The Thunderbolt is set to become Coney Island's second roller coaster
There have been plenty of twists and turns at Coney Island in the months after Superstorm Sandy devastated the area, but the latest bump is a welcomed one.
The legendary Thunderbolt roller coaster — which was torn down in 2000 for the sake of the Mets’ Brooklyn Cyclones stadium — has been resurrected as plans of a new coaster were announced Tuesday.
Located on the same site as the original at West 15 Street between Surf Avenue and the boardwalk, the new Thunderbolt will join the Cyclone coaster by Memorial Day 2014, President of Zamperla USA Valerio Ferrari told amNewYork. Zamperla will build and operate the ride.
The $10 million project, first reported by the New York Post, will begin construction in November 2013.
Amusement park visitors can enjoy the coaster’s 65-mph speed — the fastest in the city’s history — as well as a 125-foot drop, backward loops and other teeth clenching features.
According to Ferrari, Thunderbolt 2.0 will be built with over 2,100 feet of steel track and will have three cars with nine seats each.
The original wooden Thunderbolt debuted in 1925 and operated until 1982 before being demolished in 2000.
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