Thunderhawk (Michigan's Adventure)

For the wooden roller coaster of the same name at Dorney Park, see Thunderhawk (Dorney Park). For other uses, see Thunderhawk (disambiguation).

Thunderhawk
Previously known as Serial Thriller (1998–2003)
Michigan's Adventure
Park section	Timbertown
Coordinates	43.345208°N 86.37°W / 43.345208; -86.37
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 17, 2008 (2008-05-17)
Cost	$10,000,000
Geauga Lake
Coordinates	41.35°N 86.276975°W / 41.35; -86.276975
Status	Removed
Opening date	May 9, 1998 (1998-05-09)
Closing date	September 16, 2007 (2007-09-16)
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.
Fast Lane available
Thunderhawk at RCDB

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.

History

Thunderhawk in 2006 at Geauga Lake in Ohio

The ride originally opened at Geauga Lake as Serial Thriller on May 9, 1998. It 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. The following year, the track was repainted orange while the supports were repainted yellow.

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.

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.

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.

External links

• Official page