National Roller Coaster Day: Kennywood's Thunderbolt Dissed

PITTSBURGH, PA - On this National Roller Coaster Day, a Harrisburg-based news website has committed what some coaster enthusiasts would consider sacrilege. It left Kennywood’s Thunderbolt off of a list of Pennsylvania’s 10 best coasters.

During a year in which the venerable ride is celebrating its 50th anniversary, no less.

PennLive.com did include the Phantom’s Revenge on its list, saying, “The track weaves through and around other rides in the park while taking advantage of the terrain with a literally breathtaking drop.” But there was no Thunderbolt. No Jack Rabbit or Racer, either.

Here’s PennLive’s Top 10, in no particular order:

• Phoenix, Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Northumberland County.

• Phantom’s Revenge

• Black Diamond, Knoebels

• Leap-the-Dips, Lakemont Park, Altoona

• Hydra the Revenge, Dorney Park, Allentown

• Flying Turns, Knoebels (again!)

• Skyrush, Hersheypark

• Braker’s Edge, Hersheypark

• Steel Force, Dorney Park

• Ravine Flyer II, Waldameer Park and Water World, Erie.

Want to give PennLive a piece of your mind about this dissing of the Thunderbolt? Want to ask the folks there about their apparent bias toward coasters in the eastern part of the state? You can let ‘em know this is no way celebrate National Roller Coaster Day by clicking on the link.

Photo via Kennywood. Used with permission.

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