WINTER 2017 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN COASTER ENTHUSIASTS RC! 140 THE COASTERS OF

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Eugene Morgan
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1 WINTER 2017 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN COASTER ENTHUSIASTS RC! 140 THE COASTERS OF VVO LLU M E E X X X VVII I1I I,, I ISSSSUUE E 21 $ $ 88 AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts.org

Although the park could have remained defunct and abandoned, today it is a vibrant part of the Louisville community.

2 STORM CHASER Ed Hart has a long history that weaves in and out of Kentucky Kingdom s operation. Following the park s closure in 2009 by its former owner, Hart brought the park back from its dormancy. Although the park could have remained defunct and abandoned, today it is a vibrant part of the Louisville community. PHOTO COURTESY OF KENTUCKY KINGDOM ROLLERCOASTER! caught up with Mr. Hart and asked him to share his perspective on Kentucky Kingdom s newest thriller, Storm Chaser. ED HART TALKS ABOUT KENTUCKY KINGDOM S NEW 22 PHOTO BY CURT SCHIMMEL

PHOTO BY TIM BALDWIN A M E R I C A N C O A S T E R E N T H U S I A S T S. O R G KENTUCKY KINGDOM RC!

What are your thoughts on this, and is it allowing you to look to the future in new ways?

abandoned the property. We reopened Kentucky Kingdom in 2014, but did not open that section of the park until 2016, when Storm Chaser replaced Twisted Twins.

3 PHOTO BY TIM BALDWIN A M E R I C A N C O A S T E R E N T H U S I A S T S. O R G KENTUCKY KINGDOM RC!: The transformation of Twisted Twins into Storm Chaser completes a needed refurbishment of the back of the park. What are your thoughts on this, and is it allowing you to look to the future in new ways? Hart: Twisted Twins and the section of the park where it was located were closed to the public in 2007, two years before the previous operator closed the entire Kentucky Kingdom theme park and abandoned the property. We reopened Kentucky Kingdom in 2014, but did not open that section of the park until 2016, when Storm Chaser replaced Twisted Twins. So this section of the park was actually closed for almost 10 years! Storm Chaser was not the only new addition to this part of the park. The coaster was accompanied by a Storm Chaser photo shop, a large new restroom building, a food stand, and a retail shop. With this section reopened, guests no longer encountered a dead end in the park, but could circumnavigate the entire 63- acre facility. For 2017, we will add Eye of the Storm, a Giant Loop by Larson, in this section of the park, meaning we will now have two major attractions in what was a dilapidated and overgrown area of the park not long ago. As Kentucky Kingdom has a 75-year lease with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and more than 20 acres of vacant land available for expansion, we have plenty of room and a great deal of flexibility to add more rides and attractions in the future. W I N T E R PHOTO BY JILL RYAN PHOTO BY CURT SCHIMMEL

KENTUCKY KINGDOM RC!: Why the decision to make over Twisted Twins into a steel-track coaster instead of just repairing what was already built?

We watched closely as Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) introduced its IBox track with great success. That IBox track and RMC s design for Storm Chaser make the coaster extra special.

: With Storm Chaser, Lightning Run, and Thunder Run, you have a series of weather-related names. Is there a reason for that?

Seriously, though, with our many years of experience in marketing coasters and thrill rides, we try to select names that are memorable and, in the case of some of the rides at the new Kentucky

4 KENTUCKY KINGDOM RC!: Why the decision to make over Twisted Twins into a steel-track coaster instead of just repairing what was already built? PHOTO BY HARRIS LANHAM Hart: Although Twisted Twins was a fun coaster, it wasn t anything particularly special. We wanted something out of the ordinary. We watched closely as Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) introduced its IBox track with great success. That IBox track and RMC s design for Storm Chaser make the coaster extra special. Of course, the proof is in the pudding. Based on the many wonderful comments we ve received about Storm Chaser, the pudding is very tasty indeed. RC!: With Storm Chaser, Lightning Run, and Thunder Run, you have a series of weather-related names. Is there a reason for that? PHOTO BY TIM BALDWIN Hart: You ve forgotten to mention Eye of the Storm, our latest thrill ride! Seriously, though, with our many years of experience in marketing coasters and thrill rides, we try to select names that are memorable and, in the case of some of the rides at the new Kentucky Kingdom, have a common theme. Since nothing is more thrilling than Mother Nature at her wildest, we think using names that reference weather anomalies is the perfect way to underscore the thrilling experience that these rides offer. RC!: The inversion curving off the lift is cool and dramatic. Did you approach the Rocky Mountain team with this idea, or did they bring it to you as an option? Hart: RMC presented us with that unique feature, and we felt confident it would distinguish Storm Chaser from other coasters. Based on the response of our guests, especially those who are coaster enthusiasts, it did just that! 24 PHOTO BY S. MADONNA HORCHER PHOTO BY TIM BALDWIN

Did the park experiment with different wheels this year? PHOTO BY STEVE GZESH PHOTO BY HARRIS LANHAM A M E R I C A N C O A S T E R E N T H U S I A S T S.

guarantees a smooth and sweet-sounding ride. Of course, there s no way to determine the actual life of a new coaster s wheels until the ride is actually operating.

5 PHOTO BY STEVE GZESH STORM CHASER RC!: Hundreds of ACE members visited the park following our annual convention, and there was some discussion about the wheels on Storm Chaser. Did the park experiment with different wheels this year? PHOTO BY STEVE GZESH PHOTO BY HARRIS LANHAM A M E R I C A N C O A S T E R E N T H U S I A S T S. O R G PHOTO BY JILL RYAN Hart: Unfortunately, at the time ACE members visited the park this summer, we had temporarily replaced Storm Chaser s normal polyurethane wheels with nylon wheels. As we all know, the dynamics of high-thrill coasters put tremendous stress on the wheels, and it s important to get the right type of wheel: one that s durable yet also guarantees a smooth and sweet-sounding ride. Of course, there s no way to determine the actual life of a new coaster s wheels until the ride is actually operating. Because we found we were going through too many wheels too quickly on Storm Chaser, we made that temporary replacement. The nylon wheels were loud, to the point where it was annoying to hear the train in operation. Shortly after ACE s visit, we installed new and improved polyurethane wheels on the trains. I am sorry that ACE members didn t get to hear the beautiful purring sound of Storm Chaser s new wheels and thus missed the full and more pleasant experience of a normal ride on the coaster. W I N T E R

Who will challenge Goliath? New giant wooden roller coaster awaits riders

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