ZeroGravity55

Well there are a few factors to why there aren't a whole lot of reviews yet. You have to remember, the park only invited so many people and only allowed so many people to attend via the donations to Give Kids the World. This wasn't your typical Six Flags or Cedar Fair Media Day. It also lasted (from my estimation) nearly 12 hours, so I bet everyone is exhausted. HW is one of the few parks I've attended where I get very exhausted at the end of the day from just walking all over the crazy terrain (It doesn't help the final walk is all the way back up to the top of the hill). I think a transportation ride would drastically improve guest experience. The less tired people are, the more likely they're going to stay in the park longer, which equals a greater chance of them spending more money in the park. As for what we've heard about TB so far, I kinda of expected it, based on the small sample sizes of video the park had given us up to this point. From all pictures I've seen, I can't get over how great this coaster looks and how perfect the setting is. Honestly, I kinda have a feeling that the pictures don't even do it justice to how good it really looks in person. I can't wait for Saturday.

You're correct. There is about a 100 foot elevation difference between the top of the mid-course break-run and the bottom of the station

Basically losing the airtime in the triple down and the airtime moments after that probably won't be as powerful. The ride is still going to pick up a ton of speed by the time it gets all the way down to the station. The way I look at it, they have to do what have to do to make the track work last.

^ It is. You can see it on the webcam

^^ Maintenance.

So USA today just posted an article about Thunderbird with a ton of pictures of the ride. Assuming these were taken on the employee night last week.

TPR just tweeted this photo outside of Holiday World. It looks so big! Really looking forward to reading everyone's reports tomorrow and finally to see this in person on Saturday.

Well, Paula did post this a few pages back. I wonder if this is going permanent (if it is indeed a Strike-U-Up) or if it's just for this season only. Of course I believe this game is mobile, so it might be permanent in the park, but the location of it may not be. Just a thought since they did say they were going to replace Sparkler in 2016. Anyways, this was great little surprise, can't wait to see what else they haven't told us about.

^ It looks like the Strike-U-Up game from Skyline Attractions. Edit: And I think I'm right. From Skyline Attractions Facebook page: A few weeks ago, we installed Strike-U-Up at a new location. Although we can't yet say where it went, we thought it would be fun to see who can spot it first and grab a photo. (Hint: This image was not taken at the new location.)

^ If you're willing to wait, Labor Day weekend and Labor Day is a good time to visit. As for July until the middle of August, if it's hot it'll packed. Weekdays are better than weekends (avoid Saturday's at all costs).

I just now realized this, but that helix is a very miniature version of the turnaround on Fury 325.

Double post.. again. But of course, there is a another wonderful (well sort of low quality, but still wonderful) picture to share from HW's twitter:

You'll be walking under Thunderbird's track as you enter Thunderbird plaza:

So we got some fly through barn POV... well not all of it. Plus a little inline twist footage: I really wish I could be at the event on Thursday, but I'm in the middle of working 10 days in a row just so I can visit the park on the weekend.

^ While Arrow pushed the limits for that time period, their biggest contribution to the industry will always be Alan Schilke

New photo from HW's Twitter:

Double post, but these pics... From HW's FB:

Not that I'm trying to brag about being able to get the ice cream, but I literally have a Prairie Farms distribution center 3 mins away from my house. So I shouldn't have a problem getting the ice cream Sounds tempting..

^ If your Walmart, or any other store for that matter, carries Prairie Farms products, you'll probably have it in Minnesota. Just go look in ice cream section. Paula, do you know when the new park map is going to be put on the website? Edit: Just checked the webcam, and Thunderbird looks amazing with all of the spring foliage around it!

^^ Just stop.

I haven't noticed any billboards in my neck of the woods yet. Then again, I haven't been able to look due to the never ending road construction going through Marion. I'll try and look on my way to SIU on Wednesday. All of you guys talking about this Thunderbird commercial makes me really want see it now!

^ One of those is the relocation of Time Machine. The other is a flying coaster that is already constructed and has a yellow track. There is a thread with pictures of it on here some where.

I think we have a winner. Based on recent years, no North American parks track is manufactured this early in the season and put in the yard for shipment.

So since there were a couple of throw back posts, I decided to go back and read the thread around that time period as well. If only I could of had quarter for every time some said HW couldn't afford a B&M or wouldn't fit HW. These two posts (Not to single out SteveStL, as he wasn't the only one) made me laugh a bit. I never doubted HW could afford a 20+ million dollar ride, but that's not to say my guesses were exactly right. RMC steel coaster, and Mack launched coaster. That was before the famous almond shaped B&M footer was spotted (which even then, some people still wouldn't believe it was a B&M). After that I was dead set on a launched flyer with a lying down backwards launch.... Gosh that sounds so ridiculous now. I will say, that guess was based on all the facts that were present at the time, but still... Now to design it in No Limits 2! I can't believe that it's been almost a year since speculation for Thunderbird started. Those 3+ months was some of the most fun I had reading and posting on this thread.

^ Yes, Matt is the President of the park, but he is not Raven Maven. Paula is Raven Maven and she is the parks Communications Director. She represents the park on this thread and is the only person who actively and officially represents their park on the TPR forums (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).