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SubscribeSays Swaying is Normal for this Ride
Despite concern sparked by amateur video showing Kentucky Kingdom’s new steel roller coaster, Lightning Run, swaying as cars pass along a section of track, the park assures the public that the ride is perfectly safe.
The ride, which features a 100-foot tall 80-degree drop and reaches speeds of 55 miles per hour, was manufactured by Chance Rides of Wichita, KS. Complete specifications of the ride, Chance Rides’s first Hyper GT-X coaster, are available here. Kentucky Kingdom’s communications directory, John Mulcahy, says that the swaying seen in the video is there by design and is a natural part of a high speed ride like Lightning Run.
Anyone who has spent time at an amusement park with large roller coasters has probably noticed movement as the ground shakes or the track sways after the cars pass, although the movement in the video above does seem exaggerated compared to many rides.
Have you visited Kentucky Kingdom and taken a turn on Lightning Run? What do you think about the track swaying? Share your thoughts in the comments section below
With the upcoming Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay opening, there will be no shortage of opportunity in Louisville for thrill rides and water park fun. Now, with a planned TARC service adjustments, it will be even easier for park patrons and employees to get to and from the parks while allowing visitors to avoid parking fees. This service change takes effect on Sunday, June 8, 2014, alongside a second minor schedule adjustment.
The #2-Second Street TARC route is being adjusted as follows:
The changes have been put into place to give a service option for employees and patrons of Kentucky Kingdom, which opens later this month. TARC riders should catch their bus at stops near Gate 2 and Gate 3 at the Kentucky Fairgrounds.
On Monday, June 9, a trip leaving Louisville International Airport will start at 8:54 a.m., which is 10 minutes later than the previous trip. That southbound trip from downtown will also leave 10 minutes later, at 9:25 a.m., from 5th and Market Street. Additionally, a new weekday trip leaving the airport at 7:12 p.m. will be added.
On Saturdays, new trips leaving 5th and Market at 10:15 a.m. and the airport at 9:12 p.m. will be added. On Sundays and holidays, new trips will be leaving 5th and Market at 10:15 a.m. and the airport at 7:12 p.m.
An unrelated schedule change is also being made to the #43-Poplar Level Road route:
Time adjustments of a few minutes at stops south of Poplar Level Road and Eastern Parkway and Poplar Level Road at Indian Trail will be enacted. Arrival and departure times at stops south of Eastern Parkway will be adjusted by 2-3 minutes on all trips. Stop times at Poplar Level Road and Eastern Parkway and north of that intersection will remain the same.
The new Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay, located on nearly 60 acres right in the middle of Louisville, are set to open May 24, 2014. Tickets prices are currently set at $44.95 for adults and $34.95 for children, seniors and military. The best value for the park is the $99.95 season pass, which is available online direct from Kentucky Kingdom or from your nearest Kroger location, where they can be purchased for $69.95 until June 2nd. Benefits of the season pass include park admission all season, rides in the park during the Kentucky State Fair, $1 32-ounce soft drinks throughout the park, 20% of all park food and merchandise, free sunscreen and free water tubes.
The newly renovated Kentucky Kingdom will be sporting five new rides, including Lightning Run (a roller coaster with an 80 degree drop), Fearfall, Professor John’s Flying Machines, Bumper Cars and a 5D Cinema Ride. We will also see four new water attractions, including the Family Wave Lagoon, Adventure River, Plummet Summit, and Buccaneer Beach. For the kids, there are four new children’s ride: Whirl-A-Round Swings, Tea Cups, Jump Around, and Rock-A-Bye Swings. The new Aqua Theater, featuring rescued sea lions, starts in June and offers fun for all ages.
For more information about the park and to see videos for the new attractions, visit the website for Kentucky Kingdom.
