Thunderhawk (Dorney Park) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thunderhawk |
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| Previously known as "The Coaster" | |
Thunderhawk's lift hill and station
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| Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | |
| Location | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 40°34′47″N 75°32′08″W / 40.5798°N 75.5355°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | March 30, 1924 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Herbert Paul Schmeck |
| Track layout | Out and Back / Twister |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Drop | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Length | 2,767 ft (843 m) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:18 |
| Max vertical angle | 45° |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
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| Thunderhawk at RCDB | |
Thunderhawk is an exciting wooden roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It has a special design called an "out-and-back" layout. This means the coaster goes straight out from the first big drop, turns around, and then comes straight back.
Thunderhawk first opened in 1924 and was originally called The Coaster. This makes it one of the oldest roller coasters still running today! It was built by a company called Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters and designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck.
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The History of Thunderhawk
Thunderhawk was designed by Herbert Paul Schmeck and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. When it first opened on March 30, 1924, it was simply known as "The Coaster." The ride kept this name for many years.
In 1989, the park added a new roller coaster called Hercules. At that time, "The Coaster" was renamed Thunderhawk. This helped give it a unique identity.
How the Ride Changed Over Time
When it was first built, Thunderhawk was a simple "out-and-back" coaster. This means it went out and then came back on a straight path. But in 1930, the ride's path was changed. It now has a "figure-eight twister" section in the middle. This makes the ride more exciting with twists and turns!
Over the years, Thunderhawk has also had some visual changes. At one point, the ride was painted a bright yellow color. Now, it is painted an off-white color, which looks more like its original appearance.
The area where you wait for the ride has also changed. The original station used to have a separate bumper car ride. The line for the coaster would wrap around the bumper cars, giving people something to watch. The ride even started and ended with tunnels that went under the bumper car area.
However, the bumper cars were removed in 1993. This left the starting tunnel as an open concrete path. Also, some brakes were added to the ride. These brakes slow the train down on the return hills. This means the ride has less "airtime" than it used to. Airtime is that fun floating feeling you get on hills!
A Special Tribute
A carpenter named Paul Hottenstein, also known as "Shorty," took care of the Thunderhawk structure for many years. He worked on the ride from 1961 until he passed away in 2001. There is a special plaque in the ride's station that honors him and his hard work.
Thunderhawk is still one of the most popular rides at Dorney Park. It is a great example of an old American wooden roller coaster. In 2020, the American Coaster Enthusiasts group will give Thunderhawk a special award called an ACE Coaster Landmark plaque.
Exciting Updates in 2016
In 2016, Dorney Park announced some big changes for Thunderhawk. These updates made the ride even better!
New Trains and Safety
One of the biggest changes was getting new trains. These trains were designed by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, the same company that built the ride. The new trains have an "open-air" design, which means they feel more open and exciting. They also have individual lap bars that click into place. This is different from the older "buzz bars" that went across everyone's laps. The new lap bars make the ride feel more secure for each rider.
Fresh Paint and Lights
The ride also got a fresh coat of white paint. This new paint job looks a lot like the coaster's original color from when it first opened. To make it even more special, Thunderhawk also received new white lights. These lights outline the entire ride, making it look amazing at night!
