Thunderbolt (2014 roller coaster)

Last updated

Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt Coney Island 2.jpg
The completed Thunderbolt
Luna Park
Location Luna Park
Coordinates 40°34′25″N73°58′57″W / 40.573487°N 73.982551°W / 40.573487; -73.982551
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 14, 2014 (2014-06-14)
CostUS$9 million
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Zamperla
Lift/launch systemVertical chain lift
Height115 ft (35 m)
Drop112 ft (34 m)
Length2,234 ft (681 m)
Speed56 mph (90 km/h)
Inversions 4
Duration00:38
G-force 4.3
Height restriction50 in (127 cm)
Thunderbolt at RCDB

Thunderbolt is a steel roller coaster at Luna Park in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. It is located near Surf Avenue and West 15th Street, on the Riegelmann Boardwalk next to the B&B Carousell.

Contents

History

Under construction Thunderbolt Roller Coaster - Coney Island - Under Construction - 2014-05-26.jpg
Under construction

A wooden roller coaster named the Thunderbolt was originally operated by George Moran on Coney Island from 1925 to 1982. It was demolished in 2000 due to neglect. [1] [2]

In June 2013, it was announced that the operators of Luna Park at Coney Island, Zamperla, would construct a new steel roller coaster which would use the Thunderbolt name. [2] [3] Due to the small footprint required for the coaster, the original plans called for the coaster to use an elevator instead of a lift hill. [4] The ride's manufacturer Zamperla announced further details in November 2013, which showed that the ride would have a vertical lift hill. [5]

Published reports stated that Thunderbolt was expected to be completed and opened by Memorial Day 2014, [3] [6] but construction delays pushed the opening date back. [7] On Memorial Day, which fell on May 25, 2014, the opening was delayed to early June [8] [9] and revised to open by June 6. [10] [11] Just before the scheduled opening on June 6, the opening date was once again delayed. [12] Thunderbolt finally opened on June 14, 2014. [13]

Characteristics

Thunderbolt viewed from the west, June 2016 Thunderbolt roller coaster, Coney Island (June 2016).jpg
Thunderbolt viewed from the west, June 2016

Thunderbolt was manufactured by Zamperla at a cost of US$9 million [14] and has a 90-degree vertical drop and four inversions. [15] [16] [17] [18] From the beginning of the initial drop, to the end of ride, it takes 38 seconds. The ride features 2,234 feet (681 m) of track and runs at a top speed of 56 miles per hour (90 km/h). [19] Thunderbolt is a pay-per-use attraction, as guests must pay $12 for each time they ride on the coaster. [7]

After leaving the station, the train turns 180 degrees to the left and enters a 90-degree, 125-foot (38 m) lift hill. It immediately descends 90 degrees and enters a vertical loop, followed by a Zero-G Roll to the left. After the second inversion, the train enters a leftward-sloping Stengel dive, followed by an Immelmann loop to the right. The train goes over two camelback hills before entering a right-hand corkscrew. After the corkscrew, the train enters another camelback hill before hitting the brake run and entering the station. [4] [20]

Each train consists of a single car with nine seats, arranged in three rows of three. This is different from conventional coaster trains, which are usually arranged in rows of two or four across. [7]

Other installations

Coney Island's Thunderbolt is the first of five Zamperla coasters manufactured under the "Thunderbolt" brand as of 2019. [21] [22] There are three possible layouts for the Thunderbolt coaster model. The first version is 2,234 feet (681 m) long. [23] This layout is used by Coney Island's Thunderbolt and two other coasters: Rapid Train at Gyeongnam Mason Robotland in Gyeongnam, South Korea; and Rollin' Thunder at the Park at OWA in Foley, Alabama. [24] The second version is 2,215 feet (675 m) long while the third version is 1,230 feet (375 m) long. Both alternate versions are meant to operate on wider lots with a shorter depth. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also be made of steel lattice or truss, which has no bearing on a wooden coaster's classification. The type of wood often selected in the construction of wooden coasters worldwide is southern yellow pine, which grows abundantly in the southern United States, due to its density and adherence to different forms of pressure treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters</span> Roller coaster manufacturer

Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B. Auchy and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The company manufactured carousels, wooden roller coasters, toboggans and later, roller coaster trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A flying roller coaster is a type of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coney Island Cyclone</span> Wooden roller coaster in New York City

The Cyclone, also called the Coney Island Cyclone, is a wooden roller coaster at Luna Park in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. Designed by Vernon Keenan, it opened to the public on June 26, 1927. The roller coaster is on a plot of land at the intersection of Surf Avenue and West 10th Street. The Cyclone reaches a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and has a total track length of 2,640 feet (800 m), with a maximum height of 85 feet (26 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boomerang (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster

Boomerang is a model of roller coaster manufactured and designed by Vekoma, a Dutch manufacturer. The roller coaster model name is from the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. As of January 2023, there are 55 Boomerangs operating around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamperla</span> Italian-based steel coaster and flat rides manufacturer

Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. is an Italian design and manufacturing company founded in 1966. It is best known for creating family rides, thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin-operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soarin' Eagle</span> Steel roller coaster in New York City

Soarin' Eagle is a steel roller coaster located at the Scream Zone at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The ride was the first ever Zamperla "Volare" roller coaster when it opened in 2002 at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, as the Flying Coaster. The Elitch Gardens ride was constructed by Martin & Vleminckx. The Volare, the cheapest option for a flying roller coaster, contains a compact layout with a distinctive spiral lift hill. In late 2010 the ride got dismantled and relocated to Luna Park in Coney Island, where it opened in April 2011 as the Soarin' Eagle. The ride has an identical sister, Hero, which opened in July 2013 at Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire.

John A. Miller, born August John Mueller, was an American roller coaster designer and builder, inventor, and businessman. Miller patented over 100 key roller coaster components, and is widely considered the "father of the modern high-speed roller coaster." During his lifetime, he participated in the design of approximately 150 coasters and was a key business partner and mentor to other well-known roller coaster designers, including Harry C. Baker and John C. Allen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorbike roller coaster</span> Type of steel roller coaster

A motorbike roller coaster or motorcycle roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster designed with motorcycle type cars. Booster Bike at Toverland was the world's first motorbike roller coaster. Vekoma was the first company to design such a ride, although Intamin and Zamperla have since created similar designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderbolt (1925 roller coaster)</span> Former roller coaster at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York

The Thunderbolt was a wooden roller coaster located at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Designed by John Miller, it operated from 1925 until 1982 and remained standing until it was demolished in 2000. The demolition was controversial, as the property owner Horace Bullard was not notified, nor had any formal inspection been done on the structure.

Reverchon Industries is a developer, designer and manufacturer of amusement park attractions that were sold all over the world. Its production unit is still set in the French city of Samois-sur-Seine, near Fontainebleau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)</span> Amusement park in Brooklyn, New York

Luna Park is an amusement park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It opened on May 29, 2010, at the site of Astroland, an amusement park that had been in operation from 1962 to 2008, and Dreamland, which operated at the same site for the 2009 season. It was named after the original 1903 Luna Park which operated until 1944 on a site just north of the current park's 1000 Surf Avenue location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park</span> Amusement park in Brooklyn, New York

Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park is a family-owned amusement park located at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It features six adult rides and 16 kiddie rides, including a dozen family rides that parents and children can ride together. The park is named for its main attraction, the Wonder Wheel, a 150-foot (46 m) eccentric wheel built in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shambhala (roller coaster)</span> Steel hyper coaster at PortAventura Park, Spain

Shambhala: Expedición al Himalaya is a steel hypercoaster roller coaster located at PortAventura Park in Salou and Vilaseca, Spain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, it was the tallest and second fastest coaster in Europe at the time of its opening. The height and speed records were beaten in April 2017 by Red Force, which was also opened in PortAventura World in its new theme park Ferrari Land. Among coasters with a lift hill, the height and speed records were beaten in July 2018, when Hyperion opened at Energylandia in Poland. Shambhala is named and themed after the inaccessible land in the Himalayas: Shambhala. The coaster was announced on 24 October 2011, and opened to the public on 12 May 2012.

Preston & Barbieri is an amusement ride manufacturing company based in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The company was founded in 2000 as a merger of the Preston and Barbieri Rides companies. The company manufactures a wide range of flat rides, water rides and roller coasters out of its 70,000-square-metre (750,000 sq ft) property in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drop the Dip</span> Defunct roller coaster in Coney Island

Drop the Dip, later known as Trip to the Moon, was a wooden roller coaster that operated at several locations in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, in the early 20th century. The coaster is considered by some to have been the first truly high-speed roller coaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B&B Carousell</span> Carousel in Brooklyn, New York

The B&B Carousell is a historic carousel at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City. It was built by Coney Island-based manufacturer William F. Mangels c. 1906–1909, with wooden horses carved by Marcus Illions. The carousel has been relocated and refurbished several times over its history. The B&B Carousell has been located in Luna Park since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid roller coaster</span> Category of roller coasters

A hybrid roller coaster is a category of roller coasters where the track is made out of one material, either steel or wood, and the support structure is made from another. Early hybrid coasters include mine train roller coasters from Arrow Development, which feature a steel track with a wooden support structure. Becoming increasingly more common are hybrids with wooden tracks and steel supports, such as The Voyage at Holiday World.

References

  1. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Coney Island - George Moran)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Calder, Rich (June 11, 2013). "New Thunderbolt roller coaster to join Cyclone at Coney Island". New York Post. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Coming Soon! The Thunderbolt". Official Website of Luna Park. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Thunderbolt at Luna Park". COASTER-net. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  5. ↑ Blau, Reuven (November 14, 2013). "SEE IT: New Thunderbolt roller coaster to open at Coney Island summer 2014". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ Halperin, Rory (June 5, 2013). "Restored B&B Carousell is open in Coney Island (slide show)". Timeout.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Foderaro, Lisa W. (May 23, 2014). "Got Nerves of Steel? Meet the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  8. ↑ Pesce, Nicole Lyn (May 25, 2014). "Memorial Day kicks off summer with a splash". NY Daily News. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ "News and Rumors - Luna Park". Screamscape.com. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ Anthony Bell (June 3, 2014). "New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster to Open Friday in Coney Island". ALL MEDIA NY. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ Ned Berke (June 2, 2014). "After Delays, Coney Island's Thunderbolt To Open Next Week [Updated]". Bensonhurst Bean. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ Kensinger, Nathan (June 5, 2014). "Change Comes Once Again for Coney Island's Thunderbolt". Curbed NY. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ Brown, Stephen R. (June 14, 2014). "Coney Island's new Thunderbolt roller coaster officially opens". NY Daily News. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  14. ↑ Foderaro, Lisa W. (May 23, 2014). "Got Nerves of Steel? Meet the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  15. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Luna Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Luna Park breaks ground on new roller coaster, the Thunderbolt, on Coney Island - News 12 Brooklyn". Brooklyn.news12.com. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  17. ↑ Foderaro, Lisa W. (March 10, 2014). "New Roller Coaster Promises Coney Island a Return of Thrills". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Coney Island's Luna Park To Get New Roller Coaster « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. March 10, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  19. ↑ NYCEDC Announces New "Thunderbolt" Roller Coaster to be Built at Coney Island Archived March 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ "Thunderbolt front seat on-ride HD POV Luna Park, Coney Island". CoasterForce. June 26, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2019– via YouTube.
  21. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Zamperla)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Seventh project with OCT Group". Zamperla. June 16, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Thunderbolt". Zamperla. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  24. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt: Layout 1  (Zamperla)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved October 26, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.