Opened in 1972, Fire in the Hole is perhaps the most beloved attraction at Silver Dollar City. Since it was announced this spring that the indoor roller coaster would be closing, fans have been flocking to the Branson, Missouri, park to take one last ride. On Aug. 14, however, Brad Thomas, the longtime president of Silver Dollar City Company, revealed that the attraction would live on—or at least a new version of it.
Representing a $30 million investment, the largest in the park’s history, a reimagined Fire in the Hole will open in spring 2024 and anchor an expanded Fire District. It will be housed in a climate-controlled, five-story show building. At slightly more than 1,500 feet and with a duration just under three minutes, the park is characterizing the attraction as the largest indoor coaster in the Midwest. It will be built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and will feature a modified version of its I-Box track, which utilizes support structures in combination with a track that allows for thrilling elements such as steeper drops. As with the 1972 version, the park is handling much of the scenic design of the show scenes in-house.
The themed dark ride, which sends guests through a burning town, is partially based on a true story that dates back to pre-Civil War days.
“The Baldknobbers were real vigilantes who set fire to the mining town that was here,” explains Pete Herschend, co-founder of the park and Herschend Family Entertainment. “It’ll be a new ride based on 51 years of tradition all the way down to Red Flanders and his lost pants,” he adds, referring to one of the beloved characters from the original attraction.
Among other features that will be carried over from the original ride will be a “train dip” scene and a splashdown finale. The new Fire in the Hole will capitalize on more modern attraction design tools such as onboard audio, projection effects, and fiber optics.
Since the trains will be handling less load dynamics, the ride’s I-Box track will be more compact than the coaster company’s more potent thrill machines, according to RMC President Darren Torr. Like the existing ride, the new coaster will be powered, and its trains will include onboard electric motors, a first for RMC. It will also represent the company’s first family dark ride.
“It’s an honor to be selected to work with Silver Dollar City and the Herschend family,” Torr says. In 2013, RMC also built the park’s Outlaw Run, the first wooden coaster to feature the company’s Topper Track. “It’s great to do projects with people who are so passionate about what they do,” adds Torr. “They are in it for the long term and investing for the next 50 years.”
“Outlaw Run was remarkable for Silver Dollar City. RMC nailed it for us,” notes Thomas. “We trust them. We needed a willing partner to do the design and engineering for Fire in the Hole. RMC is that for us.”
The new Fire District will incorporate the existing Fireman’s Landing, which features several family-friendly rides. In addition to Fire in the Hole, the land will welcome a pretzel dog stand and a retail location, Flanders’ Dry Goods.
Thomas says that the park has invested over $200 million since 2013 and is poised to spend more. Herschend Family Entertainment recently acquired 1,000 contiguous acres on which it can expand Silver Dollar City.
“We have a lot of fun announcements to make in the years to come. Some in the distant future and some not so distant,” he hints.
