Thunderbolt

"The Thunderbolt is a classic wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Its origins trace back to 1924 when it debuted as the "Pippin," designed by renowned coaster engineer John A. Miller. The Pippin featured several drops that utilized the park's natural ravines, offering riders a thrilling experience that capitalized on the unique terrain. In 1968, the coaster underwent a significant transformation led by Andy Vettel Sr., resulting in its rebranding as the Thunderbolt. This renovation preserved much of the original structure, including the icon"

4 weeks ago

"A cool, historic roller coaster, but a bit of a rough ride. I love its unique layout with the huge drop right out of the station, lift hill well into the ride, and the final drop being the largest in an inversion of how coasters normally do things. Does anyone know why you need to ride with someone though?"

8 months ago

"This is the marquee ride at Kennywood. This vaunted coaster is on most enthusiasts must-ride lists. It's famous for being one of the coasters to set off the great coaster revival in the late 1960s. The coaster is built into a ravine and uses part of a previous coaster. The ride experience is something else. It's essentially two coasters: a fun terrain coaster racing in and out of the trees AND a high speed G-force coaster with a wicked hidden drop. The biggest drop occurs in the last 1/3 of the ride. The ride is so much fun and still smooth after all these years. One of my new favorites!"

6 years ago