Video: Dollywood's Wild Eagle coaster set to be ready for March 24, 2012 debut

Dollywood's Wild Eagle is set to win the race to become the first Wing Rider coaster in the US. Image © Dollywood

Dollywood has revealed that construction of its highly-anticipated Wild Eagle roller coaster is on track, with the ride set to open to the public on March 24, 2012.

Journalists were able to take a tour of the Wild Eagle construction site earlier this week, with Dollywood eager to show off progress on its latest addition. The ride will be the first Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Rider coaster to open in the US, and will see guests seated in "wings" on either side of its trains. It is designed to recreate the experience of soaring through the skies like a bald eagle.

Wild Eagle will be housed in a new themed area of Dollywood, dubbed Wilderness Pass. This has been constructed at a cost of $20 million, with over half of this having been spent on the coaster itself. The area is situated next to Dollywood's eagle sanctuary.

Two videos taken during the construction are embedded below. The first, from Theme Park Review, features extensive footage of the ride's circuit and trains, while the second, from Knoxville.com, includes an interview with Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens.

Wild Eagle's trains will hit a top speed of 61 miles per hour as they traverse its 3,127-feet-long course. Four inversions will be included in Wild Eagle's circuit, including a giant loop, a "zero-G" roll and a giant flat spin. The ride will hit its top speed at the foot of the first drop, which will stand at 135-feet-tall.

You can keep up to date with the latest confirmed and rumored opening dates for new attractions through Theme Park Tourist's "New Attraction Watch" section, and by signing up for our weekly newsletter.

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