The Thunderbolt Express was a looping
shuttle roller coaster located at
Camden Park. Originally named Screamin' Demon (and later just Demon) when it operated at
Kings Island from 1977 to 1987, the roller coaster was built and designed by
Arrow Dynamics. It was sold to Camden Park following the 1987 season, and reopened at its new location in 1988. Following an electrical issue in 1999, the ride was closed indefinitely for a period of time. An announcement surfaced that the ride would reopen in 2002, but the roller coaster was dismantled following the 2004 season and replaced by a
miniature golf
Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, mini-putt, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of its parent game. The aim of the game is to score the lowest number of points. It is played ...
course.
History
Anton Schwarzkopf and
Intamin
Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement ins ...
co-developed the first shuttle loop design, which opened as King Kobra at
Kings Dominion in 1977.
A total of six shuttle loop roller coasters opened that same year throughout the United States, including Screamin' Demon at
Kings Island. It had the distinction of being the first from Arrow Development to open to the public.
Unlike the vertical track used as a reverse point at one end of King Kobra, Arrow used loading platforms on both sides instead.
At the end of the 1987 season, the ride was sold and relocated to
Camden Park in West Virginia where it was renamed Thunderbolt Express. It was closed in 1999 after a circuit board malfunctioned and never reopened. It was eventually scrapped in 2004.
Ride experience
After riders board the train in the loading station, they are launched forward into an immediate drop. The propulsion system consists of an electric motor and pulley system. The drop leads into a vertical loop as riders experience a maximum of 4
g. The train exits the loop and ascends to a horizontal section of track similar in length to the loading station's track. After coming to complete stop for a brief moment, the train is launched in reverse to repeat the course and return to the loading station.
References
{{Kings Island
Former roller coasters in West Virginia
Shuttle roller coasters