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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Shawn Meyer said:
I'm also glad they are utilizing the old Pilgrims Plunge station house for Thunderbird.
Thunderbird's station house will be at the top of the hill to the North of Hyena Falls. Since the Pilgrims Plunge house is still there, my guess is they will reuse it for another boat type ride in another year or two.
Oh good, I get to change my avatar again. ;)
Comparing this rendering to Google Maps, it doesn't look like it's reusing, or even encroaching on, the old Giraffica area. I wonder what will become of that?
I'll admit when I thought "steel" and "Holiday World," wing rider wasn't what came to mind, but regardless of type, I'm glad it uses the terrain and close-calls as much as it does. Even though the track length makes it the 2nd-shortest B&M winger, the lack of a lift hill makes up for it.
Oh, and that is going to be a lot of walking between coasters at the next HWN.
Tekwardo said:
So Furious Bacco doesn't count? ;-)
It doesn't.
Furius Baco is an awful ride. I think it's safe to say that Thunderbird will be rather good...
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
As soon as I saw the Seagull hint, I knew. I knew it was a Wing Coaster with a launch. I guess my enthusiasm payed off, the only thing I got wrong was the name. What an amazing experience the announcement was. I was front row on the very left if anyone saw me. The freaking camera guy was in the way.
I like the fact that the layout is a bit different than the three previous US installations. The banked turns and s curves could be quite fun. I rather hated seeing multiple zero g rolls in these coasters, I think Gatekeeper is the only one that has just one in its layout. The ending should be quite spectacular with the flythrough and the heartline roll through the keyhole element.
Love the theming as well, which you know Holiday World will pull off. Can't wait to take a trip back its been three years and will be four next year.
Resident Arrow Dynamics Whore
22 Million for a low capacity ride is the part i don't get.seems like they could've got more for the money they are spending. The park could use some thrilling flat rides which they don't have.
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I'll take a launching B&M over a drop tower, swing, etc. Anyday.
My thoughts in no particular order:
-It's a surprisingly pedestrian name for a park that's usually so clever with names.
-The theming of the new area in the video is amazing. If it looks half that cool it'll still be really cool.
-Hyena Falls looks ridiculous all out there by itself. You have to assume they're going to put in a new 'wet' boat ride in the old Pilgrims Plunge spot or do SOMETHING to connect Hyena Falls back to the rest of Splashin' Safari.
-If I'm anywhere even close to my guess at where the station is going to be located, it is going to be a .28 mile walk from Gobbler Getaway to Thunderbird, or more than a half mile roundtrip without a single attraction in between. For now. It's almost as far as it is from Gobbler Getaway to the front gate. I can't think of a 'dead end' at any other park that comes close to that. It seems that this would alter ridership compared to a scenario where it was more centrally located if my Roller Coaster Tycoon experiences are any indication ;)
-The layout is beautiful and seems very original. Looks like there may even be a little airtime
-I look forward to them announcing their 2015 season dates so I can book my RV.
I think the name is all right. It's unfortunate that it calls to mind Thunderhawk, but it is the name of a creature that is widespread in American Indian folklore. I think that matches it to the Thanksgiving section of the park.
gamerguy said:
The park could use some thrilling flat rides which they don't have.
Weird how Holiday World management would decide to spend $22 million on some roller coaster when the park could make gamerguy happy by adding flat rides.
Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz
ThemeDesigner said:
I can't think of a 'dead end' at any other park that comes close to that.
But that's one hell of a happy ending. (It's part of a much larger vision.)
I'm as surprised as anyone about the type and launch. Bravo HW.
"It's part of a much larger vision." That's what I was thinking when reading about the dead end and the seemingly misplaced newer water slide complex. The placement of this new coaster will probably fit awesomely once we see the park expand years from now.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
The energy that filled the crowd after the first glimpse of the orange track was indescribable. I've had goosebumps for hours now. This is something I've always dreamed of. I can't thank Matt, Paula, The Koch's, and anyone else involved with this project enough. I'll be looking forward to April for Season Pass preview night!
The final roll looks very Banshee-esque. Which is to say, "awesome." I would also compare it to the slower, returning roll on Gatekeeper, but everyone seems to complain about that for some unknown reason. I don't know why, it's very fun to spin upside down slowly.
Lord Gonchar said:
Credit where credit is due. I'm probably the biggest hater out there, but they told us on day 3 - 66daysatsea.com
"A member of the crew – a quartermaster – befriended the children today. He explained that gulls will not follow us far out to sea, teasing that we will forget the very likeness of a bird before we see land again. To comfort them, I was able to sketch a gull before the sun set, extinguishing our light."
And a lot of us did forget the likeness of the bird before we reached land.
Well done. :)
I told you! Haha
As soon as I saw the clue, it clicked!
Did anyone hear the wind, or was that just me?
I'm not surprised by this, at all. B&M has proven themselves time and time again. And while doing so, they've continued to add to their portfolio of tricks and coaster tomfoolery. After this long (almost 20 years since launching tech began), it comes as no surprise to me that they would add a launched coaster to their arsenal, and I'm sure putting it in the hands of Holiday World will only amplify its success.
As for the Wing Rider aspect, Dollywood has had much success with theirs' as another "family park," so I don't understand why this is such a surprise to any enthusiast. I can't wait for it!
Rickrollercoaster said:
I told you! Haha
As soon as I saw the clue, it clicked!
You also guessed:
- It would be named Oceanus
- Would be a Wing Rider or Flyer
- A launched Maurer-Sohne X-Train
- That Plunge's Station would be incorporated
- That it might be a coaster and an S&S Ride
- That the rods in the footers hinted at Intamin design
- That the addition would be a steel coaster, games stalls, a seafood restaurant, a flat ride or two and an addition to Splashin' Safari
- A Zamplerla Drop Ride
- That a new Mardi Gras land would be nice in the future
- That there's be a water element
- That there might be a second, smaller coaster for little ones
- A Spanking new Steel Giant, one or more kid oriented flat rides, Addition of games stations, Seafood restaurant, and The Thanksgiving Bridge finally covered.
- a Wing, Invert, or Flying Coaster
And all of that was just on this website and just until we told you to chill.
But yeah, you're a regular Kreskin.
Gotta start somewhere. Just making ideas of the clues we were given daily. If anything I've proved something:
-You can tell a manufacturer by footers.
- You can tell how tall it will be by footers
So yeah I speculated quite a few things. That was the whole point of the promotional. I don't regret anything I thought or posted, and if you think I posted too much about it, check some other forums where there was at least 15+ pages daily. "Oh it's not a launch, it's just a station." Yeah, with a LSM heading out the head of it. My main prediction was the Launched Wing Coaster/Rider whatever you want to call it. It took many days to figure it out, but I got it, and speculating and actually sitting in that crowd and it being revealed was a feeling I won't forget. The clues contained red herrings, the clues contained nothings, and clues contained right in your face blatant evidence. It was a blast for past 67 days, and it was worth every minute of the wait, speculation, and changing opinion. Of course right out the gate I called a Wing Coaster after the Seagull clue, yet was shot down on this forum.
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