Rolling Thunder (roller coaster)

Rolling Thunder was a racing roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.

Rolling Thunder closed permanently in 2013 to make room for Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, which opened in 2014 and was removed in 2024.

Rolling Thunder did not operate from Fall 2005 through Spring 2006 due to construction of the "Plaza del Carnival" section of the park and the new El Toro roller coaster.

The ride closed permanently on September 8, 2013, to "make room" for Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, which opened the following year in 2014.

Unlike most racing coasters, Rolling Thunder's tracks were not always next to each other, they separated at several points in the ride.

In the past, the Douglas fir had been treated with pesticides which were not considered environmentally friendly and the track and supports were slowly being replaced with southern yellow pine.

The brakes were always in the up position unless the operator, in conjunction with the rear unloader attendant, advanced a train.

Each train had four three-bench Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters cars held together by hitch bars.

Seat dividers and headrests were added in 1981 to prevent people from standing on the ride while it was in operation.

On August 16, 1981, a 20-year-old park employee from Middletown, New Jersey, fell from the coaster to his death during a routine test run.

A park representative later confirmed this conclusion, saying that the employee "may have assumed an unauthorized riding position that did not make use of safety restraints".

2003 photo showing lift hill and portion of Rolling Thunder's tracks on left ( Viper is on the right)