Negative-G - Silver Dollar City -2026 - Opening Weekend - Thunderation First Last Ride - Silver Dollar City Resort Topping Off Ceremony Page One

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2026 Opening Weekend at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri

As soon as I left Silver Dollar City back in November the off season depression kicked in. Needing coasters but not able to get to any always makes the winter a hard one. What I needed was a point in time that I could look forward to and that was Friday April 13th which was Silver Dollar City's opening day. With my handy dandy season pass and all season Trailblazer I was ready to ride and ride some more.

The First Last Ride of Thunderation at Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri

The rumor mill has said for the last few years that Thunderation was soon to be removed from Silver Dollar City. A few weeks before the park opened for their 2026 season Silver Dollar City made the announcement that this was to be the classic Arrow Dynamics designed mine trains final season.

Understanding how important the memories created on the parks rides mean to their guests, Silver Dollar City not only announced the rides closure with plenty of time for everyone to get one last ride, but they also set up a special "First Last Ride" on opening day so the first guests into the park and a few special guests could kick off Thunderation's final season with all of the celebration that it deserves.

Joining me for my "first last ride" of the year was Jacen and Travis. We of course went for the back seat on Thunderation which always thrills.

As a perfect example of how awesome Silver Dollar City is, those who visited last year would remember that Thunderation was down to a single train for the entire year. For this year knowing that the demand for rides on Thunderation were going to be in demand Silver Dollar City actually purchased a new train for this coaster. Trains aren't cheap and the fact that they bought a second one as well as giving the rides fans plenty of time to say goodbye shows how high in regards they hold their guests.

After getting our "first, last ride" on Thunderation, Silver Dollar City gave the first hundred and fifty riders one of these fantastic posters. Sawyer and the rest of his team at Silver Dollar City really go out of their way to make Silver Dollar City not only one of the best parks on the planet, but one of the friendliest as well.