News ThuNderaTion: The Final Season
- Thread starter CoasterRattler🐍
- Start date
Saw this coming from a mile away. Coaster is not in good shape and there's a Mack Rides mine train coming next year.
This is far and away my favorite Arrow Minetrain so it sucks to see it go. Definitely has to happen though—one of those sad inevitabilities. Glad I got to experience it. I have faith in SDC to give us something very worthy of its legacy.
This was definitely my favorite of the three Arrow Minetrains I've been on. Hope it gets a good replacement.
I hate to hear this. It's my favorite mine train and my favorite ride at SDC. I especially love the first part how it continually builds up speed until the lift hill.
I thought Thunderation was a bit over hyped but it's one of the better mine trains I've ridden. If they're teasing the 2027 attraction this early I could definitely see next year's attraction being a worthy replacement
I'd guess this is a similar situation to Scorpion at BGT-- probably needed new trains and track work which cost more than the ride is worth. Cost for keeping it running similar to the cost for a brand new ride to replace it.
Track and trains aren't terribly hard to fix and maintain. To my understanding the structure seems to be the largest issue as the terrain is absolutely gnarly and the supports have been sinking over time. It doesn't seem like an urgent safety matter, but rather they've been doing what they could to keep it operable and the removal call was made about two years ago.
Thunderation also isn't THAT old either; it only opened in 1993 (33 years is a very good coaster lifespan) and is by technicality the third newest Arrow Mine Train. However when that opened the oldest Arrow Mine Train (Runaway Mountain at SFOT) was only six years younger than Thunderation is now and still running strong today. I'd argue that stats aside both of them have similar annual cycle counts and maintenance abilities to take care of them. We also haven't until now seen any Arrow Mine Train retired on account of reaching its lifespan. It should probably go to show that Thunderation hasn't aged very well and its unique factor in comparison to the other sets of hardware lies purely with the terrain.
Idk what's going to happen post-closure, some staff are claiming they'll just let it sit for awhile as Herschend doesn't want to fund demolition until/unless they have to. I don't think anyone is particularly looking forwards to coordinating machinery on that hill.
Other parks… This is how you give a ride a proper send-off without hurting guest reception or your park’s reputation. If anything, it actually strengthens it.
Shoutout to SDC, when just about any other park these days would’ve closed it up and called it a day.
Shoutout to SDC, when just about any other park these days would’ve closed it up and called it a day.
The mine train at Six Flags over Texas is 60 years old this year and i think the one at Cedar Point is 3 years newer than that. Carolina Goldrusher is 53. So these rides have a long lifespan. Those rides don't travel as fast or use the terrain like Thunderation, so maybe that is the issue as mentioned above. What made Thunderation so good may have been its downfall.
Theming wise, it could be fitting to let it sit there and rot. Lol.
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Planning to head out to SDC for the first time in the spring. This loss is gonna sting as both an Arrow fanboy and a Terrain Coaster Appreciator. Looking forward to seeing this beautiful park!
(As a side note I'm also really excited for Fiesta Texas' Road Runner Express. Hopefully that one has a good few decades left in it as the youngest of Arrow's mine trains)
(As a side note I'm also really excited for Fiesta Texas' Road Runner Express. Hopefully that one has a good few decades left in it as the youngest of Arrow's mine trains)