September 9, 201312 yr 1979-2013. She went out giving some of her best rides ever. Wheels spinning wildly on the brake run a full minute after stopping. Tremendous airtime. Cobb/Rosser. 35 seasons. Just the left side running (the side most would say is the better side, I always preferred the right) And it's over. Sad, but if she had to go, there was no better way. 45 minute to two hour waits, while Nitro was a station wait, Bizarro was a walk-on, Ka was 10 minutes (when it was operating), and even Houdini was a 8 minute wait. Even SkyScreamer was 10 minutes. People taking pictures, older people riding with their grandkids, and courtesy and politeness abounding. It felt very much like what it was...a funeral/wake/respectful celebration. Somewhere Steve Urbanowicz is smiling...and crying.
September 9, 201312 yr One of my least favorite coasters but I can see many people having a emotional attachment to the ride. Just even thinking of my favorite ride The Racer going the same way would make me crushed. I'm sorry for all Rolling Thunder fans out there.
September 9, 201312 yr If I may ask, what are your best memories of Rolling Thunder?...is it something that you shared with someone else? My dad and I only rode one rollercoaster together in his entire life and since he has passed, I will forever remember our one and only ride together on Space Mountain at Disneyland....and that will be a must attend event if it is ever retired someday.
September 9, 201312 yr While the ride wasn't my favorite at the park, it did provide a good memory. I unfortunately only got to ride 1 side of it though :/
September 9, 201312 yr How long until someone starts www.savetherollingthunder.com We all know how well savethebigdipper went lol.
September 9, 201312 yr I saw where there is already a group trying to save it. I always skipped rolling thunder when I visited Great Adventure.
September 10, 201312 yr Shoot...I feel like crying about it and I've never been there... I remember Teddy Bear at Coney Island, (rode that with Mom and my sisters) Shooting Star, (my sister and her friend...they were told not to, but they did anyway....and I'm glad they did.) Same with Lost River and the Haunted House....all gone....snif snif sigh....
September 12, 201312 yr Sad that Rolling Thunder is gone. My only visit to the park, they were only running the left side so I'll never get that right side credit. While others in our group rode El Toro (which I could not), KIRuler and I got several rides in on RT while singing along to the Rawhide theme playing in the station. I wonder why they chose to take it out, since woodies, with a few exceptions, typically have a longer lifespan than steel.
September 12, 201312 yr Author I can only answer as the park has: they are building to the future. Even if I could say more, knowing SIX, the plans will change three times, then some snot-nosed little all-knowing idgit would dig up my at the time correct post and tell me I was wrong. Or, I could play a Lance Hart and go back to the past to edit the future. Terp, friend of Rolling Thunder
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