List of former Kentucky Kingdom attractions
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This is a list of rides and attractions that previously existed at the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Former roller coasters
[edit]Ride | Opened | Closed | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Starchaser | 1987 | 1995 | An enclosed Anton Schwarzkopf Jet Star roller coaster.[1] It was removed in 1995[1] due to a pending lawsuit from guests who were injured on the ride in 1994.[2] The ride was originally located in Beech Bend Park before being moved to Kentucky Kingdom.[3] It was then moved to Six Flags Darien Lake in 1996[4] before moving to its final location at Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor, where it was called Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon. The ride is now defunct.[5] The Starchaser's building is now the park's 5D Theater. |
The Vampire | 1990 | 1999 | A Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster.[6] It was removed in 1999[6] because of multiple breakdowns.[7] It was moved to Six Flags New England where it is now known as Flashback.[8] |
Twisted Twins | 1998 | 2007 | Dueling wooden roller coaster constructed by Custom Coasters International. Closed until 2015, reconstructed into Storm Chaser. |
Chang | 1997 | 2009 | A Bolliger & Mabillard stand-up roller coaster.[9] It opened in 1997 as the tallest, fastest and longest stand-up coaster in the world.[10] Chang was relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure where it reopened as Green Lantern during the 2011 season. It was removed following the 2024 season. [11] |
Road Runner Express | 2000 | 2009 | A Maurer Söhne wild mouse roller coaster retained by Six Flags as part of the settlement.[12] It was relocated to Six Flags New England for the 2011 season and re-themed into their 10th roller coaster called Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum.[13] Replaced by Professor John's Flying Machines and Cyclos.[14] |
Greezed Lightnin' | 2003 | 2009 | An Anton Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop roller coaster. Removed in 2013 to make way for Lightning Run. |
T3 | 1995 | 2022 | A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster. First opened as T2, the first of its kind in North America and second of its kind in the world. When the park closed in 2009, the ride was left standing-but-not-operating (SBNO) until the park reopened in 2014. The ride was refurbished and given new trains. It reopened as T3 the following year.[15] |
Former rides
[edit]Ride | Opened | Closed | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Sun & Moon Ferris Wheel | 1990 | 2021 | Children's Ferris Wheel P&B |
Rio Grande Train | 1998 | 2021 | Children's Train Zamperla. Replaced by relocated Rowdy Racers in 2022. |
Deluge | 2007 | 2021 | Water Tube Slide |
Crystal Carousel | 1987 | 1987 | Double Decker Carousel located behind the fountain at the entrance. It was later replaced by Superman: Tower of Power until it was removed. |
Force 10 | 1987 | 1987 | Starts out flat, but then tilts like a paratrooper ride and similar to Enterprise. Replaced by Breakdance in 1990, after being auctioned off. |
Pontiac's Tin Lizzy Junction | 1987 | 1987 | Antique Cars ride sponsored by Pontiac. Closed after one season of operation, but the driving track was later used by the other antique car ride, Tin Lizzies. |
Smash-Crash-Bash'em | 1987 | 1987 | Kentucky Kingdom's first Bumper Cars ride. Closed in 1987 with the park. While the ride is gone, the building still stands as an arcade in the park. A new Bumper Cars ride opened in 1990 in the park. The bumper cars returned to their original location when the park reopened in 2014. |
Kentucky Whirl | 1987 | 1987 | A Zierer Wave Swinger ride in the park. Closed in 1987 and removed and replaced by Bumper Cars in 1990, and Mad Hatter in 2014. |
Ohio River Adventure | 1987 | 1987 | A Log Flume ride in the park. Opened and Closed with the park in 1987 but was on the site until 1988 when it was taken out and replaced with the former "The Vampire" roller coaster. Ride purchased by and moved to Silverwood Theme Park.[16] |
Tornado | 1987 | 1987 | Not to be confused with the Tornado water slide, this was a flat ride that only operated during the 1987 season. It was removed from the park in 1990 when the park reopened and to make room for new rides at the park. |
Whirlaway | 1987 | 1987 | A Chance Trabant Ride. Closed in 1987 and removed from the park in 1990. Relocated to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, MI |
Ranger | 1990 | 1993 | HUSS Ranger – replaced by Rainbow |
Round Up | 1987 | 1995 | Hrubetz Round Up |
The Squid | 1990 | 1997 | 4 wet/dry water slides. Replaced by Road Runner Express. Replaced by Cyclos in 2015 and Prof. John's Flying Machines in 2014. |
Jester's June Bugs | 1990 | 2001 | Zamperla Junior Jet. Moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake). Now operates at Knoebels Amusement Resort as Goin' Buggy. |
Starcastle Voyage | 1997 | 2001 | Kids Carousel – moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake) until closure. |
Mini Tea Cups | 1998 | 2001 | Tea cup ride – moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake) until closure. |
Thriller Bees | 1998 | 2001 | HUSS Ramba Zamba/Swingaround ride – Moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake). Stored at Six Flags Darien Lake (not used) |
The Quake | 1992 | 2004 | Vekoma Waikiki Wave – ride was replaced by the Tornado water slide |
Slingshot | 2002 | 2004 | Extra charge Funtime Sling Shot – portable – moved to Elitch Gardens. |
Chaos | 1998 | 2005 | Chance Chaos – Replaced by a smoking area in 2006, replaced by defunct Deluge in 2007. Currently in storage. |
Top Eliminator Dragsters | 1996 | 2005 | 3/4 scale dragsters. Closed from 2005 to 2010. Manufactured by ThrillTime Entertainment International. |
The Great Race | 1998 | 2006 | Spinning kids ride – Replaced by defunct Deluge in 2007 (The ride however is still in storage somewhere at the park and may reopen in the future) |
Superman: Tower of Power | 1995 | 2008 | Intamin 177 ft (54 m) giant drop – Closed due to serious accident that resulted in a 13-year-old girl losing her feet; was located just inside the entrance to the park; originally named Hellevator (1995–2006). |
Rainbow[17] | 1994 | 2008 | Removed following a serious malfunction of the Rainbow at Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden. Many Huss Rainbow rides were dismantled following the 2008 incident at Liseberg. Replaced by Up, Up and Away |
Turbo Bungy | 2000 | 2008 | Extra-Charge attraction |
Skycoaster | 2001 | 2009 | A skycoaster up-charge attraction stood at 180 ft (55 m) tall. It was the tallest attraction in the park.[18] |
Bumper Cars | 1990 | 2009 | Majestic Manufacturing bumper cars. Known as the Road Rage Cage in October for October fest. Replaced with Madhatter in 2014. |
Thrill Park Theater | 1996 | 2009 | Motion picture simulator, Hydraulic pods/seats move in accordance with a movie. Replaced with 5D Theater. |
Looney Tunes Acme Fun Factory | 1997 | 2009 | A SCS Interactive kids foam ball play area. Replaced with the Zeppelin. |
Taz's Filmworks | 1990 | 2009 | Sartori Rides kids swing ride. Replaced with Whirl-A-Round Swings |
Yosemite Sam's Hollywood Flight School | 1990 | 2009 | Allan Herschell kids biplane ride. Formerly known as Royal Air Force. Replaced with Jump Around. |
The Wall | 1999 | 2009 | Climbable rock wall |
Thrill Karts | 1997 | 2009 | J&J Amusements Go-Karts |
Enterprise | 1990 | 2017 | A HUSS Entreprise ride. Replaced with Scream Extreme.[19] |
Free Falling Fire Engine | 1995 | 2018 | Zamperla Crazy Bus |
Loony Balloony | 1990 | 2018 | Zamperla Samba Balloons. Formerly known as A'Wound the World in 80 Seconds and Samba Balloon Ride |
Raging Rapids River Ride | 1999 | 2024 | Intamin Rapids Ride. A white water raft ride built from remnants of Grizzly River Rampage, designed by Intamin, that was located at Opryland Themepark from 1981 to 1997.[20] Formerly called Penguin's Blizzard River, the ride reopened in 2015 as Raging Rapids River Ride after the ride was refurbished with boats from Hopkins Rides.[21][22] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Starchaser (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Wall, Barbara (November 29, 2007). "Kentucky Supreme Court Reinstates $3 Million Defamation Verdict". Gannett. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Starchaser (Beech Bend)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Nightmare at Phantom Cave (Darien Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon (Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Marden, Duane. "The Vampire (Bluegrass Boardwalk)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Hannah, Jim (December 18, 1999). "Vampire roller coaster being dismantled". The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flashback (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Chang (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ "Boys' Life". June 1998: 19. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Marden, Duane. "Green Lantern (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Road Runner Express (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ "Theme Parks: Gotham City Gauntlet Escape From Arkham Asylum at Six Flags New England". blooloop.com. February 10, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Gotham City Gauntlet (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Roldan, Roberto (July 3, 2015). "Gut-wrenching Kentucky Kingdom coaster opens". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ "A Tale of Two Indie Parks - Part 1". themeparkinsider.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Kincade, Chris (April 15, 1994). "KINGDOM OF THRILLS". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ "Amusement Parks". familytravelnetwork.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ "RIP Enterprise". YouTube. Kentucky Kingdom. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "History of Opryland theme park". The Tennessean. Gannett. June 22, 2014. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Shalanna (June 4, 2015). "Kentucky Kingdom brings back Rapid River ride". WLKY. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ "From Thunder River to Roaring Rapids: Part 2 of our look at River Rapids attractions". December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.