FIRE IN THE HOLE
Written by Andy Ostmeyer
Fire in the Hole Courtesy Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City will debut its new $ 30 million indoor family “ Fire in the Hole ” roller coaster this spring . The grand opening is set for March 30 .
The new attraction , in the park ’ s Fire District area , is inspired by the original “ Fire in the Hole ” attraction , built at Silver Dollar City in 1972 . That coaster closed at the end of last year .
“ 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 Co ., in a statement . “ Spurring the creation of The Fire District , the custom-designed ‘ Fire in the Hole ’ makes history as the Heartland ’ s largest indoor coaster . As the district ’ s anchor attraction , it will be a favorite rite of passage for families where one generation introduces the next generation to this adventure and where the heroes of today spark the heroes of tomorrow .”
The new roller coaster will include three drops and a quick splash landing , a custom soundtrack , lighting effects and special effects , such as using fiber optics to create a fast-burning fuse . It will be housed in a five-story , temperature-controlled building and will be nearly a third of a mile long .
Its storyline is based on a fictional account of a night in the Ozark Mountains when the mining town of Marmaros was burned to the ground by a group of vigilantes known at the time Baldknobbers .
Silver Dollar City worked with Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction to custom engineer and manufacture the new roller coaster . It ’ s the same company the theme park worked with for its Outlaw Run roller coaster .
The ride should be open all season long because it is inside . Silver Dollar City is open through Dec . 30 .
24 JOPLIN MAGAZINE | APRIL / MAY