I have long understood that the days of the original Fire in the Hole rollercoaster at Silver Dollar City, in the Missouri Ozarks, was on borrowed time. The building and the ride itself have withstood the test of time, but that is to be no more. Unable to combat the mildew and rot inside this enclosed ride any longer, the park decided to shutter the ride at the end of the 2023 season. Thankfully, there is enough wisdom still in charge at Silver Dollar City that they understand the nostalgia that this attraction holds for many.
It is my favorite ride in the park - mostly because it tells the local history of the vigilante Bald Knobbers and their burning of the town of Marmaros, or Marble City, that sat at the top of Marvel Cave where Silver Dollar City now resides. It is said to be the world's first indoor roller coaster, and surprisingly enough, it was designed and developed in-house. The ride's statistics are as follows:
It is my favorite ride in the park - mostly because it tells the local history of the vigilante Bald Knobbers and their burning of the town of Marmaros, or Marble City, that sat at the top of Marvel Cave where Silver Dollar City now resides. It is said to be the world's first indoor roller coaster, and surprisingly enough, it was designed and developed in-house. The ride's statistics are as follows:
Min. Height: 48” (36” With Supervising Companion)
Ride Duration: Just over 3 minutes
Track Length: 1520 feet
Trains: 5, carrying 12 passengers each
Ride Duration: Just over 3 minutes
Track Length: 1520 feet
Trains: 5, carrying 12 passengers each
Remember those stats as I'll write about Fire in the Hole's replacement in another article soon.
 | For a more thorough history of the ride, check out the Storybook Amusement video below. I did not ride Fire in the Hole on my first trip to Silver Dollar City in the 70s. I was not a fan of scary dark rides in my single-digit days, and seeing the walls just beyond the loading station, I didn't want to face whatever lay beyond. I distinctly remember throwing a fit and refusing to get on the ride with my parents. |
| It must have been embarrassing to them, but in subsequent years, I took the plunge and rode it with more maturity. I soon came to appreciate the bold manner in which the park kept the history of the area alive with this one-of-a-kind attraction. You can have your Harry Potter coasters at Universal and even the $500 million Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, but give me Fire in the Hole every time. The mural above is a beautiful depiction of the historic Marmaros fire of the 1800s, and it goes well with other items in the park that also tell the history (but only if you know where to look). | |
For more details, here is what the park website says about it:
History is a long and winding road...and the account of Marmaros, the original City built above Marvel Cave, and its burning to the ground is a storied tale for sure!
The cave as we know it today is a treasured national landmark that invites guests to tour its depths with the largest cathedral room in the state of Missouri, the 3rd largest in the United States. But, it was not always called Marvel Cave...the Osage people and early settlers referred to it as The Devil’s Den because of the unknown abyss that seemed to swallow up anything that would come near. Later explorers believed that it held great treasure to be mined and thus called it Marble Cave.
It was during this time period that the Marble Cave Mining and Manufacturing Co. was created and plans made for a town to support the operation. The town was called Marble City or Marmaros (the Greek word for marble) and started to grow with a general store, one room school, blacksmith shop, sawmill and a regular Butterfield Stage Coach stop.
No marble was ever discovered in the cave, but another rich mineral deposit—bat guano was mined until its supply was exhausted. Soon thereafter, the Marble Cave Mining and Manufacturing Co. closed its doors and Marmaros became a ghost town. During this same time, a local vigilante group known as the Baldknobbers were active in the area and, it is still believed to this day, that they were responsible for burning the town down leaving only its foundations atop the cave!
I've come to really enjoy theme park concept art and models, so this original concept art from Fire in the Hole is interesting to me. Of course, so is the art that depicts the replacement attraction that will take over when this one is shuttered. The new rollercoaster, located in the Fire District area of the park, will bear the name (as we've really known for months) Fire in the Hole. Stay tuned for my introduction of the new $30 million ride that will carry on the legacy of this iconic feature.
