Coaster fans can now experience the world’s fastest ever wooden rollercoaster – four months before it’s due to open.

Lightning Rod, which will also be the world’s first ever wooden launch coaster, was revealed as a VR experience at IAAPA today (17 November). The 360-optimized point-of-view footage – produced by Los Angeles-based 3D Live – means users can watch the video, ideally using their smartphone and something like Google Cardboard, to try out the ride.

The US$22m Lightning Rod – which is being built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) – is set to open at Dollywood on 19 March 2016.

For RMC, the 3D technology is a great way to communicate some of the innovations of Lightning Rod, which features a number of world-firsts. It also opens up a world of marketing possibilities, and enables people who can’t visit the park to share some of the experiences.

“Imagine hospital patients that may never be able to go to a theme park. Now, this is at least the first step in bringing that experience to them,” said 3D Live CEO Nathan Huber. “There is something about creating these immersive experiences; you can take something that would be difficult for them to experience and make it accessible. Now they can sit in their living room, put on a VR headset and be inside the park for a minute.”

The ride, which marks the largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history, launches riders from zero to 45mph, features twin summit airtime, a 165-foot drop, 3,800 feet of track and a top speed of 73mph.

Read a feature on wooden coasters, including an interview with Rocky Mountain Construction, in Attractions Management Q2, 2015 or click here