Silver Dollar City’s New Coaster Voted World’s Best

Silver Dollar City’s new Fire In The Hole, the largest indoor family roller coaster in the Heartland, claimed the titles of Best New Family Attraction and Best New Attraction Installation at the world’s top award ceremony for the amusement industry.

Known as the “Best of the Best,” Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards are one of the most prestigious honors in the industry. A panel of experienced park enthusiasts worldwide select winners in each category.

Park President Brad Thomas accepted the Golden Ticket Awards on behalf of the Citizens of Silver Dollar City Saturday evening, outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Kennywood amusement park, this year’s ceremony host. “Fire In The Hole is integral to the Silver Dollar City experience,” Thomas noted. “These awards celebrate a new ride and a new generation of fun, all built on the former ride’s legacy, over 50 years in the making.”

“This is such a perfect ride for everyone in the family,” said Tim Baldwin, communications coordinator for the Golden Ticket Awards. “Just like the original, this new attraction is a ride you can enjoy with each generation for years to come.”

Named to honor the original Fire In The Hole attraction that operated at The City from 1972 to 2023, the new coaster represents the 1880s theme park’s single-largest attraction investment. The nearly 3-minute ride tells the story of the night the real town Silver Dollar City now sits on was burnt to the ground. At the story's center, “volunteers” board their “pumper” — an 1880s steam-powered, firefighting wagon — and save the burning town from the notorious vigilantes, the Baldknobbers.

The coaster is housed in a climate-controlled building, ensuring its operation regardless of weather during the park’s March through December season. With a low height requirement, even the youngest heroes can enjoy the 14 iconic show scenes, 3 gravity-driven drops and surprise water splashdown. 

Fire In The Hole doubled the size of one of The City’s most popular areas, The Fire District, home to 10 additional family rides. The area also features the new-for-2024 Sadie’s Pretzel Café, serving handmade pretzels and pretzel dogs, and Flanders Dry Goods, offering a line of Flanders’ branded merchandise, connecting the store back to Fire In The Hole’s rich lore.

Information on Silver Dollar City is available at silverdollarcity.com. More information on Amusement Today, and the Golden Ticket Awards can be found at amusementtoday.com and goldenticketawards.com.