Kentucky Kingdom

Amusement park in the United States


Kentucky Kingdom
Location
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Status Operating
Opened May 23, 1987
Owner Herschend Family Entertainment
Previous names Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Website http://kentuckykingdom.com

Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It originally opened in 1987 and was operated by Six Flags from 1998 to 2009.

History

Beginnings

Kentucky Kingdom originally opened on May 23, 1987 as an expansion for the Kentucky State Fair. The park closed in October after low attendance and financial problems.[1] The park did not reopen until June 1990.[2]

Premier Parks/Six Flags

In 1998, Kentucky Kingdom was sold to Six Flags and became Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

On February 4, 2010, Six Flags announced Kentucky Kingdom's closure due to bankruptcy.[3]

Revival attempts

In 2012 The Koch family, owners of Holiday World, announced that they would reopen the park under the name "Bluegrass Boardwalk" in May 2013.[4] These plans were eventually cancelled in June of that year.

Proposed logo for Bluegrass Boardwalk

The park reopened on May 24, 2014.[5]

On February 23, 2021, Herschend Family Entertainment announced that it had acquired Kentucky Kingdom.[6]

Roller coasters

Present

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Status
Kentucky Flyer Gravity Group Wooden
Hybrid
April 28, 2019 Operating
Lightning Run Chance Rides Sit-Down May 24, 2014 Operating
Roller Skater Vekoma Sit-Down April 15, 1994 Operating
Storm Chaser Rocky Mountain Construction Sit-Down April 30, 2016 Operating
Thunder Run Dinn Corporation Wooden August 1990 Operating

Past

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Chang Bolliger & Mabillard Stand-Up 1997 2009 Relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure
Greezed Lightnin' Schwarzkopf Launched
Shuttle
2003 2009 Scrapped
Road Runner Express Maurer AG Wild Mouse 2000 2009 Relocated to Six Flags New England
Starchaser Schwarzkopf Enclosed 1987 1995 Relocated to Great Escape
T3 Vekoma Inverted April 8, 1995 2022 Scrapped
Twisted Twins Custom Coasters International Wooden
Hybrid
Twin
June 20, 1998 2007 Scrapped, supports used for Storm Chaser
Vampire Vekoma Shuttle 1990 1999 Relocated to Six Flags New England

Attractions

Operating

Name Manufacturer Type Opened
Bluebeard's Bounty HUSS Pirate Ship 1990
Break Dance HUSS Breakdance 1990
Cyclos Zamperla Frisbee 2015
Eye of the Storm Larson International Super Loop 2017
FearFall Larson International & A.R.M. (USA) Drop Tower 2014
FlutterFly Zamperla Magic Bikes 2015
Flying Dutchman Intamin Flying Dutchman 1991
Giant Wheel Vekoma Ferris Wheel 1992
Himalaya Reverchon Superbob/Musik Express 1990
Mile High Falls O.D. Hopkins Associates Shoot The Chute 1994
Musical Carousel Zamperla Carousel 1990
Professor John's Flying Machines Larson International Flying Scooters 2014
Raging Rapids River Ride Intamin River Rapids 1999
Rock-A-Bye Swings Zamperla Happy Swing 2014
Scream Extreme Zamperla Endeavour 2018
Skycatcher A.R.M. (USA) Star Flyer 2015
Tin Lizzies Arrow Dynamics Antique Cars 1990

Closed

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Chaos Chance Rides Chaos 1998 2005 Scrapped
Crystal Carousel Unknown Carousel 1987 1987 Unknown
Enterprise HUSS Enterprise 1990 2017 Scrapped
Force 10 Unknown Unknown 1987 1987 Unknown
Kentucky Whirl Zierer Chairswing 1987 1987 Unknown
Ohio River Adventure Arrow Dynamics Log Flume 1987 1987 Relocated to Silverwood Theme Park
Quake Vekoma Top Spin 1991 2004 Scrapped
Rainbow HUSS Rainbow 1994 2008 Scrapped
Skycoaster Sky Fun 1 Inc. Skycoaster 2001 2009 Scrapped
Slingshot Funtime Slingshot 2002 2004 Relocated to Elitch Gardens
Superman: Tower of Power Intamin Drop Tower 1995 2007 Scrapped
Thrill Karts J&J Amusements Go-Karts 1997 2009 Scrapped
Thriller Bees HUSS Ramba Zamba/Swingaround 1998 2001 Relocated to Six Flags World of Adventure
Tornado Unknown Unknown 1987 1987 Unknown
Whirlaway Chance Rides Trabant/Satellite 1987 1987 Relocated to Michigan's Adventure

References

  1. Shafer, Sheldon (1988-08-17). "Three groups bid to reopen Kentucky Kingdom". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  2. "Kentucky Kingdom reopens". Messenger-Inquirer. 1990-06-15. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  3. "Six Flags announces Kentucky Kingdom closure".
  4. Kentucky Kingdom reopening as Bluegrass Boardwalk in May 2013 - Wave3 News
  5. "Kentucky Kingdom set to reopen this weekend".
  6. Otts, Chris (February 23, 2021). "New owner pledges to take Kentucky Kingdom to 'next level'". WDRB. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021~. Retrieved February 23, 2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)

External links

Amusement parks operated by Six Flags