Kentucky Rumbler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kentucky Rumbler
Ride entrance
Beech Bend Park
Location	Beech Bend Park
Coordinates	37°01′21″N 86°24′06″W / 37.02250°N 86.40167°W / 37.02250; -86.40167
Status	Open
Opening date	May 6, 2006
Cost	$4,600,000
General statistics
Type	Wood – Twister
Manufacturer	Great Coasters International
Model	Twister
Height	96 ft (29 m)
Drop	80 ft (24 m)
Length	2,827 ft (862 m)
Speed	47 mph (76 km/h)
Inversions	0
Capacity	480 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	Single train with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Kentucky Rumbler at RCDB

The Kentucky Rumbler is an exciting wooden roller coaster located at Beech Bend Park in Warren County, Kentucky. It stands 96 feet tall and has a thrilling 80-foot drop. This ride quickly became the most popular attraction at the park. In 2006, Amusement Today magazine even named it one of the top five new rides in the world!

History of the Kentucky Rumbler

Between 2000 and 2005, Beech Bend Park made many improvements. They added 40 new rides, including the Wild Mouse roller coaster. The park also added a water park and updated its camping and racing areas.

The Jones family, who own the park, had wanted a big wooden roller coaster for years. They contacted a company called Great Coasters International (GCII) to help them build it.

On October 28, 2005, the park announced the name of their new ride: "Kentucky Rumbler." Derek Sailors from Surfside Beach, South Carolina, won a contest to name the coaster. Thousands of people from all over the world sent in their ideas!

The Kentucky Rumbler opened in 2006 and got great reviews. It was quickly recognized as one of the best new rides that year.

Ride Design and Features

The Kentucky Rumbler is a "twister" style wooden roller coaster. It cost about $4.6 million to build. The ride can carry up to 480 people every hour.

This coaster has some special features. It includes a world record three "station fly-bys," where the track passes very close to the loading station. It also has a unique first drop that feels like an airplane dive.

The ride reaches speeds of almost 50 miles per hour. Riders experience 30 track crossovers and go over twelve "airtime hills." Airtime hills are bumps that lift you slightly out of your seat, giving you a floating feeling!

The maximum height of the ride is 96 feet. The first drop is a thrilling 80.2 feet. The entire ride lasts about 90 seconds. The track is 2,827 feet long.

The Kentucky Rumbler uses one special train called a Millennium Flyer. This train has 12 cars, and each car seats two riders. This means 24 people can ride at once.

Awards and Recognition

The Kentucky Rumbler has often been ranked among the best wooden roller coasters. Amusement Today magazine holds a yearly poll called the Golden Ticket Awards. In these awards, roller coasters are voted on by experts and fans.

The table below shows how the Kentucky Rumbler has ranked in the "Top Wooden Roller Coasters" category over the years: