Thunderhawk (Michigan's Adventure)
Thunderhawk is an inverted roller coaster located at Michigan's Adventure amusement park in Muskegon, Michigan. Designed and built by Vekoma, the roller coaster debuted in 1998 as Serial Thriller at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio. It was renamed Thunderhawk in 2004 when Cedar Fair took ownership of the park. Following Geauga Lake's closure in 2007, Thunderhawk was dismantled and moved to Michigan's Adventure in time for the 2008 season, where it became the first inverted roller coaster in Michigan.
| Thunderhawk | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Serial Thriller (1998–2003) | |
 | |
| Michigan's Adventure | |
| Park section | Timbertown |
| Coordinates | 43.345208°N 86.37°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 17, 2008 |
| Cost | $10,000,000 |
| Geauga Lake | |
| Coordinates | 41.35°N 86.276975°W |
| Status | Relocated to Michigan's Adventure |
| Opening date | 1998 |
| Closing date | September 16, 2007 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Suspended Looping Coaster (689m Standard) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 109.3 ft (33.3 m) |
| Drop | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Length | 2,260.5 ft (689.0 m) |
| Speed | 49.7 mph (80.0 km/h) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 1:36 |
| Max vertical angle | 59° |
| Capacity | 1,040 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52–78 in (132–198 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 | |
| Thunderhawk at RCDB Pictures of Thunderhawk at RCDB | |
History
Thunderhawk opened in 1998 at Geauga Lake amusement park under the name Serial Thriller. The ride was constructed over what was previously marshland along the shores of Geauga Lake. A small, man-made island was constructed, and to keep it dry, a pump was installed near the ride's entrance. Much of the track and its supports were built over water.
Serial Thriller was kept in operation following the park's ownership changes over the years involving Six Flags and Cedar Fair. In 2004 after Cedar Fair purchased the park, the ride's name was changed to Thunderhawk. In 2007, an on-ride video camera was installed.
On September 21, 2007, Cedar Fair announced that Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom would no longer operate as a traditional amusement park, instead becoming solely a water park. On October 2, 2007, it was announced that Thunderhawk would be relocated to Michigan's Adventure under the same name.[1]
During construction of Thunderhawk, the roller coaster was repainted red. Its padding and restraints on the trains were replaced as well in accordance with the new color scheme and to improve the ride experience. Michigan's Adventure also made full-length ride DVDs available for purchase by riders.[2]
Ride experience
After riders board the train, they are pulled up the 109-foot (33 m) lift hill. After cresting its highest point, it turns right and drops 85 feet (26 m), reaching speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h). The train then ascends into a Roll Over, in which the train goes through an Immelmann immediately followed by a Dive Loop. This element inverts riders twice and is shaped like a heart. Next, the train travels through a banked hill and into a Sidewinder, followed by a 270 degree downward helix into a double inline twist that features multiple footchopper effects. The train curves again, dips, and rises up into the final brake run. As the train returns to the station, it curves to the right passing by its maintenance track.
Incidents
- On May 29, 2017, passengers were trapped on Thunderhawk for 90 minutes after a lift motor malfunction. One train was in the station while the other was on the lift hill. The ride was closed for the remainder of the day.[3]
References
- Alexander, Dave (2007-10-02). "New roller coaster will be park's most expensive ride". Muskegon Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- http://www.miadventure.com/th_con_jan.shtml Construction Photos, accessed on 1-29-2008
- Mcguire, Justine (2017-05-30). "Michigan's Adventure's Thunderhawk traps riders for 90 minutes". mlive.com. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
