Safety First: Behind the scenes with our coaster mechanic

Outlaw Run has 89,000 bolts, and Devan Atchley knows where they all go.

As a foreman for the park's Maintenance & Construction department, Devan has spent ten years as a mechanic for several of the park's record-breaking rides—pretty fitting for a guy who loved creating things as a kid.

"Oh, I loved Lincoln Logs," he laughs. "I was always tinkering with toys but started real work when I wasn't much older."

Devan grew up in Republic, MO, where he helped his Dad with his roofing company when he was 13 years old, throwing shingles at first and later learning the entire job. From those early roofing days to building homes later on, Devan's background in carpentry turned him into a "City boy" when he grew up.

His brother worked at the park and told him about Silver Dollar City’s opportunities for folks with hardworking hands and a mechanical mind. It was a perfect fit. After years as the Powder Keg mechanic, Devan moved to the wooden wonder that is Outlaw Run.

"It's a beast," he laughs. "It can go up to 68 miles per hour and has one of the steepest drops on any wood coaster. It's the biggest footprint of any ride at the park."

Being the "fix it guy" for one of the City’s tallest coasters comes with the tall order of knowing each inch of its iconic track. He's up with the sun— and up on the track—long before most folks are out of bed.

"My day usually starts at 5:45," he says. "It'll take me two hours to walk the track and check out every little detail to make sure it’s ready for riders!"

His keen eye can spot anything that could be troublesome for the coaster. He carefully studies each piece of hardware to ensure it’s in tip-top shape. His expertise allows him to not only see potential issues but also hear and feel them.

"When I ride Outlaw, I can tell by the wave of the track if we need to fix anything," he says. "Wood swells when it rains, then shrinks when it dries out. We must carefully watch how tight the bolts are to accommodate those changes in the wood.”

The daily list of checks is long and methodical. From inspecting every cylinder, on every seat, and on every car, Devan and his team are relentless regarding guest safety.

"There is nothing more important to us. We won't take a deep breath until we know every morning that the coaster will keep riders safe," he says. "When we watch those happy families fly into the station, we know every minute was worth it!”

“’The good guys always win’” on Outlaw Run, and the coaster has even made a name for itself around the globe. Upon opening in 2013, Outlaw Run was the first wooden coaster on the planet to invert three times over, two of which are part of a world’s-only double barrel roll element, while earning the Guinness World Record for the “Steepest Drop on a Wooden Coaster” in 2015.

“When my son was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, he told his friends his dad worked at Silver Dollar City on Outlaw Run. They thought that was the coolest thing ever,” Devan laughs. “I guess they’re right. It’s a cool job on a cool coaster. Man, it’s fast!”