This is a classic wooden roller coaster. Ive had mostly good rides. But last time I went, I got the red train. I knew I was in for a bad ride. And it was. It shook and threw me around like a dog chewing on a rag doll. But my best ride was on the left side in the yellow train. This is a fun roller coatser and I always go on it. Theres never a long line,too. I never really felt airtime on this ride, but its a fun,wild ride.

Update- August 10, 2006: I originally rated this coaster an 8, but have reduced it to a 5. I really hate to say this, but I think Ive outgrown this coaster. It was my second "real" roller coaster ever (my first being Comet at Hershey), so I suppose the only reason I enjoyed it so much was because I didnt know how much better coasters could be! I used to think this ride was fun, exhilirating, and full of tummy-tickling drops. Recently, though, after riding it again for the first time in two years, I discovered what an awful ride it really is. It is pretty rough, but honestly, that didnt even bother me. What DID bother me was the loud screeching noise made by the trains, the nonexistent airtime, the fact that they almost NEVER race (although even when it does race its not even that exciting), and just a general lack of.. well, fun! I dont think its bad enough to tear down- actually, Id prefer if they didnt, because Rolling Thunder is a pretty unintimidating "stepping stone" for budding enthusiasts (as it was for myself at age 10). Lets just say I wouldnt bee TOO upset to see it go, though. If you dont mind the roughness, go ahead and ride it just to add to your count- the lines are never more than 20 minutes. If they are, though, skip it!

Im no connoiseur of the wooden coasters, but Ive ridden plenty that were better than this. It weasnt a total waste of time - the first drop is ok, it has decent bobbing up + down over the hills (no real air time, though) and rattled in a nice way - not like it was trying to smack you. But most of the hills were small and kinda slow. And talk about a lame lay-out for the track! It goes in a straight line almost the entire run. Anti-bonus. It makes a loud, irritating screeching, constantly. Its very audible from nearby parts of the park. I bet Im not the first to label this "Rolling Blunder".

This is probably the worst wooden coaster I have ever ridden. This ride was just *blah*. There were no real thrills on the ride. The most intense part was the killer squeaking and screaching that the train made. Also, the ride ops were HORRIBLE. The one guy was so annoying. "Keep your arms, hands, legs, feet, and gallbladders in the train at all times. Also, remember that decapitation is deadly." Yeah, it got old after awhile. Plus, he kept letting the train partway out of the station, then stopping it and saying "And there was your ride on Rolling Thunder!" That not only took up time, but was really getting on everyones nerves.

I didnt think it was that bad. Sure, it wasnt the best coaster in the world, and yes, I think I got lucky, but I had a pretty good ride. It wasnt too rough, excluding that killer last turn into the station. The ride was pleasant up until the aforementioned end, with some ok air. I think the coaster could use some lovin, and falls just short of a 7. Poor operations are the main reason why: one train operation (understandable, but for a long ride it makes even a 3-train wait lousy) and slow loading due to ops who were the worst in the park, the ride loses a bit of its steam. While not an airtime machine, nor a lateral master, it was still a pretty good ride, even if its just because I caught it on a good day

A classic. Wopuld have a higher rating, but since it doesnt race still, it doesnt deserve one.

I hate giving a wooden coaster a bad rating, but this one deserves it. I went in open minded too. Even though I have bashed it in the past before riding it, but I thought that it might show me something. It did, but it was nothing good. Besides the constant deafening screeching, jerky ride, uninviting look and uncomfy seats, there is a good ride somewhere here. I cant believe that I am saying this, but it was very rough. I am all for rough coasters, but Im all about broken rib rough not make your entire body ache all day rough. I gave it multiple chances because I thought I could find something in there, but other than the first drop, there is nothing for me. I made up my mind when one ride, there were a couple of college guys in front of me... pretty big dudes. Their dialouge for the ride went a little something like this: First drop "WEEEEEE" The rest of the ride "OWWWWW... ARGGGGG... UGGGGG... UGGGHHHH" Then when pulling into the station one yelled "Shut this thing down". That did it for me. Not that I wont ride this thing again, but it just doesnt do it for me. Hopefully when they get the left side retracked it might, but not now. Oh yeah, and the ride ops are just breed to be slow for this thing. But, Viper deserved to be built next to this heap of wood, because they had something in common... they are the two worst coasters in the park.

EDIT: 4/16/05 - I went on this ride 3 times today, all in the next to last car. The ride ran a little better than what it did the last time, especially from the back, but it still does not deserve an upgrade in rating. The main reason that I went on so many times during the course of the day was to see what was going on with Kingda Ka.
P.S. - It is still a racing coaster that does not race. However, I did see guys working on retracking the ride today.

Look past the fact that it is a racing coaster that doesnt race. Despite needing some TLC (slow lift hill, screachign tracks) this is still a good coaster... or two good coasters I should say since the tracks are not identical. Since the first time I rode this in 2004, they did some work to brighten up the station and that entire area of the park with the addition of El Toro. (come to think of it, I think the entire park has been enhanced and put into good shape over these past few years)

Not very enjoyable. I guess it has seen better days. I dont remember any airtime.

wow i love wooden coasters but this one just has no chance(right now) for a good rating. its a racing coaster but they dont run both sides and to make it worse the side they did run has closed off seats on both trains making the line move at a snails pace. the good news is by follwing viper this ride seems smooth as silk. as a wood coaster fan im very dissaointed and now i know great american scream machine is next and i aways hated shockwave so this should be a real hoot. i now am in agreement with what others have said this park could be a real gem but instead it just a piec of gravel.