Beloved Theme Park Coaster to Shut Down After 33-Year Run

After more than three decades of rattling through the Ozark hills, one of Missouri’s most beloved coasters is preparing for its final run.

Silver Dollar Cityannounced that Thunderation, its runaway mine train-style coaster, will retire on January 2, 2027—closing the chapter on a ride that has carried more than 27 million passengers since opening in 1993. For generations of families visiting the park’s immersive 1880s mining-town setting, Thunderation wasn’t just another attraction; it was a rite of passage tucked into the terrain above Marvel Cave.

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“Thunderation’s opening kick-started exciting additions to Silver Dollar City,” said Brad Thomas, president of Silver Dollar City Parks & Resorts, said in the statement. “Likewise, Thunderation’s retirement at the end of 2026 will launch new and exciting chapters in Silver Dollar City’s future. In this case, the end is really an exciting beginning. Please stay tuned!”

The park is leaning into the storytelling. According to the announcement, the fictional Marvel Cave Mining Co.—which ceased operations in 1889—is “resuming operations,” reclaiming the mountain and clearing the rails for renewed geological surveys. “Thunderation has had its run,” ‘Foreman Jedidiah Campbell’ said. “But this mountain was never meant to be borrowed forever. There are still undiscovered sections of that mine, and I intend to see what it holds. The work underground matters more than any cheer from above.”

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Rather than quietly closing the gates, Silver Dollar City is turning 2026 into a season-long celebration, beginning opening day March 13 and culminating in a farewell on January 2. Expect commemorative merchandise, special ride moments and limited-time offerings designed to give longtime fans one last chance to hear that familiar climb and roar.

Fresh off being named one of America’s top theme parks and preparing to open its first-ever on-site resort in 2026—a 262-room property that finally transforms the Ozarks favorite into a true multi-day destination—Silver Dollar City is in expansion mode. Patriotic programming tied to America’s 250th birthday is also on deck next year, alongside major long-term development plans across more than 1,200 acres.

In other words, Thunderation’s retirement isn’t a quiet goodbye. It’s part of a larger evolution—one that suggests this mountain still has plenty of stories left to tell.

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