Thunderbolt — Attraction in West Mifflin

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 iconic ravine drops, while introducing new elements such as a lift hill and helix turns to enhance the ride's excitement.

The Thunderbolt quickly garnered acclaim for its exhilarating design. In 1974, The New York Times honored it as the "King of Coasters," highlighting its status among amusement park attractions. The ride's enduring appeal is further evidenced by its designation as both an ACE Coaster Classic and a Coaster Landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, recognizing its historical and engineering significance.

A distinctive feature of the Thunderbolt is its unconventional ride experience. Unlike typical coasters that begin with an ascent up a lift hill, the Thunderbolt starts by plunging riders into a drop immediately after leaving the station. The lift hill is situated mid-ride, following the second drop, contributing to the coaster's unique and thrilling layout.

Throughout its operation, the Thunderbolt has experienced incidents that have led to safety enhancements. Notably, in 1999, a collision occurred in the station due to a braking error, resulting in injuries and prompting a review of operational protocols to ensure rider safety.

Today, the Thunderbolt continues to be a beloved attraction at Kennywood, offering riders a blend of historical charm and timeless thrills. Its enduring presence is a testament to the park's commitment to preserving classic amusement experiences while adapting to modern safety and...

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...

Best wooden roller coaster in the park!!! This coaster moves around the track really fast! I love that the first drop is right out of the station and possibly the steepest drop is the 2nd to the last one that drops down into the ravine just slightly above Phantom's Revenge! This coaster used to be called Pippen and was built in the 1924! Then it was remodeled and renamed to Thunderbolt! It is also a National Historic Landmark as is Kennywood it's self and also Jackrabbit....If I'm not mistaken I think Racer is a National Historic Landmark also. I highly recommend...