Thunder River (ride)

This article is about the three river rapids at Six Flags amusement parks. For the river rapids at Dreamworld, see Thunder River Rapids Ride.
Thunder River
Six Flags AstroWorld
Area Oriental Village
Status Closed
Opening date 1980
Closing date October 30, 2005
Six Flags Over Georgia
Area Lickskillet
Status Operating
Opening date 1982
Six Flags St. Louis
Area Gateway To The West
Status Operating
Opening date April 1983
General statistics
Manufacturer Intamin
Lift system 1 lift hill
Restraint style Seat Belts
Height restriction 36 in (91 cm)
Flash Pass Available at both

Thunder River is a river rapids ride currently operating at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia and Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. Thunder River at Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, Texas closed at the end of the 2005 season.[1]

History

Six Flags AstroWorld and Intamin AG partnered in 1979 to build the world's first river rapids ride in 1980 called Thunder River. The water ride became so popular at AstroWorld that Six Flags debuted six new river rapids in the early 1980s, including Six Flags Over Georgia in 1982, and at Six Flags St. Louis in 1983. All three Thunder Rivers feature dual loading stations, where boats can be loaded twice as fast than one loading station.

Thunder River at Six Flags AstroWorld was standing but not operating throughout the 2001 season drained. Then in 2002, the ride received a major rehab and reopened in April.[2] Finally at the end of the 2005 season both AstroWorld and Thunder River closed on October 30, 2005.[1] Currently the former AstroWorld location is being occupied as additional parking for Reliant Stadium.

Ride

Once the twelve riders strap themselves into one of the boats, the boat then leaves the station to the man-made river that is shaped like an oval at Over Georgia as well as at the former AstroWorld. The twelve riders at St. Louis' version go through a unique circle around the Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast roller coaster. During all three river rapids, there are different objects in the water which disrupt the flow of the water, thus creating the rapids in the river. All three river rapids feature waterfalls at the end of the ride, thereby getting riders completely soaked. At the end of the ride the boat is taken back to the station by a lift. Thunder River operates from spring to the end of the season in October.

Six Flags St Louis The boat makes a right turn where the ride operator interacts with people. Then water comes shooting out of the first sprayer and soaks the riders, then water comes shooting out of the second sprayer and soaks the riders, then the ride operator starts talking and the boat goes through big rapids while making a right turn into a short tunnel. Then the rapids get smaller and smaller as the boat moves forward. Then the boat goes through a long tunnel. And goes through 3 small rapids. Then the boat comes toward a waterfall, but riders almost never get soaked under the waterfall. So the boat makes one last right turn and catches onto the conveyor belt lift hill and enters the station.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Houston's AstroWorld theme park to close". September 12, 2005.
  2. ↑ "Thunder River at Six Flags AstroWorld". Retrieved July 16, 2012.


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