Holiday World announces Thunderbird, a launched B&M wing roller coaster
Posted
[Ed. note: The following is an excerpt of a press release. -J]
The nation’s first launched wing coaster will take flight over Holiday World in 2015.
Named Thunderbird, Holiday World’s first major steel roller coaster will feature a zero-to-60 miles-per-hour launch in 3.5 seconds, followed by multiple inversions - including a 14-story Immelmann loop, Zero-g roll, barrel roll, and a loop soaring 125 feet in the air.
Continuing Holiday World’s tradition of sending roller coasters through its thickly wooded and hilly terrain, Thunderbird will at first soar and loop high in the air and then hug the ground, surprising riders with rapid-fire “near misses” such as keyholes, themed elements, other rides, trees, and even the ground.
“A wing coaster creates a feeling of incredible freedom – you ride beside the coaster track with nothing above or below you,” says Holiday World’s president, Matt Eckert. “Thunderbird is the first launched wing coaster in the nation – we can’t wait to ride it!”
Eckert calls Thunderbird’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, the “Cadillac of roller coasters, known for their safety, quality and reliability. We’ve dreamed of adding a B&M steel coaster for many years and are excited that Thunderbird will be B&M’s first launched coaster.”
Thunderbird’s $22 million price tag is more than twice the amount of any other single-ride investment at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in the park’s 68-year history.
Read more from the official site: Holiday World's Thunderbird
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Not so fast. When I was there in the fall I thoroughly enjoyed my ride on Raven, and I just may pick it as my favorite at the park as well. Short, sweet, and always a thrilling surprise. The return trip after "the drop" just blows me away, like I'd forgotten or something.
And it's about as long a traditional wooden coaster as my old bones want to handle these days, but THAT'S just me...
Raven is right behind Voyage as my favorite wooden coaster. It will likely be my sons first major wooden coaster. I plan on breaking him in at KI though. The Beastie (or whatever they're calling it now) and the Vekoma family invert will be his introduction to riding coasters. He likes watching POV videos on youtube so I think he will be a fan. I've helped break in several kids on those rides. Viking Fury was one of my daughters favorites before she hit the 48" mark. Today, she will ride anything.
I've watched several friends and family members make the "too much, too soon" mistake and it has ruined the experience for their kids. Many of the kids I'm referring to are teenagers now and still haven't taken to roller coasters. Meanwhile, I seem to be churning out full fledged coaster junkies. I think it's because of the order of attractions and the fact that I constantly reassure them that it is safe. When queuing, I'm constantly feeding them full of mundane details about the park and rides, which helps keep their mind off of impending doom. Each kid is different so you have to cater to them individually and never try to force a child onto a ride that they are not comfortable with. Meeting a height requirement doesn't mean that they are mentally prepared for the attraction. Keep it low and slow and let the child set the pace and ride what they want. Development can be slow for some kids. You gotta let them develop their comfort zone. I think that many enthusiast may struggle with that because they, like me, took off like a bat out of hell. My first major roller coasters were The Racer and The Beast on my 5th birthday. While I loved it, I think that many kids that age would be terrified if not properly introduced into the experience.
B'ster B- If you haven't done so, read the above paragraph. It was intended for you.
+1's for all of the Raven love! Glad I'm not the only one. I want to like Voyage soooo bad, I really do. I just can't get over the intensity and roughness (although I hear it's better since our last visit almost 4 years ago.) But I've been called a wuss by most of my coastertool friends, so there ya go.
Raven, to me, has it all. Plenty of air, ground hugging speed, and a not too long running time. And much like Phoenix, My #1 wood, the nostalgia and memories of some of the best nights of my life on coaster trips past.
^ Yeah, when Andy said "Raven is easily my favorite," I was sure there must be some mistake. But then I realized he was talking about the ride.
;)
Something something something Darkside
I appreciate all the encouragement and advice. I will definitely try to get him to gradually make his way through coasters where I don't scare the life out of him and ruin it for him.
My son watches the rollercoasters of Cedar Point DVD. He knows every coaster on it by name. He wants to ride all of them now. That I love. However, I also told him that they look fun on video and not that big. Wait until you see them in person. Of course being a 5 year old, he swears that he has been on Blue Streak and Millennium Force. He's never been to any amusement park except Camden Park. He loves the Big Dipper, but always wants me to hold on to him.
The Big Dipper at Camden park was my first coaster, when I was about two years old. I guess the height requirement was different back then. Of course my mom would have to hold on to me so I didn't fall out. It's probably why I like coasters in the first place.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
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