From Thrills to Memories: The Rise and Fall of Rolling Thunder | Why It's Gone Ep 2
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- Опубліковано 2 гру 2023
- Welcome to my series, Why It's Gone. This is where i'll go over this history of theme parks, rides, and coasters that are gone but are not forgotten. In todays episode, i'll be talking about the once mammoth racing coaster, Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great Adventure
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Great Adventure never felt the same again without Rolling thunder.
Facts
Backwards Rolling Thunder was so good! Had to ride in the last seat (the actual front seat), because you didn’t have the headrest in the car in front of you to hold onto.
I used to live at GA during the late 80s/early 90s. I still miss the GA of those days.
I’m so jealous! I wish I had the chance to ride it backwards
Fun fact: I got to ride Rolling Thunder in its last year of operation, for my first roller coaster ever.
I’m glad you got to ride it!
I rode it as my first in 1981 at 5, man it was intense at 5.
@letsresell haha that’s awesome. I rode it at 7 or 8 so I totally get what you mean!
Place was a lot funner when there was Great American Scream Machine, and Rolling Thunder still there. Now we got a redundant stand-up with just as much headbanging, and El Toro is in poor shape with band-aids put on it to run. There also used to be several fun rides in this area, though the one everyone just called "The Bulls" was enough to spice it up a bit. Though El Sombero was removed years earlier, not sure how many actually, but it doesn't change that the landscape is just now coasters (log ride can count when they actually run it properly, as in at least May-September pending if it gets cold out quicker in the season).
Damn I miss scream machine so much. That was always one of my favorites!
Yeah. I know it had "headbanging" issues, but the layout was awesome. Many of the transitions weren't any worse than Green Lantern. It also didn't have the pain in the middle-zone, and was generally far more unique. I hope one day the park can get something like Steel Curtain very much like the layout but updated (modern tech but still a homage). GASM was so much fun, #Arrow4Ever @@Kingdakev
This was my first 'big' coaster at age 8 after only going on kiddie coasters and Space/Big Thunder at Magic Kingdom beforehand. While I was disappointed I was too small for any of the big steel coasters, especially Batman as I was obsessed with the character as a kid, Rolling Thunder was intense enough for me at the time. Thunder and the mine train were my go-to rides for the next 2 years until I could finally go on all the big B&Ms, so they have a special place in my heart, even if they got rough and outdated over the years.
I couldn’t agree more! Thunder and mine train were perfect for me growing up and hold a special place in my heart. I wish they could have kept thunder around.
Very entertaining and fun to watch. I loved Rolling Thunder and still miss it to this day. Thanks for posting this.
So do I and thank you so much for your kind words! :)
I rode it in 2008/2009 and to this day that was my worst experience on a wooden roller coaster.
One side, one train ops, super long wait, and so many potholes it was just not enjoyable.
I appreciate the history of it all though, and with more love and care it could have been a lovely family ride.
Yes sadly towards the end they really let it go
Sadly six flags leaves most of their coasters to rot. Look at what has happened to el toro over the years. Used to be butter smooth
That’s every wooden coaster at every park and by every manufacturer. Parks have been fully retracking intamin pre fabs lately because they are providing rough ride experiences and are causing tons of issues. A great example of this is colossus at Heidi Park where it sat abandoned for years before supports and track were replaced.
Nice video, thank you for the credit. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you!
It's FUNNY AS HELL, how Six Flags Great Adventure used clips from the Kings Island Racer!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣‼️ But I wish the Coaster was still around. But the Park let it slowly Decompose, the same way Six Flags Magic Mountain did with The Once Mighty Colossus. Loved Colossus when it operated with The Single Buzzer Lap Bar PTC Trains. Those things offered Pure Airtime Nirvana!!🎢🎢⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‼️❤️
Hahah honestly it seems like a bunch of parks did that back in the day since the racer was one of the first modern day racing woodies. Haha when I was making the video though I was like something’s not right hahaha
@@Kingdakev It wasn't!!🤣🤣🤣 But the crap from Six Flags saying that the costs for maintaining Rolling Thunder is a Crock of BS!! Also, for Six Flags Magic Mountain, to say that The Once Mighty Colossus was out of date after just 36yrs of Operation??? They should have done some Major Homework and Study the history of Kennywood's Wooden Rollercoaster Gems!!! Heck!! What about The Coney Island Cyclone? It's about to turn 100yrs old. And even The Amtrak Train Ride from Mason, Ohio to Mason, Ohio. The Beast!!! It opened in 1979, one year before Colossus, but Colossus did close in late April or May of 1979, to undergo some Major Reprofiling by Bill Cobb Associates, and reopened December 23, of the same year. The new and improved Colossus with The Single Buzzer Lap Bar PTC Trains?? Absolutely Awesome!! After the PTC Trains were retired in 1987 for those Devilish Fiberglass Morgan Trains? This was the beginning of the end for the Once Mighty Colossus. Rolling Thunder met a terrible fate of being completely demolished, while Colossus met a terrible fate by being converted into a Hybrid Rollercoaster known as Twisted Colossucks!! Funny how Coaster Enthusiasts say that Twisted Colossucks delivers Great Airtime?? HAH!!! Many Coaster Enthusiasts doesn't know what REAL AIRTIME was When Colossus operated with The Single Buzzer Lap Bar PTC Trains. With a Max Speed of 62mph, but the PTC Trains traveled coincidentally faster at night, Man!! The Airtime was Absolutely Sick!!🎢🎢⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‼️❤️ As Overrated the Beast at Kings Island is. You'll Never see it get destroyed by Ruin My Coaster, (RMC) As meantend. The Beast is Overrated. An Overrated Amtrak Train Ride from Mason, Ohio to Mason, Ohio, I still wouldn't want to see it destroyed by Ruin My Coaster. Thee Wooden Rollercoaster is a dying breed. I'm Very Glad for that The Gravity Group can Restore and Save these Beautiful Wooden Scream Machines. Too bad they weren't around to Restore Mean Streak, and The Texas Giant!!🎢🎢❤️‼️
I believe Knoebels also has two of the rolling Thunder trains. (Yellow and green?) it’s really a shame that rolling Thunder wasn’t saved. I feel like the six flags we have today might have actually considered fixing it rather than scrapping it, or at least maybe rmcing it.
Very Interesting! I never heard that the trains went to Knoeblels.
Thank you Kevin. Coaster will always have my heart ❤
Also, it only stopped on the Trims. It only stopped on the Ready brake if it slid due to being wet. Which is why we ran one train when it rained 😉
Ahhh thank you for that correction! Good to know! :)
Every roller coaster ad in the 80’s & 90’s had the same announcer, I swear.
They really did
My first roller coaster ever. Also shout out to that Taz ride. Used to love that one!
I miss it!
My favorite memory of Rolling Thunder (I rode it every summer from 1979-1999!) was the ride operator enthusiastically saying into their microphone --as you exited the station to head up the big lift-- “All clear!Enjoy your ride!!!”
I really miss it!
Hey, Kevin! Very nice video and I look forward to binge watching 😄 Hope all is well!
Thank you so much!!!!! 😊
@@Kingdakev No problem at all. Just happy I finally found your channel. Now subbed
@@idesigncreativestudio thank you so much and I hope you’re doing well too!
@@Kingdakev Thank you! Things have been going well. I’m planning another trip to FL soon. Hopefully, I get a chance to see you again.
Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’
Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’
Nooooo Moooooore!
Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’
My 1st visit to SFGA was in 1977 with my mom, dad and brother. We also did the Safari, Runaway Mine Train and Log Flume, many times in the downpour of a storm. My 2nd time there was in '81 with my brother and dad and we rode Lightening Loops and Rolling Thunder, and by then I'd ridden Coaster at Playland in Vancouver, so for me my 1st ride of Rolling Thunder towards the back of the blue train which scared me the 1st time, but was the best ride in the park. My last visit there was May 30th -June 2nd 2022 and Nitro in row 9 was my favourite coaster there after El Toro in row 17.
Aw those sound like great memories!
My best friend and I used to love that ride back in the day. It's a shame they couldn't convert it to a rmc. And I was beyond PISSED in 2015 when Magic Mountain got Twisted Colossus and all Great Adventure got was that traveling carnival ride El Diablo. It seems Great Adventure just let's their star attractions rot. Look what happened to El Toro. Thankfully that one was saved. I think Great Adventure should add a hyper hybrid rmc and name it Iron Thunder to honor Rolling Thunder.
That would be pretty suck. I’m sure it could use the same maintenance building as well and could have the same type of drop under rolling thunder hill of toro!
My heart truly goes out to you! It’s a shame and an abomination that they couldn’t save this coaster. I am sure your Rolling Thunder was an icon and beloved just like my Colossus. I still miss the original but I am grateful that RMC was able to save it from demolition. I don’t know why they didn’t give Rolling Thunder the RMC Iron Horse makeover. I can assume that maybe Rolling Thunder had some constructional issues that made it unable to withstand the makeover… at least not without a very hefty price tag. I know that Colossus had a strong structure. I wish they would have given it a re tracking but because of its massive size it would have cost too much. It was cheaper to get it RMC’d. I am truly sorry! This coaster reminds me of my beloved Colossus. I would be heartbroken if it was no longer there. The skyline from the I5 freeway would look much different without it. It was the heart of the park for decades until Goliath and Superman Escape from Krypton popped up. When they put Goliath next to Colossus and even encroached on its lot that was the downfall. Before Goliath Colossus was the tallest and fasted of the park. Yeah there was Viper in 1990 but that was on the other side of the park and didn’t really impose on Colossus. Once those hypers and strata coasters came and looked more imposing that was the beginning of the end. 💔💔💔😞
I definitely miss Rolling Thunder. It was a good family coaster.
My first roller coaster. I ended up moving away so I only found out about it's closure several years after it closed. I... I wish I got one more ride honestly.
Same I really miss it
I was lucky enough to get my last rides on RT in 2010. I'm fond of all woodies, and it would be cool to be able to auction off the cars of the train in the future to fans.
That would be cool but honestly I’m banking on them finishing that memorial for the ride under El Toro!
It's a great idea and I always wondered why the track was left there. Definitely cool.@@Kingdakev
Thanks, great job with the documentary! To see the whole Ultra Twister clip, copy and paste "TV Show Featuring the Ultra Twister Rollercoaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson NJ 1986" at the UA-cam search prompt.
Thank you!
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
ROLLIN THUNDA!
haha it was very hard for my massachusetts accent not to come out saying it! haha
ROLLING THUNDER! 🌩
i miss it so much!
How about a video about Lightnin ' Loops ?
I’ll add it to my list! :)
I rode this quite a bit when it was open and I really wasn’t a fan not just because it was rough it was also quite boring I never remembered getting airtime. Sadly I wasn’t an enthusiast during that time
I wouldn’t say it was my favorite coaster but I would always give it a few laps everytime I went. I really enjoyed it.
I miss rolling I loved working on it I know one day the storm will return one day
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Rolling Thunder was decent (actually a completely different ride) when it was greased which they did maybe once a year in late 90's during coaster celebration. That thing was neglected. Right side was good but barely open.
Agreed!
Viper was my first coaster with inversions.
How’d you like it?
@@KingdakevI never had any issues with it
I find it hilarious that Six Flags Great Adventure couldn't or wouldn't preserve Rolling Thunder, yet American Eagle still lives on.
Eh. That’s a stretch saying that American eagle lives on. The coaster is very much on its last leg and will never race again so it’s very much a shell of its former self. I think the main issue was the type of wood they used to build rolling thunder.
@Kingdakev That's understandable as all wooden coasters are built differently. I just feel, from a consumer standpoint, that the demolish of Rolling Thunder for a drop ride was a slap in the face.
@@roshonbody3199 oh I couldn’t agree more. And the fact it wasn’t even for the drop tower but for its queue line just makes it so much worse
Never got to experience this coaster. Couldn't squeeze in the seat. Smallest wood coaster seat by far
I take it you never rode Thunderbolt at SFNE then. That is by far the tightest seat!
@@Kingdakev I was only at that park once and I think it was 06 or 07. Other than superman, the park wasn't very memorable. Only wood I remember is cyclone
They have to bring back the thunder via an RMC. I remember being so upset that they were tearing it down and not converting it. :/
I wish but I just don’t see it in the cards anymore. Especially since cedar fair is running the investments. Hopefully they have a change of heart and work with rmc again
At the rate it's going El Toro will be joining Rolling Thunder soon if another accident or incident were to befall it!!
Let’s hope that doesn’t happen then!
I was pissed when I found out that they took out Rolling Thunder. It was one of my favorite roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.
So was I. That was my first major coaster growing up so losing it was a huge loss to me. I wish they kept it around
Rolling Thunder was a classic coaster. It was unique because of the dueling tracks that were completely different.
All it really needed was some tender loving care. But Six Flags let it fall into disrepair. If they actually cared, Rolling Thunder would still be there today. But no, “Let’s tear down Rolling Thunder so we can put a queue line in for some ridiculous drop tower ride so we lose a legacy for a quick fix record breaking ride that will be broken in a few years.”
Yes I’m sure they could have figured out a way to keep rolling thunder. But I do love Zumi! Surprised it’s kept its record as long as it has!
Shame it wasn’t in good enough shape to be turned into an rmc
I agree! I wish it could have been converted!
I literally don’t remember these trains having Twix stuff vomited all over
Yea gotta love those sponsorship deals lol
Wasted rmc opportunity
Agreed
@@KingdakevRMC were called in to look at it, but it was too structurally compromised to do anything with. Given RMC has struggled with structural issues on coasters that weren’t in horrible shape, probably best they left it alone
@@rossstanley3912 yea I know. It’s still really sad though