Thunderation (Stylized as ThuNderaTion) is a steel mine train roller coaster located at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, the ride opened in 1993.[1] Originally, the third and fifth cars of each roller coaster train faced backward, but they were repositioned to face forward sometime after the 2010 season.[2] On February 16, 2026, Silver Dollar City announced that Thunderation would be closing permanently on January 2, 2027.[3]
Rider Experience
The train (the front part of the roller coaster looks like the locomotive of a steam train) leaves the station, takes a 180 degree right turn, goes straight forward, and makes a 180 degree left turn. The train enters a right turn helix, followed by a tunnel. Next, the train takes a 270 degree left turn. After going straight the train takes another 90 degree right turn drops into a short tunnel. The train goes up the lift hill, out of the tunnel. There is a 270 degree left turn. Finally, the train goes down the drop, and turns right 90 degrees into the station.
On some ride signs, the name is stylized as "ThuNderaTion", a reference to TNT to coincide with the ride's mining theme.