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List of former Kentucky Kingdom attractions

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This is a list of rides and attractions that previously existed at the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Former roller coasters

[edit]
Ride Opened Closed Description
Starchaser 1987 1995 An enclosed Anton Schwarzkopf Jet Star roller coaster.[1] It was removed in 1995[1] due to a pending lawsuit from guests who were injured on the ride in 1994.[2] The ride was originally located in Beech Bend Park before being moved to Kentucky Kingdom.[3] It was then moved to Six Flags Darien Lake in 1996[4] before moving to its final location at Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor, where it was called Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon. The ride is now defunct.[5] The Starchaser's building is now the park's 5D Theater.
The Vampire 1990 1999 A Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster.[6] It was removed in 1999[6] because of multiple breakdowns.[7] It was moved to Six Flags New England where it is now known as Flashback.[8]
Twisted Twins 1998 2007 Dueling wooden roller coaster constructed by Custom Coasters International. Closed until 2015, reconstructed into Storm Chaser.
Chang 1997 2009 A Bolliger & Mabillard stand-up roller coaster.[9] It opened in 1997 as the tallest, fastest and longest stand-up coaster in the world.[10] Chang was relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure where it reopened as Green Lantern during the 2011 season.[11]
Road Runner Express 2000 2009 A Maurer Söhne wild mouse roller coaster retained by Six Flags as part of the settlement.[12] It was relocated to Six Flags New England for the 2011 season and re-themed into their 10th roller coaster called Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum.[13] Replaced by Professor John's Flying Machines and Cyclos.[14]
Greezed Lightnin' 2003 2009 An Anton Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop roller coaster. Removed in 2013 to make way for Lightning Run.
T3 1995 2022 A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster. First opened as T2, the first of its kind in North America and second of its kind in the world. When the park closed in 2009, the ride was left standing-but-not-operating (SBNO) until the park reopened in 2014. The ride was refurbished and given new trains. It reopened as T3 the following year.[15]

Former rides

[edit]
Ride Opened Closed Description
Sun & Moon Ferris Wheel 1990 2021 Children's Ferris Wheel P&B
Rio Grande Train 1998 2021 Children's Train Zamperla. Replaced by relocated Rowdy Racers in 2022.
Deluge 2007 2021 Water Tube Slide
Crystal Carousel 1987 1987 Double Decker Carousel located behind the fountain at the entrance. It was later replaced by Superman: Tower of Power until it was removed.
Force 10 1987 1987 Starts out flat, but then tilts like a paratrooper ride and similar to Enterprise. Replaced by Breakdance in 1990, after being auctioned off.
Pontiac's Tin Lizzy Junction 1987 1987 Antique Cars ride sponsored by Pontiac. Closed after one season of operation, but the driving track was later used by the other antique car ride, Tin Lizzies.
Smash-Crash-Bash'em 1987 1987 Kentucky Kingdom's first Bumper Cars ride. Closed in 1987 with the park. While the ride is gone, the building still stands as an arcade in the park. A new Bumper Cars ride opened in 1990 in the park. The bumper cars returned to their original location when the park reopened in 2014.
Kentucky Whirl 1987 1987 A Zierer Wave Swinger ride in the park. Closed in 1987 and removed and replaced by Bumper Cars in 1990, and Mad Hatter in 2014.
Ohio River Adventure 1987 1987 A Log Flume ride in the park. Opened and Closed with the park in 1987 but was on the site until 1988 when it was taken out and replaced with the former "The Vampire" roller coaster. Ride purchased by and moved to Silverwood Theme Park.[16]
Tornado 1987 1987 Not to be confused with the Tornado water slide, this was a flat ride that only operated during the 1987 season. It was removed from the park in 1990 when the park reopened and to make room for new rides at the park.
Whirlaway 1987 1987 A Chance Trabant Ride. Closed in 1987 and removed from the park in 1990. Relocated to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, MI
Ranger 1990 1993 HUSS Ranger – replaced by Rainbow
Round Up 1987 1995 Hrubetz Round Up
The Squid 1990 1997 4 wet/dry water slides. Replaced by Road Runner Express. Replaced by Cyclos in 2015 and Prof. John's Flying Machines in 2014.
Jester's June Bugs 1990 2001 Zamperla Junior Jet. Moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake). Now operates at Knoebels Amusement Resort as Goin' Buggy.
Starcastle Voyage 1997 2001 Kids Carousel – moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake) until closure.
Mini Tea Cups 1998 2001 Tea cup ride – moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake) until closure.
Thriller Bees 1998 2001 HUSS Ramba Zamba/Swingaround ride – Moved to Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake). Stored at Six Flags Darien Lake (not used)
The Quake 1992 2004 Vekoma Waikiki Wave – ride was replaced by the Tornado water slide
Slingshot 2002 2004 Extra charge Funtime Sling Shot – portable – moved to Elitch Gardens.
Chaos 1998 2005 Chance Chaos – Replaced by a smoking area in 2006, replaced by defunct Deluge in 2007. Currently in storage.
Top Eliminator Dragsters 1996 2005 3/4 scale dragsters. Closed from 2005 to 2010. Manufactured by ThrillTime Entertainment International.
The Great Race 1998 2006 Spinning kids ride – Replaced by defunct Deluge in 2007 (The ride however is still in storage somewhere at the park and may reopen in the future)
Superman: Tower of Power 1995 2008 Intamin 177 ft (54 m) giant drop – Closed due to serious accident that resulted in a 13-year-old girl losing her feet; was located just inside the entrance to the park; originally named Hellevator (1995–2006).
Rainbow[17] 1994 2008 Removed following a serious malfunction of the Rainbow at Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden. Many Huss Rainbow rides were dismantled following the 2008 incident at Liseberg. Replaced by Up, Up and Away
Turbo Bungy 2000 2008 Extra-Charge attraction
Skycoaster 2001 2009 A skycoaster up-charge attraction stood at 180 ft (55 m) tall. It was the tallest attraction in the park.[18]
Bumper Cars 1990 2009 Majestic Manufacturing bumper cars. Known as the Road Rage Cage in October for October fest. Replaced with Madhatter in 2014.
Thrill Park Theater 1996 2009 Motion picture simulator, Hydraulic pods/seats move in accordance with a movie. Replaced with 5D Theater.
Looney Tunes Acme Fun Factory 1997 2009 A SCS Interactive kids foam ball play area. Replaced with the Zeppelin.
Taz's Filmworks 1990 2009 Sartori Rides kids swing ride. Replaced with Whirl-A-Round Swings
Yosemite Sam's Hollywood Flight School 1990 2009 Allan Herschell kids biplane ride. Formerly known as Royal Air Force. Replaced with Jump Around.
The Wall 1999 2009 Climbable rock wall
Thrill Karts 1997 2009 J&J Amusements Go-Karts
Enterprise 1990 2017 A HUSS Entreprise ride. Replaced with Scream Extreme.[19]
Free Falling Fire Engine 1995 2018 Zamperla Crazy Bus
Loony Balloony 1990 2018 Zamperla Samba Balloons. Formerly known as A'Wound the World in 80 Seconds and Samba Balloon Ride
Raging Rapids River Ride 1999 2024 Intamin Rapids Ride. A white water raft ride built from remnants of Grizzly River Rampage, designed by Intamin, that was located at Opryland Themepark from 1981 to 1997.[20] Formerly called Penguin's Blizzard River, the ride reopened in 2015 as Raging Rapids River Ride after the ride was refurbished with boats from Hopkins Rides.[21][22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Starchaser  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Wall, Barbara (November 29, 2007). "Kentucky Supreme Court Reinstates $3 Million Defamation Verdict". Gannett. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Marden, Duane. "Starchaser  (Beech Bend)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Marden, Duane. "Nightmare at Phantom Cave  (Darien Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Marden, Duane. "Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon  (Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "The Vampire  (Bluegrass Boardwalk)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Hannah, Jim (December 18, 1999). "Vampire roller coaster being dismantled". The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Marden, Duane. "Flashback  (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Marden, Duane. "Chang  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Boys' Life". June 1998: 19. Retrieved October 8, 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Marden, Duane. "Green Lantern  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  12. ^ Marden, Duane. "Road Runner Express  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Theme Parks: Gotham City Gauntlet Escape From Arkham Asylum at Six Flags New England". blooloop.com. February 10, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  14. ^ Marden, Duane. "Gotham City Gauntlet  (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  15. ^ Roldan, Roberto (July 3, 2015). "Gut-wrenching Kentucky Kingdom coaster opens". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "A Tale of Two Indie Parks - Part 1". themeparkinsider.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Kincade, Chris (April 15, 1994). "KINGDOM OF THRILLS". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Amusement Parks". familytravelnetwork.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "RIP Enterprise". YouTube. Kentucky Kingdom. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  20. ^ "History of Opryland theme park". The Tennessean. Gannett. June 22, 2014. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  21. ^ Taylor, Shalanna (June 4, 2015). "Kentucky Kingdom brings back Rapid River ride". WLKY. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  22. ^ "From Thunder River to Roaring Rapids: Part 2 of our look at River Rapids attractions". December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
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