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The Lightning Run Rollercoaster at Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky

Sadly the Greezed' Lightnin Schwarzkopf shuttle loop that Six Flags added to the park was left to rust for the years Kentucky Kingdom sat dormant had to be removed.  In its place Lightning Run was added to Kentucky Kingdom.

The Lightning Run Rollercoaster at Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky

Interestingly what Ed heart proposed to the fair board was a $14 million coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard.  Instead interestingly he ended up going with Chance Rides, a manufacturer that primarily build trains, Ferris wheels, kids rides, and in the coaster world the Toboggan portable coaster that used to be a staple of carnivals and fairs in the 1970's, for his big new attraction..

Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky

Now you might think I'm crazy here but going with Chance over B&M was absolutely the right decision.

Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky

Lightning Run was the first Hyper GT-X coaster by Chance Rides and it shows they have certainly come a long ways from their days building Toboggans for carnivals or kiddie coasters.  In 2001 they merged with Morgan Manufacturing, that produced coasters like Mamba at Worlds of Fun and Steel Force at Dorney Park.   This move brought modern track manufacturing into their wheelhouse.  In 2014 Chance Rides decided to make a push at the big leagues with Lightning Run.


Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky

With a rather diminutive height of just a hundred feet, one might not think that Lightning Run has a lot of wallop to offer, but sometimes really good things come in small packages.



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Paul B. Drabek


Kentucky Kingdom Theme Park, Louisville, Kentucky