Ride manufacturer Zamperla will debut its new rollercoaster at Coney Island’s Luna Park this May. The Thunderbolt is Coney Island's first custom rollercoaster since 1927, the year the renowned Cyclone was built, and the destination’s first ever steel rollercoaster.

A major technical challenge for the Zamperla team, the Thunderbolt features five inversions, loops and turns as well as a 38m (125ft) vertical drop. The rollercoaster will reach speeds of 55mph and stands at 35m (115ft) tall, with 680.6m (2,233ft) of track.



The Thunderbolt is scheduled to open on the US Memorial Day Weekend of 24-26 May. It follows in the footsteps of the previous Thunderbolt rollercoaster, which was torn down in 2000 to make room for the New York Mets baseball team’s minor league affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The original ride was immortalised in Woody Allen’s 1977 film Annie Hall.

However, Zamperla says the new attraction will be nothing like its predecessor. Instead, a completely new train design will carry up to nine passengers and feature a comfortable lap restraint.

“The Thunderbolt's many twists and turns, and 100ft (30.5m) vertical loop, will thrill visitors from near and far, as we continue to commit ourselves to the revitalisation of our beloved Coney Island,” said Alberto Zamperla, president and CEO of Zamperla, at the project's unveiling at the end of January.

Zamperla is also currently planning a cultural and historical attraction in Venice and, speaking to Attractions Management recently, he presented the case for the new venture, which has been criticised in some circles for supposedly being a theme park inappropriately located in a city of rich cultural heritage.