Lightning Run is the signature steel roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. It opened on May 24, 2014, built by Chance Rides as part of a roughly $7 million investment tied to the park’s revival after Six Flags shuttered the property in February 2010. Local businessman Ed Hart later took over the lease and reopened Kentucky Kingdom to the public on that same May 2014 date, with Lightning Run as its new headline attraction.
The ride replaced the park’s former coaster, Greezed Lightnin’, and now anchors the front of the park as one of its most popular attractions. Riders climb a lift hill before plunging down a steep 100-foot drop angled at 80 degrees, then race through a 2,500-foot layout at speeds up to 55 mph. Lightning Run is a custom Hyper GT-X model, a design created specifically for Kentucky Kingdom, making it the only roller coaster of its kind operating anywhere in the world.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kentucky Kingdom
- Manufacturer: Chance Rides
- Model: Hyper GT-X (custom)
- Opened: May 24, 2014
- Height: About 100 ft
- Top speed: 55 mph
- Length: 2,500 ft
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
After a climb up the lift hill, Lightning Run’s first drop sends riders down at an 80-degree angle, among the steepest descents of any coaster in the region. From there, the layout weaves through a series of airtime-filled hills across its 2,500-foot circuit, delivering a ride that lasts about two minutes from start to finish. With two trains carrying 20 riders each, the coaster can move roughly 800 guests per hour through the line.
A One-of-a-Kind Design
What sets Lightning Run apart is its designation as the only Hyper GT-X model coaster in the world, a custom design built by Chance Rides specifically for Kentucky Kingdom. The ride was central to the park’s rebirth after Ed Hart’s ownership group reopened Kentucky Kingdom on May 24, 2014, replacing the aging Greezed Lightnin’ with a modern steel coaster built to anchor the park’s front entrance.
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Lightning Run FAQs
How tall is the drop on Lightning Run?
Lightning Run features a 100-foot drop angled at 80 degrees.
How fast does Lightning Run go?
The coaster reaches a top speed of about 55 mph.
What makes Lightning Run unique?
It is a custom Hyper GT-X model built by Chance Rides, making it the only coaster of its kind operating anywhere in the world.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.