Statement about the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger Click here for our statement about how wiki content will change following the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger.
Lightnin' Loops was built in 1977 and opened in 1978 at Six Flags Great Adventure. Six Flags had acquired the park in 1977 and Lightnin' Loops was planned by the prior ownership as far back as 1976. It was the second looping roller coaster on the east coast, although several full circuit looping coasters were in operation as far back as 1975. The coaster was located on the west side of the park that is currently occupied by Movietown, Batman: The Ride, and Nitro.
Lightnin' Loops was the first roller coaster to feature interlocking loops, a feature that would eventually be repeated on Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and the Orient Express at Worlds of Fun. However Lightnin' Loops was the world's only interlocking dual shuttle shuttle loop coaster. Lightnin' Loops featured a launch system that propelled the train downward into the loop and to another launch station at the same height as the loading station. Then the train was launched backwards returning to the loading station.
This coaster continued to be the star attraction at the park throughout the 1980s, although other coasters such as Rolling Thunder (built in 1979), Sarajevo Bobsleds (built in 1984) and Ultra Twister (built in 1986) also were major coasters.
Accident[]
In 1987, a 19-year-old female guest who was not properly secured fell to her death from the top of one of the loops.[1] The guest had reportedly rushed to board a train after the harnesses had been locked and the ride was unable to be stopped.[2] This incident caused Great Adventure's attendance to drop further, almost shuttering the park after the Haunted Castle accident in 1984.[3]
Changes & closure[]
The upper loops trains were refurbished to keep this accident from happening again, while the lower loop was left untouched and never reopened, instead the entrance to the lower loop was permanently blocked.
The popularity of Lightnin' Loops faded in 1989 when the bobsleds were replaced with a multiple looping full circuit then-state of the art roller coaster called the Great American Scream Machine (also built by Arrow), which featured seven inversions, three of which were loops. Also unpopular was the 56 feet (17 m) high stair-climb to reach the Loops loading station.
By 1990, the area that Lightnin' Loops was occupying became a dull area of the park due to the lack of theming. Nearby, however Adventure Rivers would be added in 1991. A new stunt show arena was built next to Lightnin' Loops, and the area was transformed in "Action Town". In May 1992, management announced that Lightnin' Loops would close at the end of July, and it was dismantled in August. One of the loops would be sold to Funtime Parks, the other loop would move to the site formerly occupied by Ultra Twister and construction of "Batman The Ride" would begin on the site of the space occupied by Lightnin' Loops. Batman: The Ride lead to the conversion of the area into Movietown. In 1991, it was announced that the lower loop would be removed from the park and would be sold to Funtime Parks. The lower loop was sent to Frontier City near Oklahoma City which was then owned by Funtime. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1993 as Diamond Back. It still operates there to this day.
The upper loop continued to operate for five more years until 1992, then eventually the loss of its twin, and the addition of the Great American Scream Machine had made it unpopular. At the end of 1992, however, it was decided that the upper track of Lightnin' Loops would also be sold to Funtime Parks. It was sent to Six Flags America (then known as Adventure World) in Largo, Maryland (near Washington, D.C.). It was rebuilt and reopened in 1994 as the Python. Funtime Parks was coincidentally sold to Premier Parks in 1995. In 1998, Premier would buy Six Flags, bringing the two tracks formerly known as Lightning Loops back into the Six Flags family. Adventure World was renamed Six Flags America in 1999, and the Python was disassembled and put in storage to make room for more modern roller coasters and attractions. It was scrapped in 2005.
Ale House • Central Brew Haus • Coca-Cola Freestyle • Fountain Drinks • G.A. Cafe • Johnny Rockets Express • Liberty Snacks • Main Street Pub • Main Street Snacks • Primo's Pizzeria • Main Street Sugar Shack • Sweet Cakes and Cones • Adventure Kids • Coaster Candy • Looney Tunes Shoppe • M-Porium • My Six Flags Photo • Super Hero Cape Cart • Sweet Treats
Lightnin' Loops at Coasterpedia
Lightnin' Loops at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Lightnin' Loops at the Roller Coaster Wiki
Lightnin' Loops at Wikipedia
