Holiday World- Thunderbird Media Day Ride Review

Thunderbird Media Day and Ride Review


 Holiday World recently opened their newest and only steel coaster, Thunderbird. The team here at ISI was lucky enough to be invited for the Media Preview and to do a review of the ride, needless to say, we were all excited!

 While it was cold, it was also a clear and bright day in Indiana when we first laid eyes on the wing coaster the park has been teasing us with for months.

While not a fan of wing coasters in general, I was hoping that the new Thunderbird would change my mind on the matter. In the past I've found this style of coaster nice but rather lacking in the thrill factor, they seem almost too relaxed in my opinion..

...then Thunderbird happened.

Holiday World-Thunderbird Watch 10/8

Image from Screamscape

Holiday World 'Tops Off' Thunderbird on Tuesday.

 Even with a minor delay due to weather, Holiday World has delivered on their promise of having the newest roller coaster 'Thunderbird' topped off quickly.

 On Tuesday, the top Immelman loop (directly after lauch) was completed. It's also the highest piece of track on this roller coaster, set to open in 2015. The park is really pushing to have much of their main construction completed as quickly as possible!

 We've also got some news in regards to the roller coasters launching system!

 It appears the first B&M launching coaster will be powered by a normal LSM system. Meaning, 'Liner Synchronous Motor' (translation- Powered by Electra-Magnetic Force) rather then a cable or launch car systems as seen in other launching style roller coaster. Top Thrill Dragster is a 'Cable' system and Rock'n'Roller-Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studies is a 'launch car' system (also powered by cables).

 The park has added in a power sub-station in order to generate the addition electric power which the new coasters ride systems will require. So, unlike some other parks in the past, Holiday World won't brown out the entire city the first time it launches into being!

Holiday World- Thunderbird Construction Update 9/17

 Thunderbird Watch- September 17th.

Good News Coaster Fans!

 On the most recent update from Holiday World, their showing off the construction so far on Thunderbird, which is the first launched B&M coaster in the world!

 Not only is the park making excellent progress on the rides construction, they've stated they are roughly two weeks ahead of their planned schedule! Always good news when rides go up quickly and with so much ease!

 So with that, have a few more pictures of the current construction of Thunderbird. Plus a neat little Instagram video which the park posted up, courtesy of their 'HoliDrone'.

Holiday World Announces Thunderbird Coming in 2015!

It's been 66 Days of traveling with the crew and passengers of The Mayflower. Their journey has been a long and arduous one, filled with many curiosities along the way.

Now that journey is over and we finally have our answer to what Holiday World will be adding to their already impressive collection of world class coasters and rides.

Let us be amongst the first to introduce you to, Thunderbird ,the world's first B&M launched wing coaster! 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and have a total of 4 inversions as it hugs the ground and soars through the forest. This is the first launched coaster from B&M, ever and will be open in Spring of 2015.

Here's the official announcement video from the park:


Thunderbird marks the largest investment in the park's 68 year history at $22 million dollars and definitely is going to be a worthy addition to the park. Now for the animated POV to see just what it'll be like to ride Thunderbird!



The coaster will feature a launch, using LSM technology, an Immelmann loop, 125' Loop, Horseshoe, Elevated Spiral, Zero-G roll, S curve, 2 “headchopper” keyholes, a Carousel, a 360 in-line twist (barrel roll) and 2 Crossovers with The Voyage as it screams over 3,000+ft of track. In a nice touch, the pulley building will be named "Will Power" after Will Koch, who passed away a couple of years back. This was his dream to build and now it's a reality.

For those curious, here's what the layout of this ground breaking ride will look like after the break.