Kentucky Kingdom- Viral Video claims Roller Coaster Unsafe?

Kentucky Kingdom- "Lightning Run Unsafe" claims Viral Video.

Image from courier-journal.com

 Okay people, I know as a whole we love to freak out and look for problems where none exist. However, it's the internet and I would like to hope most of you do some research before just believing anything you see or read.

 Although, knowing today's society that's not often to case. So here I am to explain things.

 In simple English- Lightning Run IS Safe.

 High intensity roller coasters MUST have some give and take built into the design, they ALL move to some extent. They have to or the steel would warp and shatter under the forces of the ride. Remember, what we feel while riding is only a faction of the stresses which the supports and track are under. Every single roller coaster, from steel to wood, have some sway involved.

 Ever walk under a coaster? Remember feeling the vibrations of the ride on your feet? Most parks hide as much of the track as possible, so most people don't see the normal give/take process which these thrill rides employ. I've watched enough coasters in my life to tell you, they ALL do this at some point. It's not a design flaw, it's a careful design built into the ride.

 Don't believe me? Watch a looping coaster sometime, nearly all of them sway. Many helix elements sway as do cobra rolls and bunny hills. Wooden coasters have plenty of give/take involved as wood is more forgiving then steel with matters of sway. We don't suddenly believe these rides are unsafe because someone posts a video to Facebook and attempts to stir things up, now do we?

 Nope. So let's not start now.

Image from Kentucky.com

 John Mulcahy,the person in charge of communications and marketing at Kentucky Kingdom has even come out to say the ride is safe. It's passed all the tests from the state inspections as well as the design teams high standards. He explains it rather well in this statement- "There are so many twists, turns in this track that there are some points where it does release, and you see that movement," Mulcahy said. "We are aware that there is movement in the coaster track, and it is there by design.".

 So let's stop freaking out. Let's not damn a ride before it get's a chance to live. Let's give Kentucky Kingdom benefit of the doubt, it's no longer associated with Six Flags who caused the parks last accident through negligence.  This is a new park with a bright future, one that I want to see and that we all deserve to have.

 I've said to before, I'll say it again- Don't believe everything to you read without doing some simple research!



Need more proof? Read the full report from Wave3 News. 

Kentucky Kingdom- POV of Lightning Run

Chance Rides posts POV of Lightning Run Coaster at Kentucky Kingdom.


  Chance Rides has posted up a new POV. One of the newest roller coaster to come to Kentucky Kingdom. Opening in just 9 days after many years closed, Kentucky Kingdom has added in Lightning Run as part of their multiple year plan to rebuild the park which was left devastated by Six Flags.

 While it may not be a record breaking, it looks like a pretty great coaster! It's also nice to see a park re-open after so many issues.

Kentucky Kingdom- Lightning Run Update

Image from Screamscape

 Kentucky Kingdom- Lightning Run Construction Update.

 Kentucky Kingdom keeps working away to get their park ready to re-open for the first time since Six Flags abandoned the park.

 This new roller coaster which will open for the 2014 season, is built by Chance Rides and it a model "Hyper GT-X" style attraction. The company has been in business for years but has mostly built smaller-scale coasters, the new Lightning Run seems to be their first "big style" coaster and it looks highly promising!

Kentucky Kingdom- Lightning Run Tack Arrives

Image from Kentucky Kingdom's Facebook Page

Lightning Run Track Arrives at Kentucky Kingdom.

 Some good news today from Kentucky Kingdom.

 The park which has struggled to re-open since Six Flags pulled out is planning their first new season for 2014. Their making up time and adding in new attractions though a multi-year plan to re-build the park.

 The new attraction for 2014, Lightning Run, is a Chance Hyper GT-X Coaster. The drop height will be 100' and an overall length of 2,500 feet. The new coaster will have a top speed of 55MPH and have a ride length of 2 minutes. While this might not be the most impressive coaster, it's new and will help replace the stripping of the park that happened when Six Flags left.

Image from RCDB and CoasterClub.org

 Plus, you have to admit- The cars for this new coaster look pretty awesome!

Kentucky Kingdom- One Step Closer with Job Fair

 Kentucky Kingdom takes One Step Closer with Job Fair.

 In just 140 days Kentucky Kingdom plans to re-open an amusement park which has been shuttered since 2009, when Six Flags abandoned them.

 This weekend the park is moving one step closer to their big re-opening, a Job Fair. On Saturday, January 4th the park is holding a massive job fair to staff hundreds of positions around the park from Food Services to Management. Things are looking up for the park and hundreds of potential employees.

 Kentucky Kingdom is asking anyone who may be interested to read the information sheet (I've posted a copy here) and fill out an application online. You can read the full descriptions of positions and information for what you'll need here- Employment at Kentucky Kingdom.

 The park is also working with the "Mayors Summer Works" program to help teens 16-21 get and hold summer jobs. They have a separate application at the bottom of the website.

 In a time when jobs are getting scarce, it's always great to see anyone having these large job fairs. It's also exciting to see the park getting on their feet and fighting the odds against closed parks never re-opening!

Kentucky Kingdom Re-Opening News- Ride Cost/Refurbishment Breakdown

 News today from the New Kentucky Kingdom Park. Screamscape is reporting that cost documents to re-open and re-furbish the current rides has come to light. In addition to this, they've also found another document which shows the 2014 'New Ride' cost. It looks like this once abandoned Six Flags Park will finally be getting the love and attention it badly needed.

 According to the documents, they're spending $3.7 Million of their $43.5 Million dollar budget on 'Ride Repairs and Upgrades'.  While this may not seem like a lot, Kentucky Kingdom hasn't been non-operational as long as other previous Six Flags properties (like New Orleans). 

 The Park plans to open in May 2014. Also during this year they'll be spending an additional $10.5 Million on 'New Attractions' as seen below in the price documents. These are reported below as a Giant Swing Ride, A 6 Lane mat slide and a 'Steel Coaster'.  You'll also notice they have 2015 and 2016 items listed. A new 'water attraction' and more importantly a new start for the coaster "Twisted Twins".

 It's nice to see the park putting work in and trying to make it a great place. We wish them all the best and hope to visit next season!

(Click to enlarge the images)

Both Images from Screamscape