Interesting idea for Thunder Run

[Austin]

With Texas Giant being completely taken apart and rebuilt for $10 Million I thought about what this could mean for other coasters around the states. Specifically Thunder Run. I thought about it because of the following things:

Is going to be in its 20th season this year - same as Giant will be
Its long over-due for a good renovation
Built by the same company and designed by the same person
Has gotten to the point where its getting almost unbearable to ride sometimes for me.


Now I'm not saying this would happen but with the managements plans to fix everything and etc as evident by Texas Giant and the 19 repaints this last season alone it could happen. Plus its the parks main coaster now also. It doesnt need to be 100% disassembled but it would be nice to start fresh and re-profile certain areas of the ride. For me though these are must happen changes for a major renovation of it:

Full track replacement - not sections here and there leading to a inconsistent ride experience
Train rehab


If you ride it enough you see what I mentioned on the smoothness of it. It goes smooth on parts to rough and then back to smooth. Train rehab could help out alot also, I hate PTC trains and they are the roughest of them all. Heres what I would hope for the maximum ride renovation:

Complete rebuild
Magnetic brakes and lift hill - Reduces costs to operate by dropping the use of chains and a motor on the hill and minimizes wear and tear.
A new train from Gravity Group - The only wooden trains with the ability to use magnetic braking and launching
Station and ride theming enhancements


I realize alot of that most likely wont happen but the magnetic brakes are pretty much a good thing to have. Instead of jerking to a stop and causing wear and tear to the trains and track you get easy stop and a lift up the hill. Just that would make maintenance minimal and I'm excited to see how Voyage runs next year.

To be honest this is just out of hope after seeing how things are being fixed and once we see what is done to Texas Giant I think will set the standard for a wooden coaster rehab. If this even happens I wouldnt expect it to happen until Thunder's 25th anniversary.

[MadCard05]

I think it's possible. It won't happen this year of course. Nor next with the 50th anniversary rolling around, unless of course they plan to do it over the off-season.

What I think you'll see happen is a design revealed for Northwest Territory. They'll shut the entire section down for a year (if they reopen for MHF like poster Cory was rumoring) and re-do, re theme, and build up the entire area.

[Austin]

Thats what I think for the next year. I do think Thunder Run will get some kind of extensive work for its 25th anniversary though. It would definately help if they plan on keeping the rides there. Ive actually avoided riding Thunder more than three times a year to save myself the pain.

[Changsucks]

The thing is, Texas Giant is a huge ride, probably considered one of the biggest in the park by the GP. It's important that it got the renovation it's getting because it's such an important ride in the parks' line up and it's falling apart.

Even with the limited amount of coasters SFKK has, I wouldn't call Thunder Run the biggest or the best. I'm not saying it shouldn't be re-tracked or shouldn't have some minor improvements, but to spend $10 million on a ride that isn't really a major part of the park like Thunder Run just seems like a waste of money.

[Austin]

Well wouldnt really be 10 million just said that because i didnt have a estimate at the time. Its 2-3x smaller so id put the price around 3 million to 4. It definately needs it.

[Jp]

Sorry this thread is now closed. Since the recent closure of Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom!!!