning Smoky Mountain scenery, 360-degree turns, and several tunnels on over 20 acres of property! For an extra unique experience, consider visiting after nightfall where the sparkling lights will guide you through the action!
4. Lost Mine Mountain Coaster
The Lost Mine Mountain Coaster is the newest of the mountain coasters in Pigeon Forge and features the area’s longest ride, as well as a next-generation safety system that prevents any two cars from getting too close! One of the things that make the Lost Mine Mountain Coaster extra special is the high level of theming, as you’ll encounter lots of fun features on your way down, including the Trepid Tunnel, Hibernation Hole, Bear Foot Ridge, and Goldilock’s Glen!
After taking a ride on these thrilling mountain coasters in Pigeon Forge, come on over to our Pigeon Forge restaurant to experience the best food in the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to seeing you soon!