Silver Dollar City unveils $26M coaster

For National Roller Coaster Day, Silver Dollar City officials today unveiled its new $26 million roller coaster named Time Traveler.

Herschend Family Entertainment Corp.’s investment in the ride is two times that of the park’s most recently constructed coaster, Outlaw Run, at nearly $13 million. Officials said Time Traveler is SDC's largest project to date.

The steel coaster, nearing completion, is set to be ready for riders in spring 2018. Features of the ride developed by Germany-based Mack Rides — currently involved with 10-20 other coasters worldwide — include 360-degree spinning cars as the coaster goes through three inversions and reaches 50.3 mph. It also has a 10-story, 90-degree drop after the coaster leaves the station. SDC also is releasing a branded Time Traveler ice cream product in partnership with Hiland Dairy to promote the ride, said Brad Thomas, president of Silver Dollar City, through a YouTube livestream.

The project was revealed to members of the media Wednesday morning at SDC. Park officials and several world-recognized experts in amusement parks were in attendance.

Rumors of the new ride, easily visible from the queue lines of Thunderation, have been floating about since April, when SDC confirmed a unique project was underway.