It seemed only appropriate, according to Silver Dollar City spokesman Dalton Fischer. The first riders on today's ceremonial debut of Fire in the Hole were firefighters from Stone County and neighboring Taney County.
The firefighters were selected to honor them for saving Silver Dollar City from a real fire in 2021, he said. Thanks to their efforts, no serious injuries were sustained, and the fire was contained to just three buildings.
Media and coaster enthusiasts made up the rest of today's VIP premiere of the roller coaster reincarnated from the historic Fire in the Hole that opened in 1972. After telling fans in March 2023 that it would be the last year for the roller coaster, a news conference Aug. 14 revealed that Fire in the Hole would be replaced with -- Fire in the Hole. The new $30 million ride, created in collaboration with Idaho's Rocky Mountain Construction and Herschend Creative Studios, marks the Branson theme park's biggest investment in a single attraction to date.
"Fire In The Hole is truly one-of-a-kind," Duane Marden, founder of the Roller Coaster Database, a worldwide database with statistics on over 10,000 roller coasters and counting from around the world, said in a press release today. "The ride combines a family coaster experience all can enjoy with indoor elements illustrating the history of this area, all in a massive building that ends with a water splash. There's nothing like it anywhere and will be an absolute must-ride every visit."
The new coaster offers:
Three drops.
A splash landing.
Updated special effects for 14 "iconic" show scenes.
A custom soundtrack with high-resolution onboard audio.
New lighting effects.
A 2-minute, 51-second ride along 1,512 feet of track at a maximum speed of 26 mph.
And it's all inside a five-story, temperature-controlled building, meaning the new family coaster will be open regardless of weather and temperature, Fischer said in the press release.
Plus, Fire In The Hole is the new centerpiece in the Fire District, effectively doubling the size of one the park's most popular areas, according to Fischer. The new section also includes Sadie's Pretzel Cafe, a new restaurant serving handmade pretzels, pretzel dogs and pretzel sandwiches, and the new Flanders Dry Goods store, which offers a line of "Flanders-branded" merchandise, connecting the store location back to Fire In The Hole's lore.
The premise of the ride is that "volunteers" are asked to help save a burning town from a gang of vigilantes called The Baldknobbers. More than 25 million riders boarded Fire in the Hole between 1972 and its final day on Dec. 30, 2023, Fischer said.
"This new Fire In The Hole continues our mission of creating memories worth repeating," Brad Thomas, Silver Dollar City Co. president, said in the press release. "The only place you can ride something like this is Silver Dollar City."
The coaster officially debuts to the public Saturday. The town square will be open at 8:30 a.m., and "we will drop chains at the Town Square at 9:45 a.m. for folks to make their way down to the new Fire District before an opening ceremony that will begin just a few minutes before 10 a.m.," Fischer said. The park officially opens at 10 a.m. that day, and tickets start at $89 at silverdollarcity.com.
VIP guests at Silver Dollar City near Branson get seated to ride the new Fire in the Hole indoor roller coaster during a preview day Wednesday. The roller coaster is suitable for children at least 36 inches tall, along with adults. Neither cameras nor cell phones are allowed on the roller coaster. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff)
Silver Dollar City staff, some in character, welcome guests on Wednesday for the Fire in the Hole indoor roller coaster preview. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff)
Dozens of municipal and volunteer firefighters were among the crowd of some 3,509 guests to attend the preview. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff)