Luna Park In Coney Island To Unveil Brand New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster For The 2014 Season

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Roller coaster fanatics from around the world have a new reason to visit Luna Park in Coney Island this year. This Memorial Day Weekend, the amusement venture will be welcoming its first-ever vertical lift steel roller coaster, The Thunderbolt, to its lineup of joy rides. The new coaster will sit where the original wooden Thunderbolt thrilled riders from the 1920's through the 1980's, and will be the first roller coaster in the area since 1910 to send riders upside-down in a vertical loop. This will be Coney Island's first custom roller coaster since 1927, the year the Cyclone Roller Coaster was built.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140127/NY52272 )

Reaching speeds of 55 miles per hour and standing at 115 feet tall with 2,233 feet of track, the Thunderbolt will be built by Zamperla S.p.A and operated by Central Amusement International, operator of Luna Park. The approximately 2 minute ride begins with a jaw-dropping 90-degree vertical drop, followed by a 100 foot vertical loop, a 80 foot zero-g roll, a 112 degree over-banked turn, a unique heartline dive, a corkscrew, and several airtime hills. The coaster will join Luna Park's assortment of rides which include the legendary Cyclone Roller Coaster, Boardwalk Flight, Coney Island Raceway, Air Race, Water Mania and more.

"Luna Park in Coney Island is reaching even greater heights with the addition of the powerful Thunderbolt Roller Coaster," Alberto Zamperla, President and CEO of Zamperla S.p.A.  "We are thrilled to welcome this exhilarating new attraction to our repertoire of rides that are sure to please every type of coaster enthusiast.  The Thunderbolt's many twists and turns, and 100-foot vertical loop, will thrill visitors from near and far, as we continue to commit ourselves to the revitalization of our beloved Coney Island."

The Thunderbolt will make its premiere at Luna Park, offering 3 cars, each with a capacity of 9 passengers, and will be located near the historic B&B Carousell and the new Steeplechase Plaza.

"Luna Park in Coney Island is New York's Playground and we are committed to making sure that kids, in age and at heart, have something to look forward to when they visit," said Valerio Ferrari, President of Central Amusement International, operator of Luna Park.  "The Thunderbolt will give these thrill seekers the chance to experience a 'loop' coaster in New York City for the first time in over a century, and our entire team is eager to unveil this revolutionary coaster to the world."

About Luna Park
Named after an iconic piece of Coney Island's history, Luna Park (www.LunaParkNYC.com) continues to represent the largest investment of amusement ventures for its area. Luna Park provides New Yorkers and tourists the opportunity to experience a variety of family-friendly events and thrill  rides including the historic Cyclone Roller Coaster, Air Race, the Soarin' Eagle, Coney Island Raceway, and Boardwalk Flight. In close proximity to the beach, boardwalk and other top attractions, Luna Park offers over 40 attractions, rides and roller coasters and is an admirable destination for any age to enjoy.

Luna Park features over 20 rides by Zamperla S.p.A., the world's leading designer and manufacturer of amusement attractions, as well as a world-class mix of games, entertainment and food.  For more information about Luna Park, including a full list of rides, entertainment, food and more, please visit www.LunaParkNYC.com,  

About Central Amusement International
Central Amusement International, LLC is an international amusement park planner, developer, and operator whose management team has more than 150 years of combined amusement industry experience.  CAI was founded in 2002 with the goal of establishing a seasonal amusement park in New York City's Central Park.  That vision came to fruition in the summer of 2003, when CAI opened the gates of its first amusement park, Victorian Gardens at Wollman Rink. Seven successful years later, CAI opened Luna Park at Coney Island, a brand new amusement destination that helped America's Playground see its most successful summer in decades.

About Zamperla
Antonio Zamperla S.p.A., in conjunction with Zamperla, Inc., designs and manufactures amusement rides. The Zamperla family has been creating projects in the amusement industry since the mid-1800s.  Based out of Altavilla Vicentina (Vicenza), Italy, Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. is the largest designer and manufacturer (by annual volume) of amusement park rides in the world. Crafting everything from timeless carousels to iconic ferris wheels to world class roller coasters, Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. draws on the Italian tradition of fine artistry to create attractions that inspire the playful nature in all. Every attraction and project that carries the Antonio Zamperla S.p.A. name is built and executed with precision, quality, and care.

SOURCE Luna Park