Dollywood’s future just got a whole lot more intriguing. In this video I break down a recent interview with Dollywood President Eugene Naughton where the giga coaster question finally came up—and he basically shut it down. He even said Lightning Rod is a “white knuckle experience” and a top five ride in his 40-year career, but also made it clear that ultra-aggressive thrill coasters “aren’t our DNA” and that Dollywood is focused on building things families can do together. So if you were holding out hope for a giga or “another Lightning Rod,” I explain why that’s just not in the cards right now—at least as long as Eugene is in charge. But that doesn’t mean Dollywood’s next coaster can’t be awesome. I give my updated coaster predictions (with percentages) and talk through what actually fits Dollywood’s direction: a Mach Rides Extreme Spinner (25%), a Vekoma looping coaster in that sweet spot of inversions and airtime without being overly intense (35%), and a bigger, high-capacity Vekoma mine train-style coaster that pays homage to the park’s history (40%). I also toss in my wild card wishlist: a “mini” B&M hyper that isn’t a giga, but would deliver graceful airtime and mountain views. Bottom line: Dollywood can still satisfy enthusiasts while staying family-focused.