Holiday World announces Thunderbird, a launched B&M wing roller coaster

Given what HW could have done with $22 million and could have named Thunderbird I think the addition is game changer for the park. I've been going to HW about every other year since 2002 and it's amazing like Josh pointed out how the park pretty much ended at Legend.

I think HW could have put in something like Helix or Mystery Mine and highly themed it, but putting in a B&M launch? Like others have said the park is really stepping up its game. Given its location it'll be interesting to watch how that area fills out over time. It's going to be a thrilling steel coaster that isn't too aggressive, reridable, and appeal to a broader audience. I think the park is completely leapfrogging the traditional steel looper and putting in something to really draw attention to the park. I think its only a matter of time before we see a park entrance down by Voyage and Thunderbird and we'll refer to Raven as 'the back of the park.'

Just my opinion anyways.

~Rob

I agree, Rob, and with others that for so many years we've kind of looked at Holiday World as this quaint little park in the middle of nowhere (though geographically positioned to be in the middle of many large markets). The Voyage was a pretty serious game changer in terms of capital investment, but really they were making huge investments over the span of many years in terms of the water park. I can't think of any other water park that comes close (aside from the home base Schlitterbahn, which I've never been to).

The interesting thing about a B&M roller coaster is that it's something we tend to associate with big parks. They're expensive, super reliable, and consistently awesome, if not always mind blowing. To put one in Santa Claus seemed unlikely, but here we are.

Usually when a park makes an investment it is good for the local economy as a whole. Therefore, I am extremely grateful and excited for this announcement not only because there's going to be a Beemer in my backyard, but also because of what it means for all the tourism businesses in Santa Claus.

I will say that knowing Leah, Lauren, and Lori as well as the rest of the folks at HW, this park is in great hands. The park atmosphere is changing, and it is changing for the better. The years to come are going to be great!

Jeff said:

The interesting thing about a B&M roller coaster is that it's something we tend to associate with big parks.

I could very well be mistaken, but off hand I can't think of any currently operating B&M in North America not located at a SIX, FUN, Herschend, SeaWorld Entertainment, Universal, or Hershey owned park. This is definitely a big boy move by the folks in Santa Claus.

Raven-Phile said:

Seriously, I'm really happy to see this. It amazes me to think back to the days when I started going to Holiday World, and it ended basically at Legend.

It's great to see the vision coming to life. My, how this little gem has grown up over the years. :)

I agree. I was thinking about that yesterday. It's grown so much since I first visited in 2001, especially the waterpark. :)

I think Thunderbird is appropriate for the park. I also think families and the general public will LOVE it. I try not to judge or read too much into a ride until I actually ride it. Heck, I didn't even know they were getting a steel coaster next year until yesterday morning! But from what I've seen so far, I will probably love it!

I look forward to Holiwood Nights next year!

-Tina

coasterqueenTRN said:

I look forward to Holiwood Nights next year!

-Tina

I'm wondering if the event is going to get re-named again. I've never been a fan of the HWN name, but I understand why it was changed. :( But now that the star of the show is no longer wooden...

Thunder Run?

No, probably not that...

I agree about the potential for a second gate/entrance. Voyage is a long way from the entrance, Thunderbird seems like it will be in a different zip code. Thankfully it is a downhill hike. I'm guessing enthusiast events will have the Raven-Legend time slot and then the Voyage - Tbird time slot.

My only concern with Thunderbird is that it is starting to look like Holiday World is beginning to style itself after MarineLand. Seriously, they should consider running a shuttle bus between the Voyage and Thunderbird stations...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

a_hoffman50 said:

The park atmosphere is changing, and it is changing for the better.

It's certainly been changing, and this will change it further. I'm curious how you think it's changed for the better, though. My first visit to Holiday World was in 2003 and it was already the most amazing park I'd yet been to, in terms of having the kind of atmosphere I like. It's easy to say that the park's growth has made it better overall because there are more rides -- but has it really improved the atmosphere? It was already so great as it was. At least, I thought so.

So enthusiasts complain about not being able to fit into rides, and that it's too far to walk to them. The problem seems pretty obvious to me.

High five!

navrik said:

I am going against the grain and making a post in support of Rickrollercoaster. Typically, I hit CoasterBuzz to keep up with industry news and don't spend much time in the forums, but HW is of special interest to me, so I followed the HW2015 thread pretty closely. Maybe I missed something, but I just don't get the antagonism some of the top posters to these forums had for Rick. He appeared to be a young guy understandably enthusiastic about a major addition coming to his home park. Personally, I found his random guesses far less annoying than the attitude directed at him by the "old-timers".

I take it you didn't read any other recent threads. If you did, you would understand. Most everyone started off being polite. It escalated in the HW 2015 thread.

Carousel Rabbit said:
I'm curious how you think it's changed for the better, though.

It's the little things. The park is stepping up it's theming game with the new look at Liberty Bell Gift Shop and Mrs. Claus's Kitchen as well as the new Safari Outpost. With my new favorite place to grab some lunch, Wildebeestro, the food options in the park are getting better. Sometimes I pop into the park (dressed for work with my Christmas tie on) just to eat a croissant donut or honey butter chicken biscuit for breakfast. Have you even tried the Red White and Blue funnel cake? Oh my goodness, is it ever delicious!

I see things like electromagnetic gates on Mayflower and revamped queues on the Scrambler with improved operations. I hear catchy music being played at the front gate. I see the aging Christmas tree at the front gate getting replaced with a very nice new tree. I would most certainly be remiss if I did not mention that I also see the entertainment crew stepping up their game as well.

I still feel the friendliness of the park even though I have heard from others that it has gone downhill. Of course, I may be experiencing something completely different than someone who doesn't know any of the employees. How can I view it as unfriendly when so many of the hosts and hostesses are actually my friends? I mean, I doubt that many people get greeted with a hug from an employee at the Christmas gift shop!

Perhaps it is through my own unique lens that I view the park in such a rosy light. Perhaps I just appreciate the things they do a bit more because I am right across the street from it daily :-P. Perhaps I think about things fondly because I remember having some conversations with Will behind Hoosier Celebration Theatre about the Voyage. Maybe I get caught up when I remember when my friend proposed on the Raven or all the other positive experiences I had while working there.

I feel like Holiday World is my second home sometimes and it is not just a park to me. My experience with the park is so close to my heart that I can't help but think that Lori, Matt, Leah and Lauren as well as the rest of the team are making great strides to follow the legacy that Bill and Will have left behind.

TL,DR: I think the park is great because I am sentimental about it.

Sentimental or not, you mentioned some great improvements that many people may not notice.

Carousel Rabbit said:
It was already so great as it was. At least, I thought so.

Right, but everything was, at one time, "so great as it was".

Imagine if we adopted the enthusiast philosophy about other things in life? We wouldn't have the safety systems we have in place in automobiles, because a big steel box was "so great as it was". We wouldn't have computers, because everyone was fine with adding machines. We wouldn't have interstate highways because everyone was fine with the old back roads. We wouldn't have food safety standards like we do, because, well, good enough is good enough.

Progress isn't as scary as you make it seem. The same elements you loved about Holiday World are still there, in mostly the exact same place as they always have been, but now there's even *more* to do if you choose to go beyond them.

Josh is like Flo....he's "Progress-ive." ;~P

And I have really, really poofy hair.

What exactly is meant by "atmosphere," and how does adding a big steel coaster change it? If we're talking about things that the park can control, such as scenery, cleanliness, employee friendliness, and the overall look and feel of the place then I don't think there's anything to worry about. Now, if we're talking about crowds then yes, a big new coaster can certainly draw larger crowds and even a different type of crowd, one that's more geared toward high thrills. But does that really ruin the atmosphere, or is the concern that the park will simply be more crowded?

No one seemed to complain about atmosphere or charm when Dollywood built a B&M wing coaster.